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Species guide · 2026-27
Tennessee White-tailed Deer Hunting
Season dates, bag limits, the best counties by harvest and the public land open to deer hunting in Tennessee.
Photo: YellowstoneNPS (Public domain)
Tennessee deer season dates 2026-27
| Season | Dates | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| August (archery only, velvet) | Aug 28 to Aug 30, 2026 | statewide (private lands and select Unit 1 WMAs only) | Antlered only, 2 (1/day). No antlerless harvest in any unit. |
| Archery | Sep 26 to Oct 30, 2026 | statewide | First segment. Antlerless: Units 1-3 3/day; Units 4-6 4 for season. |
| Archery | Nov 2 to Nov 6, 2026 | statewide | Second segment (closed Oct 31-Nov 1 except Young Sportsman). |
| Young Sportsman (gun/muzzleloader/archery) | Oct 31 to Nov 1, 2026 | statewide | Ages 6-16 with non-hunting adult 21+. Antlerless: Units 1-3 3/day; Units 4-6 2 total for the four YS days combined. |
| Young Sportsman (gun/muzzleloader/archery) | Jan 9 to Jan 10, 2027 | statewide | Second YS weekend, same limits as first. |
| Muzzleloader/Archery | Nov 7 to Nov 20, 2026 | statewide | Antlerless: Units 1-3 3/day; Units 4-6 2 (shared with straight-wall rifle week). |
| Straight-wall cartridge rifle (new) | Nov 14 to Nov 20, 2026 | statewide, private lands only | Single-shot straight-wall cartridge rifles .35 cal or larger. Harvest counts toward the muzzleloader bag limit. |
| Gun/Muzzleloader/Archery | Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | statewide | Antlerless: Units 1-3 3/day; Units 4-6 2. |
From the 2026-27 TWRA hunting guide, checked October 9, 2026. WMA dates can differ. Read the guide.
Gear for hunting deer in Tennessee
Picks from the deer rifle hunting checklist. Buttons search Amazon for current prices.
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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.
White-tailed Deer bag limits and rules
Deer (antlered)
2 per season statewide, 1 per day; may be exceeded only as a WMA bonus deer, Earn-A-Buck in a CWD-positive county, or replacement buck.
Deer (antlerless), Units 1-3
3 per day in Young Sportsman, archery, muzzleloader, straight-wall rifle and gun seasons. None in August hunt.
Deer (antlerless), Units 4-6
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.
Rule
Deer units 1 to 6 set the antlerless limits; the antlered limit is 2 per season statewide.
Also note
A straight-wall cartridge rifle week on private land runs Nov 14 to 20, 2026.
New or changed
Baiting is legal on private land with the new Deer Bait Privilege License outside the 26 CWD-related counties.
Watch for
Drones may be used to locate wounded or dead deer on private land.
Best counties for deer in Tennessee
153,336 deer were reported statewide in 2025-26, after 168,021 in 2024-25.
Harvest numbers from TWRA Hunter’s Toolbox reports and TWRA species pages. County totals include WMA harvest.
Public land for deer hunting in Tennessee
185 public areas on this site list deer among their species. Area rules and dates are in each listing.
