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Species guide · 2026-27
Tennessee Coyote and Bobcat Hunting
Season dates, bag limits, the best counties by harvest and the public land open to coyote hunting in Tennessee.
Photo: Brian Stansberry (CC BY 4.0)
Tennessee coyote season dates 2026-27
| Season | Dates | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coyote: Daytime | Year-round | statewide | No limit. |
| Coyote: Night season (with bobcat) | Jan 16 to Mar 14, 2027 | statewide, private land only | Shotgun only, buckshot or smaller, landowner permission (written, text or email), no dogs. Coyote no limit, bobcat 1/night. 2026 summer window was June 6-Aug 9, 2026. |
| Coyote: Night season (with bobcat) | Jun 5 to Aug 8, 2027 | statewide, private land only | Same rules. |
| Bobcat: Private lands | Sep 26 to Nov 19, 2026 | statewide, private lands only | 1/day. |
| Bobcat: Season | Nov 20, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027 | statewide | 1/day. CITES tag required before export. |
From the 2026-27 TWRA hunting guide, checked October 9, 2026. WMA dates can differ. Read the guide.
Gear for hunting coyote in Tennessee
Picks from the coyote and predator hunting checklist. Buttons search Amazon for current prices.
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Electronic predator call
Electronic calls are legal for coyotes in Tennessee (they are prohibited for turkey, foxes and waterfowl) and let you place the sound away from you.
Predator mouth call
A mouth call is a light backup and lets you make softer sounds as a coyote closes in.
Motion predator decoy
A moving decoy holds a coyote's attention away from your position.
Shooting sticks
A steady rest from a ground set or blind tightens groups more than any scope upgrade.
Coyote and Bobcat bag limits and rules
Bobcat
1/day (1/night in night season)
Coyote
No limit
Rule
Coyote hunting is open year-round in daylight with no limit.
Also note
A night season on private land runs Jan 16 to Mar 14 and Jun 5 to Aug 8, 2027, shotgun only, with written landowner permission.
New or changed
Bobcat limit is 1 per day; a CITES tag is needed before a pelt leaves the state.
Public land for coyote hunting in Tennessee
19 public areas on this site list coyote among their species. Area rules and dates are in each listing.
West Tennessee
- Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge8,862 acres, Stewart County
- Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (Tennessee portion)Stewart County
- Tennessee National Wildlife RefugeHumphreys, Henry
Middle Tennessee
- Yanahli WMA12,800 acres, Maury County
Plateau Tennessee
- Catoosa WMA79,740 acres, Cumberland, Morgan
- Fall Creek Falls State Park20,000 acres, Bledsoe, Van Buren
- Oak Ridge WMA37,000 acres, Anderson, Roane
- Ocoee Ranger District, Cherokee NFPolk, Monroe
- South Cherokee National Forest & WMAMonroe, Polk
- Tellico Ranger District, Cherokee NFMonroe County
East Tennessee
- Big Springs PHASullivan County
- Chuck Swan State Forest & WMA24,705 acres, Union, Campbell
- Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMAClaiborne, Campbell
- Henderson Swamp PHAWashington County
- North Cherokee National Forest & WMACarter, Johnson
- North Cumberland WMA205,000 acres, Campbell, Scott
- Rankin WMA1,975 acres, Cocke, Hamblen
- Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NFUnicoi, Cocke
- Watauga Ranger District, Cherokee NFCarter, Johnson
Tennessee coyote hunting questions
When is coyote season in Tennessee?
For 2026-27, coyote seasons run Sep 26, 2026 to Aug 8, 2027 across all segments. The table above lists each segment.
What is the coyote bag limit in Tennessee?
bobcat: 1/day (1/night in night season) coyote: No limit
Where can I hunt coyote on public land in Tennessee?
19 public areas list coyote, including North Cumberland WMA, Catoosa WMA and Oak Ridge WMA.
Do I need hunter education?
Yes, if you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1969. An Apprentice Hunter Education Permit can stand in for up to three years.
What are legal shooting hours?
Big and small game: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Turkey and migratory birds end at sunset.
How do I check in my harvest?
Small game and most migratory birds are not checked in. Sandhill cranes are reported by the end of the day.
Can I hunt coyotes at night?
Only on private land during the night seasons, shotgun only, with written permission.
Is there a coyote limit?
No.