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East Tennessee
Sullivan County Hunting
Public hunting land, 2026-27 seasons, deer and turkey harvest, and processors, taxidermists and shops in Sullivan County, Tennessee.
Photo: AppalachianCentrist (CC BY-SA 4.0)
With 2,953 deer reported in 2025-26, Sullivan County ranked 7th of 95 counties for deer harvest. It spans 414 square miles of land and 16 square miles of water.
Public hunting land in and near Sullivan County
3 public hunting areas sit at least partly inside Sullivan County, and 6 more are within about 45 miles. Orange markers are in the county.
Holston Army Ammunition Plant
About 19 miles from the center of Sullivan County, in Hawkins County.
Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area
About 29 miles from the center of Sullivan County, in Carter County. 693 acres.
Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF
About 34 miles from the center of Sullivan County, in Unicoi County and Cocke County.
Kyles Ford WMA
About 40 miles from the center of Sullivan County, in Hancock County and Hawkins County. 1,000 acres.
Nolichucky WMA
About 43 miles from the center of Sullivan County, in Greene County. 1,000 acres.
Gear for hunting Sullivan 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.
Sullivan County deer and turkey harvest
Sullivan County hunters reported 2,953 deer in 2025-26 and up 15% from 2024-25. The ten-season average is 2,402 deer. About 145 of the 2025-26 deer came off wildlife management areas. Spring turkey hunters checked 315 gobblers in 2026 spring, 49th 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 Sullivan County right now
Every 2026-27 statewide season that applies in Sullivan 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
- Bear: Archery onlySep 26 to Oct 23, 2026
- Bear: Early dog seasonOct 3 to Oct 5, 2026
- Bear: Early dog seasonOct 10 to Oct 11, 2026
- Bear: Young Sportsman (still hunt)Oct 31 to Nov 1, 2026
- Bear: Mid dog seasonNov 9 to Nov 16, 2026
- Bear: Gun/muzzleloader/archery (still hunt)Nov 21 to Nov 24, 2026
- Bear: Late dog seasonNov 30 to Dec 16, 2026
- 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.
Sullivan County hunting seasons and rules for 2026-27
Unit 6 deer limits
Young Sportsman 2 total (four days combined); archery 4; muzzleloader + straight-wall week 2; gun 2. None in August hunt. Moving counties within a unit does not add to the limit. Antlered deer: 2 per season statewide, 1 per day.
Sullivan 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 Sullivan 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 Sullivan County
Fall turkey is open: archery with the deer archery dates and shotgun Oct 17 to 30, 2026, 1 male turkey for the fall.
Bear hunting in Sullivan County
BHZ1: Carter, Cocke (north of I-40), Greene, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, Washington.
From the 2026-27 TWRA hunting guide, checked October 9, 2026. Read the guide.
Legal shooting light in Sullivan 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 Sullivan County in Eastern time. Turkey and migratory bird hunting ends at sunset. Shooting hours for every county.
Deer processors, taxidermists and shops near Sullivan County
In Sullivan 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 Sullivan County
3 ranges in Sullivan County, checked October 2026.
Pistol, rifle, trap, skeet and archery. Members only.
Counties bordering Sullivan County
Towns in Sullivan County: Hunting near Kingsport.
Fishing in the same county: Sullivan County fishing spots.
Sullivan County hunting questions
Where can I hunt public land in Sullivan County?
North Cherokee National Forest & WMA, Big Springs PHA and Watauga Ranger District, Cherokee NF are inside the county. Nearby options include Holston Army Ammunition Plant, Henderson Swamp PHA and Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area.
How many deer were killed in Sullivan County?
Hunters reported 2,953 deer in Sullivan County in 2025-26, ranking 7th of 95 counties.
What deer unit is Sullivan County in?
Sullivan County is in deer Unit 6 for 2026-27. Young Sportsman 2 total (four days combined); archery 4; muzzleloader + straight-wall week 2; gun 2. None in August hunt. Moving counties within a unit does not add to the limit.
Is Sullivan County a CWD county?
No. Sullivan County is not CWD-positive and is not in the CWD Management Zone for 2026-27.
Can I bait deer in Sullivan 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 Sullivan 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 Sullivan County?
Yes, in BHZ1. Zone rules and dog seasons differ, so check the bear zone dates.
When is legal shooting light in Sullivan 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 Sullivan County?
Listed processors in or next to Sullivan County include Hamilton Meats, H&H Market and Pierce's Custom Butcher Shop.
Plan your Sullivan County hunt
Check the 2026-27 TWRA guide and each area listing before you hunt in Sullivan County.