What you can hunt in Tennessee
Game animals and birds with a legal season in Tennessee.
Big game
White-tailed deer, Wild turkey, Black bear, Elk.
Small game
Gray and fox squirrel, Rabbit, Ruffed grouse, Bobwhite quail, Bullfrog, Armadillo.
Migratory birds
Mourning dove, Eurasian collared dove, Woodcock, Wilson's snipe, Virginia rail, Sora rail, Gallinule and moorhen, Crow, Ducks, Coot, Mergansers, Canada goose, White-fronted goose, Brant, Snow, blue and Ross's geese, Sandhill crane (quota permit only).
Furbearers
Beaver, Bobcat, Coyote, Fox, Groundhog, Mink, Muskrat, Opossum, River otter, Raccoon, Skunk, Weasel.
Unprotected / no closed season
Coyote, Beaver, Groundhog, Striped skunk, Armadillo, Wild hog (private land).
Seasons are closed unless opened by proclamation. Season dates. Checked October 9, 2026.
What you cannot hunt in Tennessee
Protected species and animals with no open season.
Hawks, owls and songbirds
Taking, killing or possessing hawks, owls, songbirds, endangered species, or any species with no set season (for example snakes) is prohibited.
Bald and golden eagles
Eagles are protected by the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Taking, possessing or selling them or their parts is prohibited without a federal permit.
Non-game migratory birds
Migratory birds without a hunting season are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Cougar (mountain lion)
Cougars are protected by Tennessee law and may not be taken until a hunting season is proclaimed.
American alligator
Alligators are protected by Tennessee law and may not be taken until a hunting season is proclaimed.
Whooping crane
Shooting a whooping crane, accidental or intentional, is a dual state and federal violation.
Sandhill crane
Only hunters who draw a Tennessee Sandhill Crane Permit and pass the yearly crane identification test may hunt cranes.
Albino deer
Hunting, trapping or possessing an albino deer is prohibited under TCA 70-4-130.
Black bear cubs and sows with cubs
Cubs (75 pounds or less) and female bears with cubs at side may not be taken at any time.
Black bear outside open zones
Bear reserves, Mt. Roosevelt WMA, state parks, Scott State Forest, and national parks and recreation areas are closed to bear hunting unless stated otherwise.
Wild turkey hens
All hens, including bearded hens, are illegal to harvest. Only male turkeys are legal.
Fall turkey in closed counties
Fall turkey season is closed in Crockett, Dyer, Giles, Haywood, Lake, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lincoln, Shelby, Tipton and Wayne counties.
Elk (without permit)
Elk may be hunted only by quota permit holders. All public land other than North Cumberland WMA is closed to elk hunting.
Live native wildlife
No native species may be taken from the wild and kept as a pet. Animals taken under hunting seasons may not be possessed or transported alive.
Legal weapons and ammunition by season
| Season or method | Legal | Not legal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Longbows, recurves, compound bows and crossbows. Arrows and bolts must have sharpened broadheads. A licensed big game hunter may carry an air gun .25 caliber or smaller to take small game while archery hunting deer or bear. | Pod arrows or the drugs used in them, explosive arrowheads or broadheads. Centerfire rifles and handguns may not be used on furbearers during archery-only seasons. Hunters on deer archery-only dates may not hold both archery gear and a shotgun or rifle for fall turkey. | Source |
| Crossbows | Crossbows are archery equipment and are legal in every deer, bear, elk and turkey season, including archery-only seasons. | Bolts must carry sharpened broadheads. | Source |
| Muzzleloader | Muzzleloading rifles and handguns .36 caliber or larger for deer, bear and elk, plus archery equipment. A muzzleloader must be loaded from the muzzle and built so it cannot be loaded from the breech. | Muzzleloaders under .36 caliber are not legal for big game. Centerfire rifles and handguns may not be used on furbearers during muzzleloader/archery-only seasons. | Source |
| Straight-wall rifle week | Single-shot rifles chambered for a straight-wall centerfire cartridge .35 caliber or larger, not capable of holding multiple rounds, on private land only, Nov. 14-20, 2026. Deer taken count toward the muzzleloader bag limit. These rifles are also legal in gun season. | Not allowed on public land during this week. Repeating rifles do not qualify. | Source |
