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Plateau Tennessee
DeKalb County Hunting
Harvest history, public land, deer unit rules for 2026-27 and nearby processors for hunters working DeKalb County.
Photo: IvyMike (CC BY 2.0)
At 69th of 95 counties, DeKalb County produced 1,163 reported deer in 2025-26 from 304 square miles of land and 25 square miles of water. Divided by land area, that is near 3.8 deer per square mile. The county made up 0.8% of all deer checked in Tennessee that season.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around DeKalb County
Public hunting land in and near DeKalb County
Inside the county line you have 3 public areas; another 8 sit within roughly 45 miles. On the map, orange means inside the county.
Cordell Hull WMA
Straight-line distance about 23 miles, in Jackson County and Smith County. 25,000 acres.
Cedars of Lebanon State Forest
Straight-line distance about 27 miles, in Wilson County. 5,329 acres.
Cordell Hull Waterfowl Refuge
Straight-line distance about 29 miles, in Jackson County. 600 acres.
How many deer and turkeys DeKalb County produces
1,163 deer were checked in 2025-26, which is 13% fewer than the season before. Its average since 2016-17 is 1,030. Counts ranged from 811 (2021-22) up to 1,344 (2024-25). Wildlife management area hunters checked 213 of them. Spring turkey hunters checked 368 gobblers in 2026 spring, 35th in the state.
Source: TWRA Hunter’s Toolbox harvest reports, county totals including WMA harvest. Deer seasons run July 1 to June 30. Recent seasons can still be revised slightly by TWRA.
DeKalb County: what is in season
No bear zone covers DeKalb County. DeKalb County allows deer bait on private land with a Deer Bait Privilege License.
- Deer
- Turkey
- Ducks
- Waterfowl
- Canada goose
- White-fronted goose
- Brant
- Light geese
- Dove
- Woodcock
- Snipe
- Rails (virginia, sora)
- Gallinule and moorhen
- Crow
- Squirrel
- Rabbit
- Quail
- Grouse
- RaccoonYear-round
- Opossum
- CoyoteYear-round
- Bobcat
- Feral hogYear-round
TWRA 2026-27 guide, checked October 28, 2026.
Seasons and limits in DeKalb County, 2026-27
Deer limits in Unit 3
Does count at 3 a day in this unit for every fall and winter segment. No antlerless harvest is allowed in August. Bucks are limited to 2 a season statewide and 1 a day.
DeKalb County archery, muzzleloader and gun
Archery opens Sep 26. Muzzleloader runs Nov 7 to Nov 20, 2026. Gun season runs Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027. These are statewide dates for 2026-27.
DeKalb County: baiting allowed
Deer baiting on private land is legal here with the Deer Bait Privilege License, new for 2026-27. One site per 5 acres, 500 yards apart, scattered only.
DeKalb County fall turkey rules
Fall turkey runs alongside deer archery, with a shotgun window of Oct 17 to 30, 2026 and a single male turkey limit.
From the 2026-27 TWRA hunting guide, checked October 28, 2026. Read the guide.
Sunrise, sunset and legal light in DeKalb County
Start shooting 30 minutes before sunrise and stop 30 minutes after sunset for deer and small game; for turkeys and migratory birds the cutoff is sunset.
Times calculated for the center of DeKalb County in Central time. Turkey and migratory bird hunting ends at sunset. Shooting hours for every county.
Meat processing and mounts near DeKalb County
Closest to home first: DeKalb County, then adjacent counties.
Listings come from TWRA, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, state permit lists and business pages. Call before you drive; seasonal hours vary.
Burn bans and permits in DeKalb County
DeKalb County status today: open the Tennessee county list.
- Burn permit: October 15 through May 15 each year (TCA 39-14-306(a)(1)); required for open-air fires within 500 feet of any forest, grassland or woodland.
- Burn bans come from: Under TCA 39-14-306(b), the Commissioner of Agriculture, in consultation with the State Forester and at the request of county mayors, issues county burn bans.
- Warming fires: TWRA wildlife management areas: Rule 1660-01-14-.13(5)(i) says 'No warming, camping or any type fire shall be allowed except at designated camping areas.
Practice ranges near DeKalb County
No range is listed in DeKalb County. These are the closest, measured from the county center.
Shooting here: pistol; rifle; trap; skeet; shotgun; archery. Open to the public.
Shooting here: pistol and rifle. Open to the public.
Adjacent to DeKalb County
Same county, different sport: DeKalb County fishing spots.
5 of the 6 bordering counties had a bigger 2025-26 deer harvest.
DeKalb County hunting FAQ
How many deer were killed in DeKalb County?
1,163 in 2025-26, which ranked 69th in Tennessee.
Is DeKalb County in Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6?
TWRA places DeKalb County in Unit 3. Antlerless limit: 3 per day in the Young Sportsman, archery, muzzleloader, straight-wall rifle and gun seasons, and none during the August hunt.
What is the CWD status of DeKalb County?
No, the county is clear of the CWD lists for 2026-27.
Can I bait deer in DeKalb County?
On private land, yes, with the $50 resident Deer Bait Privilege License; WMAs stay off limits.
Can I hunt turkey in the fall in DeKalb County?
Yes. Archery during the deer bow dates and shotgun Oct 17 to 30, 2026, one male bird.
Is DeKalb County open to bear hunting?
No bear season here; the county is outside the bear zones.
What time does shooting light end in DeKalb County?
See the table above for this week. The rule is sunrise minus 30 minutes to sunset plus 30 for big and small game.
Where can I get a deer processed in DeKalb County?
Listed processors in or next to DeKalb County include Sue's Taxidermy and Deer Processing, The Buck Barn Deer Processing and Taxidermy and Sircy's Deer Processing.
Is there public hunting land in DeKalb County?
DeKalb County has Edgar Evins State Park, Pea Ridge WMA and Long Branch PHA. Neighboring areas include Headwaters WMA, Anderson Pond PHA and Hampton Crossroads PHA.
DeKalb County hunt planning
Area rules can differ from county rules, so read the listing for the spot you plan to hunt.
Other photos on this page: YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); colmmcsky (CC BY-SA 2.0); Bonesaw 0311 (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); GA-Kayaker (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); Ethan Prater (CC BY 2.0); Joe Mabel (CC BY-SA 4.0).