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Plateau Tennessee
Smith County Hunting
Public hunting land, 2026-27 seasons, deer and turkey harvest, and processors, taxidermists and shops in Smith County, Tennessee.
Photo: Brian Stansberry (CC BY 4.0)
Hunters checked in 2,318 deer in Smith County during the 2025-26 season, 15th among Tennessee’s 95 counties. The county has 314 square miles of land and 11 square miles of water.
Public hunting land in and near Smith County
1 public hunting area sits at least partly inside Smith County, and 8 more are within about 45 miles. Orange markers are in the county.
Old Hickory WMA
About 14 miles from the center of Smith County, in Wilson County and Trousdale County. 6,000 acres.
Edgar Evins State Park
About 16 miles from the center of Smith County, in DeKalb County. 6,000 acres.
Cordell Hull Waterfowl Refuge
About 16 miles from the center of Smith County, in Jackson County. 600 acres.
Old Hickory Lake Lock 5 Refuge
About 17 miles from the center of Smith County, in Wilson County and Trousdale County. 900 acres.
Blackburn Fork WMA
About 22 miles from the center of Smith County, in Jackson County. 600 acres.
Pea Ridge WMA
About 24 miles from the center of Smith County, in DeKalb County and Cannon County. 2,000 acres.
Gear for hunting Smith 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.
Smith County deer and turkey harvest
Smith County hunters reported 2,318 deer in 2025-26 and down 5% from 2024-25. The ten-season average is 2,310 deer. About 216 of the 2025-26 deer came off wildlife management areas. Spring turkey hunters checked 484 gobblers in 2026 spring, 25th 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 Smith County right now
Every 2026-27 statewide season that applies in Smith 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.
Smith 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.
Smith 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 Smith 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 Smith 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 Smith 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 Smith County in Central time. Turkey and migratory bird hunting ends at sunset. Shooting hours for every county.
Deer processors, taxidermists and shops near Smith County
In Smith 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 Smith County
No range is listed in Smith County. These are the closest, measured from the county center.
Sporting clays, trap, skeet and 5-stand. Call ahead about access.
Rifle, pistol, trap and long range rifle. Members and their guests.
Upcoming matches
| Date | Event | Type | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2026 | MTSA Steel Challenge (2026-10-10) | Steel | Details |
| Oct 17, 2026 | MTSA Steel Challenge (2026-10-17) | Steel | Details |
| Nov 14, 2026 | MTSA Steel Challenge (2026-11-14) | Steel | Details |
| Nov 21, 2026 | MTSA Steel Challenge (2026-11-21) | Steel | Details |
| Dec 12, 2026 | MTSA Steel Challenge (2026-12-12) | Steel | Details |
| Dec 19, 2026 | MTSA Steel Challenge (2026-12-19) | Steel | Details |
Counties bordering Smith County
Towns in Smith County: Hunting near Carthage.
Fishing in the same county: Smith County fishing spots.
Smith County hunting questions
Where can I hunt public land in Smith County?
Cordell Hull WMA is inside the county. Nearby options include Long Branch PHA, Old Hickory WMA and Edgar Evins State Park.
How many deer were killed in Smith County?
Hunters reported 2,318 deer in Smith County in 2025-26, ranking 15th of 95 counties.
What deer unit is Smith County in?
Smith 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 Smith County a CWD county?
No. Smith County is not CWD-positive and is not in the CWD Management Zone for 2026-27.
Can I bait deer in Smith 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 Smith 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 Smith County?
No. Counties not listed in a bear hunting zone are closed to bear hunting.
When is legal shooting light in Smith 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 Smith County?
Listed processors in or next to Smith County include Mink's Deer Processing, Flat Rock Processing and PawPaw's Place.
Plan your Smith County hunt
Check the 2026-27 TWRA guide and each area listing before you hunt in Smith County.