| Gun (deer, bear, elk) | Centerfire rifles and handguns, shotguns (including muzzleloading shotguns) with slugs or a single ball, muzzleloaders .36 caliber or larger, single-shot straight-wall rifles .35 caliber or larger, pre-charged pneumatic air guns .35 caliber or larger with a built-in pressure gauge, airbows, and archery equipment. | Full metal jacket and tracer ammunition, fully automatic firearms, and centerfire rifles or handguns from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. Shotgun shells loaded with shot are not on the legal list for deer, bear or elk, and anything not on the list is illegal. Hunters under 18 may not hunt with handguns. | Source |
| Turkey | Shotguns with No. 4 shot or smaller (no limit on rounds in the magazine), longbows, recurves, compounds and crossbows, and airbows during statewide turkey gun seasons. Scopes are legal. | Possessing rifles, using handguns, ammunition larger than No. 4 shot, electronic calls, live decoys, baiting, and night vision, infrared or light-based devices. On WMAs, fanning or reaping is prohibited. | Source |
| Waterfowl | Shotguns with federally approved non-toxic shot, T size or smaller, plugged to hold no more than three shells. During the Light Goose Conservation Season (Feb. 15-Mar. 31) unplugged shotguns and electronic calls are allowed for snow, blue and Ross's geese. | Lead or any shot that is not non-toxic, shotguns holding more than three shells, electronic calls, recorded calls and live decoys outside the conservation season. Sandhill crane hunters may not use shotguns larger than 10-gauge. | Source |
| Doves and other migratory birds | Shotguns with No. 4 shot or smaller, plugged to three shells. Crows are exempt from the plug rule. | Non-toxic shot is required for coots, gallinules, Virginia rails and sora rails. | Source |
| Small game | Shotguns with No. 4 shot or smaller, rimfire rifles and handguns, air guns .25 caliber or smaller, muzzleloaders of any caliber, archery equipment, and falconry. A licensed deer or bear hunter may use rimfire or .25 caliber air guns for small game during muzzleloader and gun seasons. | Centerfire rifles and handguns are not legal for squirrel, rabbit, quail, grouse and other non-furbearer small game. | Source |
| Furbearers and coyote (daytime) | Centerfire and rimfire rifles and handguns, shotguns with T shot or smaller or slugs, muzzleloaders, straight-wall rifles, air guns, airbows and archery equipment. | Centerfire rifles and handguns at night, and during archery-only or muzzleloader/archery-only big game seasons. | Source |
| Night coyote and bobcat season | Shotguns only, with buckshot or smaller shot, from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. Spotlights, night vision and thermal devices are allowed. Seasons: June 6-Aug. 9, 2026; Jan. 16-Mar. 14 and June 5-Aug. 8, 2027. | Rifles, handguns and single-projectile ammunition. Dogs. Lights from or attached to a motor vehicle, or cast from a public road. Public land (private land only, with written, text or email permission). | Source |
| Air guns | Air guns .25 caliber or smaller for small game and furbearers. Pre-charged pneumatic air guns .35 caliber or larger with a built-in manometer for deer, bear, elk and furbearers. Airbows are legal for all hunters in modern gun seasons for deer, bear, elk and turkey, and in archery season only for holders of certain permanent disabled licenses. | Source | |
| Suppressors | Suppressors are legal for hunting if the hunter holds the required federal license and carries proof of it. | Source | |
| Night vision and thermal | Allowed only with shotguns during the night coyote and bobcat season. | Night vision scopes, thermal imaging or similar devices while holding a firearm or bow between sunset and sunrise, and any firearm or bow fitted with a light able to locate wildlife. | Source |
| Electronic calls | Electronic calls are allowed for snow, blue and Ross's geese during the Light Goose Conservation Season. Predator calls are allowed at night only during the night coyote and bobcat season. | Electronic calls or live decoys for wild turkey, foxes and waterfowl. Predator calls while night hunting outside the night coyote and bobcat season. | Source |
| Dogs | Dogs may be used for all small game except on WMAs that say otherwise. Bear hounds are allowed in listed bear dog hunts. A leashed dog may track a legally wounded deer or elk, with tracking ending at midnight. | Using dogs to take deer or elk, or taking a deer being chased by dogs. Dogs during the night coyote and bobcat season. Possessing firearms while chasing coyote, fox or bobcat with dogs from the first Saturday in November through the end of deer season. Taking animals during dog training. | Source |
Tennessee hunting laws: baiting and feeding
Deer baiting (private land)
Starting with the 2026-27 season, deer may be hunted over bait on private or leased land with a Deer Bait Privilege License ($50 resident, $100 nonresident), required of everyone including landowners and youths. Baiting is not allowed in the CWD Management Zone or any CWD-positive county.
