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West Tennessee
Fayette County Hunting
Public hunting land, 2026-27 seasons, deer and turkey harvest, and processors, taxidermists and shops in Fayette County, Tennessee.
Photo: User:JeremyA (CC BY-SA 2.5)
With 2,276 deer reported in 2025-26, Fayette County ranked 19th of 95 counties for deer harvest. It spans 704 square miles of land.
Public hunting land in and near Fayette County
2 public hunting areas sit at least partly inside Fayette County, and 8 more are within about 45 miles. Orange markers are in the county.
Wolf River WMA & Ghost River SNA
4,236 acres. Listed for deer, turkey, waterfowl, dove, small game.
Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge
About 24 miles from the center of Fayette County, in Haywood County. 11,556 acres.
Hatchie River WMA
About 25 miles from the center of Fayette County, in Hardeman County and Haywood County.
Grays Creek WMA
About 26 miles from the center of Fayette County, in Hardeman County. 288 acres.
Chickasaw State Forest & WMA
About 35 miles from the center of Fayette County, in Hardeman County and Chester County. 11,215 acres.
Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge
About 36 miles from the center of Fayette County, in Lauderdale County and Tipton County.
Fort Ridge WMA
About 37 miles from the center of Fayette County, in Haywood County. 1,570 acres.
Gear for hunting Fayette County
Picks from the deer rifle hunting checklist. Buttons search Amazon for current prices.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Blaze orange vest
Not needed on archery-only hunts, but Tennessee requires 500 sq in of orange or pink when an archery-only deer season overlaps a big game gun season such as bear, and during combined muzzleloader or gun seasons.
Blaze orange hat
The 500 sq in orange or pink requirement covers the head as well as the upper body, so a hat is part of meeting the rule.
Full-body safety harness
Tree stand falls cause many serious hunting injuries; a full-body harness worn from the ground up keeps a slip from becoming a fall.
Binoculars
Glassing the edges helps you spot deer early enough to get ready for a shot.
Fayette County deer and turkey harvest
Fayette County hunters reported 2,276 deer in 2025-26 and down 19% from 2024-25. The ten-season average is 3,303 deer. About 115 of the 2025-26 deer came off wildlife management areas. Spring turkey hunters checked 461 gobblers in 2026 spring, 27th 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.
What you can hunt in Fayette County right now
Every 2026-27 statewide season that applies in Fayette County, with what is open today marked. Tennessee hunting laws covers legal weapons, baiting, trespass and what you cannot hunt.
- Deer: August (archery only, velvet)Aug 28 to Aug 30, 2026
- Deer: ArcherySep 26 to Oct 30, 2026
- Deer: ArcheryNov 2 to Nov 6, 2026
- Deer: Young Sportsman (gun/muzzleloader/archery)Oct 31 to Nov 1, 2026
- Deer: Young Sportsman (gun/muzzleloader/archery)Jan 9 to Jan 10, 2027
- Deer: Muzzleloader/ArcheryNov 7 to Nov 20, 2026
- Deer: Straight-wall cartridge rifle (new)Nov 14 to Nov 20, 2026
- Deer: Gun/Muzzleloader/ArcheryNov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027
- Turkey: Fall archerySep 26 to Oct 30, 2026
- Turkey: Fall archeryNov 2 to Nov 6, 2026
- Turkey: Fall shotgun/archeryOct 17 to Oct 30, 2026
- Turkey: Spring Young SportsmanMar 27 to Mar 28, 2027
- Turkey: Spring general seasonApr 3 to May 16, 2027
- Ducks: Wood duck & teal (September)Sep 12 to Sep 16, 2026
- Ducks: Ducks, coot & mergansers (segment 1)Nov 28 to Nov 29, 2026
- Ducks: Ducks, coot & mergansers (segment 2)Dec 5, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027
- Waterfowl: Youth waterfowl daysFeb 6, 2027
- Waterfowl: Youth waterfowl daysFeb 13, 2027
- Waterfowl: Veterans and active military daysFeb 7, 2027
- Waterfowl: Veterans and active military daysFeb 14, 2027
- Canada goose: SeptemberSep 1 to Sep 20, 2026
- Canada goose: OctoberOct 10 to Oct 22, 2026
- Canada goose: Regular (segment 1)Nov 28 to Nov 29, 2026
- Canada goose: Regular (segment 2)Dec 5, 2026 to Feb 14, 2027
- White-fronted goose: RegularNov 28 to Nov 29, 2026
- White-fronted goose: RegularDec 5, 2026 to Feb 14, 2027
- Brant: All segmentsSep 1, 2026 to Feb 14, 2027
- Light geese: Regular (same splits as Canada goose)Sep 1, 2026 to Feb 14, 2027
- Light geese: Conservation orderFeb 15 to Mar 31, 2027
- Dove: Segment 1Sep 1 to Sep 28, 2026
- Dove: Segment 2Oct 10 to Nov 1, 2026
- Dove: Segment 3Dec 8, 2026 to Jan 15, 2027
- Woodcock: Segment 1Nov 14 to Dec 6, 2026
- Woodcock: Segment 2Jan 10 to Jan 31, 2027
- Snipe: SeasonNov 14, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027
