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Middle Tennessee
Franklin County Hunting
Public hunting land, 2026-27 seasons, deer and turkey harvest, and processors, taxidermists and shops in Franklin County, Tennessee.
Photo: Brian Stansberry (CC BY 3.0)
With 3,222 deer reported in 2025-26, Franklin County ranked 3rd of 95 counties for deer harvest. It spans 551 square miles of land and 21 square miles of water.
Public hunting land in and near Franklin County
8 public hunting areas sit at least partly inside Franklin County, and 4 more are within about 45 miles. Orange markers are in the county.
AEDC WMA & Woods Reservoir Refuge
32,000 acres. Listed for deer, turkey, waterfowl, small game.
Flintville Hatchery
About 17 miles from the center of Franklin County, in Lincoln County. 750 acres.
Hickory Flats WMA
About 22 miles from the center of Franklin County, in Coffee County. 623 acres.
Normandy WMA
About 24 miles from the center of Franklin County, in Coffee County and Bedford County. 750 acres.
Gear for hunting Franklin County
Picks from the deer rifle hunting checklist. Buttons search Amazon for current prices.
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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.
Franklin County deer and turkey harvest
Franklin County hunters reported 3,222 deer in 2025-26 and down 11% from 2024-25. The ten-season average is 3,132 deer. About 671 of the 2025-26 deer came off wildlife management areas. Spring turkey hunters checked 380 gobblers in 2026 spring, 32nd 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 Franklin County right now
Every 2026-27 statewide season that applies in Franklin 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.
Franklin County hunting seasons and rules for 2026-27
Unit 3 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.
Franklin 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.
Baiting in Franklin County
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.
Fall turkey in Franklin 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 Franklin 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 Franklin County in Central time. Turkey and migratory bird hunting ends at sunset. Shooting hours for every county.
Deer processors, taxidermists and shops near Franklin County
In Franklin 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.
Hunting events in Franklin County
1 past result listed, checked October 2026.
Recent results
| Date | Event | Winner or result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 18, 2026 | Franklin County CHA RQE #164 Nite Hunt and Bench Show | The Wicked Byrd Man TW (Tony Smith) | Source |
Shooting ranges in and near Franklin County
No range is listed in Franklin County. These are the closest, measured from the county center.
Counties bordering Franklin County
Towns in Franklin County: Hunting near Winchester.
Fishing in the same county: Franklin County fishing spots.
Franklin County hunting questions
Where can I hunt public land in Franklin County?
AEDC WMA & Woods Reservoir Refuge, Bear Hollow Mountain WMA, Mingo Swamp WMA, Owl Hollow Mill WMA, Franklin State Forest, Cowan Marsh PHA, Tims Ford State Park Huntable Lands and Head of the Crow State Park Huntable Lands are inside the county. Nearby options include Flintville Hatchery, Hickory Flats WMA and Battle Creek PHA.
How many deer were killed in Franklin County?
Hunters reported 3,222 deer in Franklin County in 2025-26, ranking 3rd of 95 counties.
What deer unit is Franklin County in?
Franklin County is in deer Unit 3 for 2026-27. 3 per day in Young Sportsman, archery, muzzleloader, straight-wall rifle and gun seasons. None in August hunt.
Is Franklin County a CWD county?
No. Franklin County is not CWD-positive and is not in the CWD Management Zone for 2026-27.
Can I bait deer in Franklin County?
Yes, on private land with the Deer Bait Privilege License ($50 resident). Baiting is still not allowed on WMAs.
Is there a fall turkey season in Franklin 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 Franklin County?
No. Counties not listed in a bear hunting zone are closed to bear hunting.
When is legal shooting light in Franklin 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 Franklin County?
Listed processors in or next to Franklin County include 3-May Deer Processing, Mac's Slaughtering & Processing and W & W Deer Processing.
Plan your Franklin County hunt
Check the 2026-27 TWRA guide and each area listing before you hunt in Franklin County.