Deer bait limits
One bait site per 5 acres, sites at least 500 yards apart, no more than 5 gallons or 25 pounds per site in 24 hours, bait scattered not piled, and no open trough feeders. Corn, grains and products made for deer are allowed; sugar, honey, syrups and processed foods are not.
Bait and other big game
No other big game species, including bear and turkey, may be harvested within 250 yards of a bait site. The same applies to deer for a hunter without a bait license.
Baiting other wildlife
Outside the deer bait license, bait must be removed and electronic feeders disabled at least 10 days before hunting.
Baiting on public land
Placing any feed, grain, salt or minerals to attract wildlife is prohibited on WMAs, Public Hunting Areas and refuges. Deer baiting is also banned on private inholdings surrounded by WMAs or PHAs and in the Gatlinburg No Feeding Zone.
Turkey baiting
Baiting turkeys is prohibited.
Waterfowl and dove baiting
Federal rules bar hunting migratory birds by aid of bait or over a baited area. An area stays baited for 10 days after the bait is removed, and a hunter does not need to know it is baited to be in violation.
Food plots and farming
Hunting over normal agricultural practices or wildlife food plots is not considered baiting.
Wildlife feeding in CWD counties
In the CWD Management Zone and CWD-positive counties, feed and minerals for wildlife are banned unless within 100 feet of an occupied building, placed to exclude deer, part of approved hog control, or from normal farming or forestry.
Deer urine scents
Natural cervid urine is prohibited while hunting unless labeled as produced in a certified CWD-tested facility.
Tennessee hunting laws: vehicles, roads, boats and lights
Hunting from vehicles
On private land you may hunt from a stationary motor vehicle, including ATVs and golf carts, with the engine running. Hunting from any vehicle under power is illegal.
Roads and rights-of-way
Hunting from or across a public road or right-of-way is illegal.
Hunting from boats
Where hunting from vessels is allowed, the vessel may not be under forward motion from a motor or sail. Turkeys may not be shot or stalked from a boat in Dyer, Haywood, Lauderdale, Obion, Shelby or Tipton counties.
Spotlighting and lights
Firearms or bows fitted with a light able to locate wildlife are prohibited, except shotguns in the night coyote and bobcat season. Landowners with a Landowner Wild Hog Exemption may use a spotlight at night on hogs.
Drones
Drones may not be used to hunt wildlife. A drone with thermal imaging, flown by an FAA-certified remote pilot, may be used to find a wounded or dead deer over private land with permission from 30 minutes after sunset to 3 a.m. No one may hold a hunting weapon during drone recovery.
Roadkill
Game killed by a vehicle may be kept for personal use. For a deer, notify TWRA or law enforcement within 48 hours. A roadkilled bear may be kept only after a TWRA officer issues a possession tag.
Tennessee hunting laws: private land, permission and trespass
Permission on private land
Hunters must have landowner permission to hunt private land, and written permission to trap. On land posted 'HUNTING BY WRITTEN PERMISSION ONLY' with the owner's name and address, hunters must carry written permission (TCA 70-4-106).
Posted land and purple paint
Owners may post land against trespass with signs at major entrances or with vertical purple paint marks on trees or posts (at least 8 inches by 1 inch, 3 to 5 feet off the ground) plus a sign explaining the marks (TCA 39-14-405).
Landowner license exemption
Tennessee resident landowners, their spouses, children and children's spouses may hunt their own farmland without a license. They must sign a statement on where the land is. Landowners and their children hunting this way are also exempt from hunter education and blaze orange rules.
