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Hardin County Hunting
Where to hunt in Hardin County, what the 2026-27 rules are, how many deer and turkeys came out of it, and who processes and mounts game nearby.
Photo: Wesley Fryer (CC BY 2.0)
With 1,945 deer reported in 2025-26, Hardin County ranked 28th of 95 counties for deer harvest. It spans 577 square miles of land and 19 square miles of water. Per square mile, hunters took about 3.4 deer. Its share of the statewide check-in was 1.3%.
Hardin County and nearby public land
4 public hunting areas sit at least partly inside Hardin County, and 8 more are within about 45 miles. Orange markers are in the county.
White Oak WMA
TWRA lists deer, turkey, waterfowl, dove, small game here. It covers 1,194 acres.
Walker Branch State Natural Area
TWRA lists deer, turkey, small game here. It covers 520 acres.
Chambers Creek WMA
TWRA lists deer, turkey, waterfowl, dove, small game here. It covers 400 acres.
Before you head to Hardin County
Four items from the deer rifle hunting checklist.
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Harvest numbers for Hardin County
The 2025-26 deer total was 1,945, down 13% on the 2,244 of 2024-25. The ten-season average is 2,451 deer. The best season in the chart was 2016-17 with 3,449, and the lowest was 2023-24 with 1,916. Public WMA ground accounted for 94 deer in 2025-26. Gobbler hunters added 468 birds in 2026 spring, a 26th place finish.
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 Hardin County right now
Hardin County sits outside every bear zone. CWD has been found in Hardin County. Bait and feeders are off limits in Hardin County.
- 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 9, 2026.
What the 2026-27 regulations mean in Hardin County
Hardin County deer bag
You can take 3 antlerless deer per day in every season here except the August hunt, which is antlered only. You get 2 antlered deer for the season statewide, taken 1 per day at most.
When deer season opens in Hardin County
The deer year opens to archery on Sep 26, moves to muzzleloader for Nov 7 to Nov 20, 2026 and to gun for Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027.
Hardin County is CWD-positive
No bait or feed, no whole carcasses leaving the CWD Management Zone, and Earn-A-Buck gives an extra antlered deer for each tested doe.
Hardin County fall turkey season
The county is open for fall turkey, archery on the deer archery dates plus shotgun from Oct 17 to 30, 2026, one male turkey total.
From the 2026-27 TWRA hunting guide, checked October 9, 2026. Read the guide.
Legal shooting light in Hardin County this week
Shooting light opens 30 minutes ahead of sunrise and closes 30 minutes past sunset for big and small game, but turkey and dove or duck hunters quit at sunset.
Times calculated for the center of Hardin County in Central time. Turkey and migratory bird hunting ends at sunset. Shooting hours for every county.
Hardin County processors and taxidermists
Local Hardin County shops come first, then the ring of counties around it.
Listings come from TWRA, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, state permit lists and business pages. Call before you drive; seasonal hours vary.
Ranges for sighting in around Hardin County
1 range in Hardin County, checked October 2026.
Trap. Call ahead about access.
Counties around Hardin County
Hardin County town guides: Hunting near Savannah.
Lakes and streams here: Hardin County fishing spots.
Of its 5 neighbors, 2 out-harvested Hardin County last season.
Hardin County hunting questions
What deer processors serve Hardin County?
Troyer's Processing, Woods Taxidermy & Deer Processing and Sarah's Deer Processing are listed in or beside the county.
What public areas can I hunt from Hardin County?
Beason Creek PHA, White Oak WMA, Walker Branch State Natural Area and Chambers Creek WMA are inside the county. The nearest outside the county are Browntown WMA, Cypress Pond Refuge and Eagle Creek WMA.
What is the deer harvest in Hardin County?
2025-26: 1,945 deer, 28th statewide.
How many does can I take in Hardin County?
It is in Unit 1. Does count at 3 a day in this unit for every fall and winter segment. No antlerless harvest is allowed in August.
Does Hardin County have chronic wasting disease?
Yes, it is on the CWD-positive list.
Do I need a bait license in Hardin County?
No. CWD rules ban both baiting and feeding here.
What is the fall turkey limit in Hardin County?
Yes. The fall bag is one male turkey, archery or the Oct 17 to 30, 2026 shotgun segment.
Does Hardin County have a bear season?
No, it is not part of any bear hunting zone.
What are legal hunting hours in Hardin County?
Big and small game: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. The table above shows this week’s times for the county.
Next steps for Hardin County
Double check the current guide and any quota hunt dates for the area you pick.
Other photos on this page: Juliana Chong (CC BY 2.0); Flappy Pigeon (CC BY-SA 4.0); USFWSmidwest (Public domain); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0).