West Tennessee
- Barkley WMA8,090 acres, Stewart County
- Bean Switch Refuge572 acres, Weakley County
- Beason Creek PHA460 acres, Hardin County
- Beech River WMA450 acres, Henderson, Decatur
- Big Cypress Tree State Natural AreaWeakley County
- Big Hill Pond State ParkMcNairy County
- Big Sandy WMA2,370 acres, Henry, Benton
- Black Bayou Refuge1,350 acres, Lake County
- Bogota WMA2,293 acres, Dyer County
- Buffalo Ridge Refuge1,400 acres, Humphreys County
- C.M. Gooch WMA7,000 acres, Obion County
- Camden WMA3,682 acres, Benton County
- Chambers Creek WMA400 acres, Hardin County
- Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge26,997 acres, Lauderdale, Dyer
- Chickasaw State Forest & WMA11,215 acres, Hardeman, Chester
- Colonel Forrest V. Durand WMA736 acres, Madison County
- Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge8,862 acres, Stewart County
- Cypress Pond Refuge585 acres, Decatur County
- Eagle Lake Refuge3,253 acres, Shelby County
- Ernest Rice WMA2,900 acres, Dyer County
- Fort Ridge WMA1,570 acres, Haywood County
- Garrett LakeWeakley County
- Grays Creek WMA288 acres, Hardeman County
- Harmon Creek WMA983 acres, Benton County
- Harts Mill WMA1,758 acres, Carroll, Weakley
- Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge11,556 acres, Haywood County
- Hatchie River WMAHardeman, Haywood
- Hop-In Refuge650 acres, Obion County
- Horns Bluff Refuge1,890 acres, Crockett, Gibson
- Jarrell Switch Refuge250 acres, Carroll County
- John Tully WMA15,500 acres, Lauderdale County
- Lake Isom National Wildlife Refuge1,850 acres, Lake, Obion
- Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (Tennessee portion)Stewart County
- Lick Creek WMA198 acres, Benton County
- Lower Hatchie National Wildlife RefugeLauderdale, Tipton
- Maness Swamp Refuge1,200 acres, Gibson, Weakley
- Meeman-Shelby Forest WMA & State Park13,000 acres, Shelby County
- Moss Island WMA5,119 acres, Dyer County
- Natchez Trace State Forest & WMA48,000 acres, Henderson, Carroll
- New Hope WMA88 acres, Benton County
- Oak Dain Wetland PHAHardeman County
- Obion River WMA8,500 acres, Weakley, Obion
- Parker Branch WMA263 acres, Gibson County
- Perry Switch WMA210 acres, Madison County
- Presidents Island WMA6,300 acres, Shelby County
- Reelfoot Lake State Natural Area18,000 acres, Lake, Obion
- Reelfoot National Wildlife RefugeObion County
- Reelfoot WMA24,000 acres, Lake, Obion
- Reelfoot-Indian Creek Watershed LakesObion County
- Sergeant Lee Russell Refuge570 acres, Carroll County
- South Fork Waterfowl Refuge778 acres, Madison County
- Spring Creek Wetland PHA439 acres, Madison County
- Stewart State Forest6,216 acres, Stewart County
- Sunk Lake State Natural Area (North Unit)Lauderdale County
- Tennessee National Wildlife RefugeHumphreys, Henry
- Thorny Cypress WMA3,100 acres, Dyer County
- Three Rivers WMA1,577 acres, Obion County
- Tigrett WMA7,629 acres, Dyer, Gibson
- Tull Bottom WMA1,184 acres, Chester County
- Tumbleweed WMA5,770 acres, Lake, Dyer
- Walker Branch State Natural Area520 acres, Hardin County
- West Sandy WMA4,319 acres, Henry County
- White Lake Refuge1,194 acres, Dyer County
- White Oak WMA1,194 acres, Hardin County
- Whiteville LakeHardeman County
- Wolf River State Forest PHA5,488 acres, Fayette County
- Wolf River WMA & Ghost River SNA4,236 acres, Fayette, Shelby
Middle Tennessee
- AEDC WMA & Woods Reservoir Refuge32,000 acres, Coffee, Franklin
- Bark Camp Barrens WMA2,800 acres, Coffee County