Hunter harassment
Interfering with lawful hunting, disturbing game to prevent a lawful harvest, or using a drone to film lawful hunters without written consent is a crime (TCA 70-4-302).
Hunting near dwellings
On public lands and waters it is illegal to hunt or shoot within 100 yards of a visible dwelling without the owner's permission.
Tennessee hunting laws: wma rules
Trail cameras on WMAs
Personal property may not be left unattended on a WMA for more than 24 hours without the area manager's approval. The guide does not name trail cameras separately.
Tree stands on WMAs
Stands may not be attached with nails, wire or other metal, permanent stands are prohibited, stands may not be left more than 24 hours without approval, and stands must be marked with the hunter's TWRA ID number.
Ground blinds on WMAs
During big game muzzleloader and gun hunts (except turkey), a man-made ground blind must have solid fluorescent orange or pink attached to it or within 25 feet, visible from all sides.
Alcohol and drugs on WMAs
No one may possess or be under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, barbiturates or marijuana on a WMA, except alcohol in designated camping areas or on public waters by someone not hunting.
Youth on WMAs
Youths 6 to 16 hunting big game on a WMA need a WMA or quota permit and must be with an adult 21 or older who can take immediate control of the hunting device and wears 500 square inches of orange or pink.
Handgun carry on WMAs
A person may carry a handgun year-round on TWRA refuges, public hunting areas, state WMAs, state-maintained national forest land and private land. This does not allow hunting with a handgun unless all wildlife rules are met.
Turkey calling and fanning on WMAs
Calling turkeys on WMAs is prohibited from March 1 until spring turkey season opens. Fanning or reaping turkeys is prohibited on WMAs.
Tennessee hunting laws: tagging, check-in and transport
Wanton waste
Hunters must retrieve all crippled or dead game if possible and may not dump dead wildlife on WMAs. Federal rules also require retrieving killed or crippled migratory birds.
Wounded game
Any game animal taken into possession must be killed at once and counts toward the bag limit.
Big game check-in
Before moving big game, tag it with the TWRA On The Go app or attach a paper Temporary Transportation Tag, then check it in by midnight on the day of harvest. This applies to everyone, including landowners and license-exempt hunters.
Leaving the state or gifting game
Big game must be checked in before it is gifted or leaves the state, and the harvest confirmation number must go with it to processors and taxidermists.
Evidence of sex
Evidence of species, sex and antlered status must stay with big game while afield until checked in. Turkeys must stay intact until checked in. Bears must weigh 75 pounds or more when possessed afield.
Elk and crane check-in
Quota elk must be checked in at the North Cumberland WMA office the day of harvest; incidental elk must be reported by phone that day. Sandhill cranes must be checked in by the end of the day of harvest.
Migratory bird transport
The head or one fully feathered wing must stay attached to migratory game birds (except doves) while being transported home. Birds left with another person must be tagged by the hunter.
CWD carcass rules
Only approved parts (deboned meat, cleaned skulls and antlers, cleaned teeth, hides, finished taxidermy) may leave the CWD Management Zone. Tennessee residents may bring back only approved parts of deer, elk, moose or caribou killed out of state.
Sale of game
Buying, selling or bartering wildlife is illegal unless allowed by Title 70 or TWRA rules (TCA 70-4-201).
Tennessee hunting laws: age, education and licenses
Hunter education
Hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1969 must carry proof of hunter education. Children under 10 need no card but must be with an adult 21 or older who can take immediate control of the gun or bow.
Apprentice permit
Hunters 10 and older without hunter education may buy an Apprentice Hunter Education Permit for up to three consecutive years. They must hunt with an adult 21 or older who meets hunter education rules and can take immediate control of the hunting device.
License age
Hunters under 13 do not need a hunting license. Hunters 13 and older do, unless exempt.
Youth handguns
Hunters under 18 may not hunt with handguns.
Young Sportsman hunts
Youths 6 to 16 must be with a non-hunting adult 21 or older who stays in position to take control of the hunting device. One adult may accompany several youths.
Accompanying other hunters
A hunter who has filled a bag limit may go along with other hunters only without any ammunition, firearm or bow.
Migratory bird permits
Migratory bird hunters need a Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit. Waterfowl hunters 16 and older must also carry a signed Federal Duck Stamp or E-stamp.
