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Black Bear Hunting Checklist
Tennessee bear hunting is limited to East Tennessee and Cumberland Plateau bear hunt zones, mostly in steep mountain country. Plan for long walks and heavy pack-outs.
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Required by Tennessee law for this hunt: blaze orange vest and blaze orange hat.
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.
Binoculars
Glassing the edges helps you spot deer early enough to get ready for a shot.
Rangefinder
Archery shots are short and steep from a stand, and an angle-compensated reading keeps you from shooting over a deer.
Handheld GPS
Bear zones include large, rugged tracts where it is easy to get turned around; mark your truck and your bear.
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Lightweight hunting boots
Supportive boots matter more than heavy insulation on steep ridge climbs.
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Meat hauling pack
A field-dressed bear is heavy and often far from a road, so most hunters quarter and pack it out.
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Game bags
Game bags keep quarters clean and cooling on the pack-out.
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Field dressing knife
Field dress promptly to cool the meat, especially on warm September and October evenings.
Bone saw
A saw helps when quartering a bear for the pack-out.
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Headlamp
You walk in before legal shooting light, 30 minutes before sunrise, and out after dark.
First aid kit
You may be far from a road and without cell signal in East Tennessee bear country.
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Bear spray
A backup for close encounters while scouting or packing meat in bear country.
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Quiet rain gear
Mountain weather changes fast, and staying dry matters on long hunts.
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Spending more on a black bear hunting setup?
Checklists for hunts other than black bear hunting
Season dates and limits: Black Bear. Legal weapons and blaze orange: Tennessee hunting laws.
Black Bear Hunting checklist questions
What do I need for black bear hunting in Tennessee?
The 14 items above, starting with blaze orange vest, blaze orange hat and binoculars.
What gear does Tennessee law require?
For this hunt: blaze orange vest and blaze orange hat.
Do these links cost more?
No. Affiliate links do not change the price.
Do you test this gear?
No. Each item links to a search of current listings.
Where can I buy locally?
See the archery and sporting goods directory.
Is blaze orange required?
For big game during gun and muzzleloader hunts, 500 square inches on the upper body and head.
Are crossbows legal?
Yes, in every deer, bear, elk and turkey season.
When is the season?
See Black Bear for 2026-27 dates.