- Bear Hollow Mountain WMA22,000 acres, Franklin County
- Beaverdam Creek WMA4,055 acres, Hickman, Lewis
- Browntown WMA6,336 acres, Wayne County
- Cedar Hill Swamp WMA200 acres, Robertson County
- Cedars of Lebanon State Forest5,329 acres, Wilson County
- Cedars of Lebanon State Natural Area2,690 acres, Wilson County
- Cheatham Lake WMA5,152 acres, Cheatham, Dickson
- Cheatham WMA20,810 acres, Cheatham County
- Cowan Marsh PHAFranklin County
- Coy Gaither Bedford LakeBedford County
- Duck River Complex State Natural Area2,612 acres, Maury County
- Eagle Creek WMA22,000 acres, Wayne County
- Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade State Natural Area185 acres, Rutherford County
- Fate Sanders Barrens State Natural Area230 acres, Rutherford County
- Flintville Hatchery750 acres, Lincoln County
- Fort Campbell (Tennessee portion)Montgomery, Stewart
- Haley-Jaqueth WMA200 acres, Williamson County
- Happy Hollow WMA1,800 acres, Hickman County
- Haynes Bottom WMA971 acres, Montgomery County
- Head of the Crow State Park Huntable LandsFranklin County
- Headwaters WMA600 acres, Cannon County
- Hick Hill WMA3,608 acres, Lewis County
- Hickory Flats WMA623 acres, Coffee County
- Laurel Hill LakeLawrence County
- Laurel Hill WMA14,952 acres, Lawrence County
- Long Hunter State ParkDavidson, Rutherford
- MTSU WMA995 acres, Hickman County
- Maple Springs WMA122 acres, Coffee County
- Mingo Swamp WMA460 acres, Franklin County
- Normandy WMA750 acres, Coffee, Bedford
- Old Hickory Lake Lock 5 Refuge900 acres, Wilson, Trousdale
- Old Hickory WMA6,000 acres, Wilson, Trousdale
- Owl Hollow Mill WMA3,000 acres, Franklin County
- Percy Priest WMA10,768 acres, Rutherford, Davidson
- Shady Park PHARobertson County
- Shelton Ferry WMA628 acres, Montgomery County
- Tie Camp WMA3,280 acres, Wayne County
- Tims Ford State Park Huntable LandsFranklin County
- VFW LakeLawrence County
- Williamsport WMA1,722 acres, Maury County
- Yanahli WMA12,800 acres, Maury County
Plateau Tennessee
- Alpine Mountain WMA1,642 acres, Overton County
- Anderson Pond PHAWhite County
- Battle Creek PHAMarion County
- Big Bottom Unit, Bridgestone Firestone WMAVan Buren, White
- Blackburn Fork WMA600 acres, Jackson County
- Bledsoe State Forest8,289 acres, Bledsoe, Cumberland
- Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness WMA17,000 acres, White, Van Buren
- Catoosa Ridge Refuge1,630 acres, Cumberland County
- Catoosa WMA79,740 acres, Cumberland, Morgan
- Charlotte Ann Finnell Neal WMA495 acres, Bradley, Polk
- Chickamauga WMA4,000 acres, Bradley, Rhea
- Cordell Hull WMA25,000 acres, Jackson, Smith
- Cordell Hull Waterfowl Refuge600 acres, Jackson County
- Crooked Fork Unit, Catoosa WMA1,600 acres, Morgan County
- Edgar Evins State Park6,000 acres, DeKalb County
- Fall Creek Falls State Natural Area16,181 acres, Van Buren, Bledsoe
- Fall Creek Falls State Park20,000 acres, Bledsoe, Van Buren
- Fourth Fractional Township WMA520 acres, Polk County
- Franklin State Forest8,824 acres, Marion, Franklin
- Hampton Crossroads PHAWhite County
- Harp WMA285 acres, Bledsoe County
- Hicks Gap State Natural Area350 acres, Marion County
- Hiwassee Refuge6,000 acres, Meigs, Rhea
- Jackson Swamp WMA203 acres, Overton County
- Keyes-Harrison WMA1,740 acres, Cumberland County
- Lone Mountain State Forest3,572 acres, Morgan County
- Long Branch PHADeKalb County
- Luper Mountain WMA5,617 acres, Cumberland County
- McGlothin-Largen WMA112 acres, Roane County
- Mount Roosevelt WMA11,000 acres, Roane, Cumberland