Other Tennessee hunting rules
Sunday hunting
The 2026-27 guide lists no Sunday closure, and season dates run through Sundays.
Wild hogs
It is illegal to possess, transport or release live wild hogs. On public land, hogs may be taken only on designated areas.
Handgun while intoxicated
Possessing a handgun while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance is an offense under TCA 39-17-1321.
Blaze orange
Big game hunters must wear 500 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink on the head and upper body, visible front and back, except on archery-only and turkey hunts. Archers must wear it where archery deer season overlaps a big game gun season.
Shooting hours
Most game may be hunted from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Turkey and migratory birds end at sunset, sandhill cranes run sunrise to 3 p.m., and dove opening day starts at noon. Raccoon, opossum, bullfrog, and fox and rabbit chasing are allowed day or night.
Ammunition
Carrying any ammunition other than what is authorized for the hunt is prohibited.
Mississippi River flood closure
When the Mississippi River reaches 34 feet at the Caruthersville gauge, all big game hunting closes in the Mississippi River Floodwaters Zone until it drops below 34 feet.
Penalties for breaking Tennessee hunting laws
General hunting violations
The Tennessee hunter education course states a hunting law violation can bring a fine up to $500, up to six months in jail, or both.
Hunter harassment
Hunter harassment is a Class C misdemeanor. Courts may also order injunctions and damages, including punitive damages.
Criminal trespass
Criminal trespass is a Class C misdemeanor.
Hunting without written permission
A hunter found on land posted for written permission without that permission is subject to prosecution.
Selling wildlife
Illegal sale or purchase of wildlife is a Class A misdemeanor, or a Class E felony when the wildlife is worth $500 or more. Each sale is a separate offense.
Possessing illegal game
Anyone who uses or possesses illegally taken wildlife is equally liable with the person who took it.
Vehicle confiscation
Any vehicle carrying an illegally possessed big game animal is subject to confiscation.
Handgun while intoxicated
Possessing a handgun while under the influence is a Class A misdemeanor.
License revocation
Courts can revoke hunting privileges, up to a lifetime ban, for wildlife violations.
Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact
Tennessee is in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact. A hunting, fishing or trapping suspension in one member state can be enforced in Tennessee and the other member states.
Migratory bird dual violation
Breaking a state migratory bird regulation is also a federal violation.
False check-in information
Giving false information during big game check-in is a violation of the law.
Tennessee hunting law questions
Is Sunday hunting legal in Tennessee?
The 2026-27 guide lists no Sunday closure, and season dates run through Sundays.
Is it legal to bait deer in Tennessee?
Starting with the 2026-27 season, deer may be hunted over bait on private or leased land with a Deer Bait Privilege License ($50 resident, $100 nonresident), required of everyone including landowners and youths. Baiting is not allowed in the CWD Management Zone or any CWD-positive county.
Can I hunt from my truck or the road?
On private land you may hunt from a stationary motor vehicle, including ATVs and golf carts, with the engine running. Hunting from any vehicle under power is illegal.
What does purple paint mean in Tennessee?
Owners may post land against trespass with signs at major entrances or with vertical purple paint marks on trees or posts (at least 8 inches by 1 inch, 3 to 5 feet off the ground) plus a sign explaining the marks (TCA 39-14-405).
Can I use a drone to find a deer?
Drones may not be used to hunt wildlife. A drone with thermal imaging, flown by an FAA-certified remote pilot, may be used to find a wounded or dead deer over private land with permission from 30 minutes after sunset to 3 a.m. No one may hold a hunting weapon during drone recovery.
Are crossbows legal in Tennessee?
Yes. Crossbows count as archery equipment in every deer, bear, elk and turkey season, including archery-only seasons.
Do I need permission to hunt private land?
Hunters must have landowner permission to hunt private land, and written permission to trap. On land posted 'HUNTING BY WRITTEN PERMISSION ONLY' with the owner's name and address, hunters must carry written permission (TCA 70-4-106).
Can I hunt hawks or owls?
No. Hawks, owls, songbirds and endangered species are protected.
What happens if I break a hunting law?
The Tennessee hunter education course states a hunting law violation can bring a fine up to $500, up to six months in jail, or both.