- Rails (virginia, sora): SeasonSep 1 to Nov 9, 2026
- Gallinule and moorhen: SeasonSep 1 to Nov 9, 2026
- Crow: SegmentSep 1 to Sep 7, 2026
- Crow: SegmentSep 11 to Dec 20, 2026
- Crow: SegmentJan 1 to Feb 28, 2027
- Crow: SegmentJun 11 to Jul 11, 2027
- Squirrel: Fall/winterAug 22, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027
- Squirrel: SpringMay 8 to Jun 13, 2027
- Rabbit: SeasonNov 7, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027
- Quail: SeasonNov 7, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027
- Grouse: SeasonOct 10, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027
- Raccoon: Private landsYear-round Year-round
- Raccoon: Taking seasonSep 18, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027
- Opossum: Taking seasonSep 18, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027
- Coyote: DaytimeYear-round Year-round
- Coyote: Night season (with bobcat)Jan 16 to Mar 14, 2027
- Coyote: Night season (with bobcat)Jun 5 to Aug 8, 2027
- Bobcat: Private landsSep 26 to Nov 19, 2026
- Bobcat: SeasonNov 20, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027
- Feral hog: Private land controlYear-round Year-round
From the 2026-27 TWRA guide, checked October 9, 2026. WMAs can set shorter dates; check the area listing.
Fayette County hunting seasons and rules for 2026-27
Unit 1 deer limits
3 per day in Young Sportsman, archery, muzzleloader, straight-wall rifle and gun seasons. None in August hunt. Antlered deer: 2 per season statewide, 1 per day.
Fayette County deer season dates
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.
Fayette County is CWD-positive
Baiting and feeding are banned, whole carcasses stay inside the CWD Management Zone, and each tested antlerless deer earns an extra buck under Earn-A-Buck.
Fall turkey in Fayette County
Fall turkey is open: archery with the deer archery dates and shotgun Oct 17 to 30, 2026, 1 male turkey for the fall.
From the 2026-27 TWRA hunting guide, checked October 9, 2026. Read the guide.
Legal shooting light in Fayette County this week
Legal hunting hours for big and small game run from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Turkey and migratory birds end at sunset.
Times calculated for the center of Fayette County in Central time. Turkey and migratory bird hunting ends at sunset. Shooting hours for every county.
Deer processors, taxidermists and shops near Fayette County
In Fayette County first, then the counties that border it.
Listings come from TWRA, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, state permit lists and business pages. Call before you drive; seasonal hours vary.
Shooting ranges in and near Fayette County
No range is listed in Fayette County. These are the closest, measured from the county center.
Trap, skeet, sporting clays, rifle, pistol, shotgun and long range rifle. Members only.
Pistol and rifle. Open to the public.
Counties bordering Fayette County
Towns in Fayette County: Hunting near Somerville.
Fishing in the same county: Fayette County fishing spots.
Fayette County hunting questions
Where can I hunt public land in Fayette County?
Wolf River WMA & Ghost River SNA and Wolf River State Forest PHA are inside the county. Nearby options include Whiteville Lake, Oak Dain Wetland PHA and Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge.
How many deer were killed in Fayette County?
Hunters reported 2,276 deer in Fayette County in 2025-26, ranking 19th of 95 counties.
What deer unit is Fayette County in?
Fayette County is in deer Unit 1 for 2026-27. 3 per day in Young Sportsman, archery, muzzleloader, straight-wall rifle and gun seasons. None in August hunt.
Is Fayette County a CWD county?
Yes, it is on the CWD-positive list.
Can I bait deer in Fayette County?
No. Baiting and wildlife feeding are banned in this county under the CWD rules.
Is there a fall turkey season in Fayette County?
Yes. Fall archery follows the deer archery dates and fall shotgun runs Oct 17 to 30, 2026, with a limit of one male turkey.
Can I hunt bear in Fayette County?
No. Counties not listed in a bear hunting zone are closed to bear hunting.
When is legal shooting light in Fayette County?
Big and small game: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Turkey and migratory birds end at sunset. The table above shows this week’s times for the county.
Where can I get a deer processed in Fayette County?
Listed processors in or next to Fayette County include Burris Deer Processing, Pattat's Deer Processing and Stengel Bros. Deer Processing.
Plan your Fayette County hunt
Check the 2026-27 TWRA guide and each area listing before you hunt in Fayette County.