- North Chickamauga Creek WMA5,400 acres, Sequatchie, Hamilton
- Oak Ridge WMA37,000 acres, Anderson, Roane
- Obed Wild and Scenic RiverMorgan, Cumberland
- Ocoee Ranger District, Cherokee NFPolk, Monroe
- Paint Rock Refuge1,600 acres, Roane County
- Pea Ridge WMA2,000 acres, DeKalb, Cannon
- Pickett State Forest & WMA19,200 acres, Pickett, Fentress
- Pine Orchard Unit, Catoosa WMA1,114 acres, Morgan County
- Prentice Cooper State Forest & WMA26,945 acres, Marion, Hamilton
- Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA6,500 acres, White, Van Buren
- Skinner Mountain WMA18,950 acres, Fentress, Overton
- South Cherokee National Forest & WMAMonroe, Polk
- Standing Stone State Forest & WMA8,309 acres, Overton, Clay
- Tellico Lake WMA8,000 acres, Monroe, Loudon
- Tellico Ranger District, Cherokee NFMonroe County
- The Boils WMA119 acres, Jackson County
- Twin Arches State Natural Area1,500 acres, Pickett, Scott
- Watts Bar WMA3,880 acres, Roane, Rhea
- Whites Creek PHARhea, Roane
- William L. Davenport Refuge State Natural Area120 acres, Polk County
- Yuchi Refuge2,634 acres, Rhea County
East Tennessee
- Big South Fork National River and Recreation AreaScott, Fentress
- Big Springs PHASullivan County
- Buffalo Springs WMA342 acres, Grainger County
- Chuck Swan State Forest & WMA24,705 acres, Union, Campbell
- Cove Creek WMA2,450 acres, Campbell County
- Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMAClaiborne, Campbell
- Foothills WMA10,000 acres, Blount County
- Forks of the River WMA648 acres, Knox County
- Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area693 acres, Carter County
- Henderson Island Refuge525 acres, Jefferson County
- Henderson Swamp PHAWashington County
- Holston Army Ammunition PlantHawkins County
- Honey Creek State Natural Area109 acres, Scott County
- Kyker Bottoms Refuge525 acres, Blount County
- Kyles Ford WMA1,000 acres, Hancock, Hawkins
- Lick Creek Bottoms WMA1,400 acres, Greene County
- Mullins Island PHACocke County
- Nolichucky WMA1,000 acres, Greene County
- North Cherokee National Forest & WMACarter, Johnson
- North Cumberland WMA205,000 acres, Campbell, Scott
- Otey Mills Refuge (North Cumberland WMA)Claiborne County
- Rankin WMA1,975 acres, Cocke, Hamblen
- Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NFUnicoi, Cocke
- Watauga Ranger District, Cherokee NFCarter, Johnson
Tennessee deer hunting questions
When is deer season in Tennessee?
For 2026-27, deer seasons run Aug 28, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027 across all segments. The table above lists each segment.
What is the deer bag limit in Tennessee?
deer (antlered): 2 per season statewide, 1 per day; may be exceeded only as a WMA bonus deer, Earn-A-Buck in a CWD-positive county, or replacement buck. deer (antlerless), Units 1-3: 3 per day in Young Sportsman, archery, muzzleloader, straight-wall rifle and gun seasons. None in August hunt.
Where can I hunt deer on public land in Tennessee?
185 public areas list deer, including North Cumberland WMA, Catoosa WMA and Natchez Trace State Forest & 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?
Big game is checked in by midnight on the day of harvest through the TWRA On The Go app, online or at a check station.
Which county kills the most deer in Tennessee?
Sumner County led in 2025-26 with 3,753 deer.
Is baiting deer legal in Tennessee?
On private land outside the 26 CWD-related counties, with the Deer Bait Privilege License. Never on WMAs.