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Plateau Tennessee
Van Buren County Hunting
Public land in and near Van Buren County, its deer and turkey numbers, the 2026-27 season rules, and processors close by.
Photo: Ivan Radic (CC BY 2.0)
Van Buren County covers 273 square miles of land. In the 2025-26 season hunters reported 1,214 deer here, which ranked 66th of 95 Tennessee counties. That works out to about 4.4 deer per square mile of land. About 0.8% of Tennessee’s reported deer came from this county.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Van Buren County
Where to hunt public ground around Van Buren County
There are 6 TWRA-listed areas touching Van Buren County and 6 more a drive away. County areas show as orange pins.
Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness WMA
Species listed: deer, turkey, small game, bear, hogs. Size: 17,000 acres.
Fall Creek Falls State Park
Species listed: deer, turkey, small game, coyote. Size: 20,000 acres.
Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA
Species listed: deer, turkey, small game, bear, hogs. Size: 6,500 acres.
Fall Creek Falls State Natural Area
Species listed: deer, turkey, small game. Size: 16,181 acres.
North Chickamauga Creek WMA
About 29 miles from the center of Van Buren County, in Sequatchie County and Hamilton County. 5,400 acres.
Headwaters WMA
About 30 miles from the center of Van Buren County, in Cannon County. 600 acres.
Pea Ridge WMA
About 31 miles from the center of Van Buren County, in DeKalb County and Cannon County. 2,000 acres.
Deer and gobbler counts in Van Buren County
Last season’s count of 1,214 deer trailed the 2024-25 figure by 12%. Ten years of reports average out to 1,022 deer per season. Across the ten seasons the peak came in 2024-25 (1,386) and the trough in 2017-18 (819). WMAs supplied 97 of last season’s deer; the rest came off private land. For turkeys, the county ranked 75th in 2026 spring with 226 checked.
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.
In season at Van Buren County today
Bear hunting here falls under zone BHZ4. Van Buren County is open to licensed baiting on private land.
- 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
- Bear
- Feral hogYear-round
TWRA 2026-27 guide, checked October 28, 2026.
2026-27 rules for Van Buren County
Bag limits for Unit 3
Antlerless limit: 3 per day in the Young Sportsman, archery, muzzleloader, straight-wall rifle and gun seasons, and none during the August hunt. Two antlered deer per season, one per day, anywhere in Tennessee.
Deer seasons in Van Buren County
Statewide 2026-27 dates apply: archery from Sep 26, muzzleloader Nov 7 to Nov 20, 2026, gun Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027.
Van Buren County deer baiting rules
The county is outside the CWD area, so the 2026-27 Deer Bait Privilege License lets you bait private land: scattered bait, a site per 5 acres, 500 yards between sites.
Turkey in the fall, Van Buren County
Fall turkey is open: archery with the deer archery dates and shotgun Oct 17 to 30, 2026, 1 male turkey for the fall.
Where Van Buren County fits for bear
The BHZ4 zone covers Anderson (west of I-75, north of Old Lake City Hwy and Dutch Valley Rd), Campbell (north of Hwy 63, west of I-75), Claiborne (west of 25E, north of Hwy 63), Cumberland, Fentress, Morgan, Overton (east of Hwy 111), Pickett, Putnam (east of Hwy 111), Scott, Van Buren (east of Hwy 111), White (east of Hwy 111).
From the 2026-27 TWRA hunting guide, checked October 28, 2026. Read the guide.
When you can shoot in Van Buren 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 Van Buren County in Central time. Turkey and migratory bird hunting ends at sunset. Shooting hours for every county.
Deer processors, taxidermists and shops near Van Buren County
Sorted with Van Buren County businesses first and neighbors after.
Listings come from TWRA, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, state permit lists and business pages. Call before you drive; seasonal hours vary.
Event calendar for Van Buren County
2 past results listed, checked October 2026.
Latest winners
| Date | Event | Winner or result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2026 | 2026 Tennessee State Pro Slam (UKC Coonhound) | 'PR' Wacked Out Braker One Nine (TW), owners Bobby Burden and Terry Yoder, handler Gavin Gull; $2,000 | Source |
| May 22, 2026 | 2026 Tennessee State Championship (UKC Coonhound) | CH GRNITECH 'PR' Rocky River Mafia Shack Two (TW), Winton Taylor Hillis | Source |
Can you burn in Van Buren County?
Van Buren County status today: open the Tennessee county list.
- Permit season: October 15 through May 15 each year (TCA 39-14-306(a)(1)); required for open-air fires within 500 feet of any forest, grassland or woodland.
- Who declares bans: Under TCA 39-14-306(b), the Commissioner of Agriculture, in consultation with the State Forester and at the request of county mayors, issues county burn bans.
- Fires on public land: TWRA wildlife management areas: Rule 1660-01-14-.13(5)(i) says 'No warming, camping or any type fire shall be allowed except at designated camping areas.
Where to shoot near Van Buren County
Inside Van Buren County: 1 range, checked October 2026.
Pistol, rifle, long range rifle, sporting clays, 5-stand, trap, skeet on site; open to the public.
Van Buren County neighbors
Starting from town in Van Buren County? Hunting near Spencer.
Also fishing the county? Van Buren County fishing spots.
Around Van Buren County sit 5 counties, 3 with higher deer totals in 2025-26.
What hunters ask about Van Buren County
What are shooting hours in Van Buren County?
Shooting light runs 30 minutes before sunrise through 30 minutes after sunset; turkey and waterfowl stop at sunset itself.
Is there a bear season in Van Buren County?
Bear season applies through BHZ4; each zone sets its own dates and hound rules.
Where is public ground to hunt around Van Buren County?
You can hunt Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness WMA, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Bledsoe State Forest, Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA, Big Bottom Unit, Bridgestone Firestone WMA and Fall Creek Falls State Natural Area without leaving the county. Close by are Harp WMA, Anderson Pond PHA and Hampton Crossroads PHA.
Is there a deer processor near Van Buren County?
The list includes Cope Custom Slaughtering, Oakes Processing and P3 Custom Meats, in or next to the county.
Which TWRA deer unit covers Van Buren County?
For 2026-27, Unit 3. You can take 3 antlerless deer per day in every season here except the August hunt, which is antlered only.
How many deer do hunters take in Van Buren County?
TWRA recorded 1,214 deer for 2025-26, placing the county 66th.
Can you hunt over bait in Van Buren County?
Private land baiting is legal with the bait license, $50 for residents. Public WMAs remain no-bait.
Has CWD been found in Van Buren County?
No. CWD rules do not apply in Van Buren County this season.
When is fall turkey season in Van Buren County?
Yes, with a one male limit, by archery on deer archery dates or by shotgun from Oct 17 to 30, 2026.
Plan your Van Buren County hunt
Season dates and area rules change each year; verify them for 2026-27.
Other photos on this page: YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); Maslowski, Steve, USFWS (Public domain); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0); Eric Kilby (CC BY-SA 2.0); PierreSelim (CC BY 3.0); USDAgov (Public domain).