Tennessee Hunting Laws Licensing & Regulations

Hunting in Tennessee

Tennessee is one of the most traditional hunting states in the United States. Deer, turkeys, elk, and a variety of small game animals are among the games available in the state.

Tennessee Hunting Rules

While hunting in Tennessee, sportsmen must follow hunting laws, standards, and regulations. Some of these laws apply exclusively during specific hunting seasons, while others apply regardless of the game season.

The following are some of Tennessee’s most important hunting laws:

Clothing requirements for hunters

All hunters and their aids are required to wear an orange-colored outer garment material. During firearm seasons, muzzleloader firearm seasons, or elk and bear firearm seasons, the color must be visible from the head, chest, and back regions.

The dressing rules for dove and waterfowl hunting seasons, on the other hand, are not mandatory.

You can utilize mesh material for your hunter gear; however, your mesh weave should not be larger than 14 of the measures. If you wear an orange outfit, a little pattern of other colors may appear.

The following are some of the Tennessee Hunter orange apparel violations:

It is illegal to wear orange clothing with camouflage patterns and no other orange color on the chest, head, or back.
It is illegal to wear hunting attire to a stand and then remove it when you reach the stand.
It is illegal to hunt rabbits, birds, and squirrels without the required attire.
It is illegal to hunt deer and elk during firearms seasons without complying with the hunter’s orange dressing requirement.
It is illegal for archery or crossbow hunters to hunt during firearm seasons without wearing the requisite orange cloth.

Anyone hunting deer with a rifle in some WMA must ensure that the blind has hunter’s orange material affixed and is visible from all sides. In addition, hunters in the blind must wear orange apparel. During the weapon seasons, hunters are not permitted to set up hunting blinds or wear orange clothing on WMA or Tennessee public hunting properties where the taking of animals such as bears, elks, and deer is prohibited.

Tennessee Shooting Schedule

Most game species in Tennessee typically have shooting hours between 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after dusk. Regardless, hunters are permitted to be on hunting grounds and stand prior to the shooting hours. There are several exceptions to these shooting hours, such as opossums, frogs, coyotes, and raccoons.

Hunters may take opossums and raccoons during the day or at night, with the exception of the modern firearm deer shooting season, when opossums and raccoons may only be taken at night.

Methods of hunting that are prohibited

Illegal hunting activities in Tennessee include the following:

It is illegal in the state to discharge firearms, archery devices, or a similar hunting weapon or equipment across a major road or public highway in the name of hunting.
Taking or attempting to take games and wildlife with a vehicle or automobile is prohibited, regardless of whether they are protected or unprotected by the state hunting agency. There is an exception for boat hunting.
It is illegal to use hunting dogs or a horse to pursue animals such as turkeys, elk, and deer while on horseback. The employment of dogs to locate turkeys during the fall turkey season is an exception to this rule.
It is illegal to capture bears, elks, or deer when they are swimming.
Giving bears food, whether directly or indirectly, is prohibited, regardless of the reason.
It is illegal to capture game or wildlife using explosives, fire, smoke, chemicals, or gas.
Baiting game animals is prohibited in all Tennessee wildlife management areas.
It is illegal for elk and deer hunters to utilize electronically generated calls or any type of decoy to attract the animals.
Taking turkeys when they are roosting is illegal. Roosting refers to any location where a turkey spends the night, but it is most commonly found on trees.
It is illegal in Tennessee to use live turkeys as decoys when hunting wild turkeys.

Games of Chance

It is illegal to use bait or attempt to hunt bears and wild turkeys in locations where bait is already present. This rule also applies to game baiting in Tennessee private hunting areas. Under this law, any previously baited place is still deemed baited for 30 days after the baits are removed.

Baited areas are lands or locations where items that can attract game, such as grains or feeds, have been placed in order to attract game such as turkeys, deer, and bears.

However, hunting is not forbidden in regions where grains or other feed substances exist as a result of agriculture activities or crop growth for wildlife control.

Restriction Devices and Game Calling Devices

In Tennessee, the following methods of game calling are permitted:

To attract all of the game species you want to take, you can utilize hand- or mouth-operated sounds.
During their lawful hunting season, you can employ electronic calling devices to attract furbearers.
To catch crows during their hunting seasons, you can employ electronic or mechanical sounds.
It is, however, illegal to use or possess electronic calls during elk, deer, and turkey hunting seasons.

While hunting, open carry is permitted.

Tennessee gun law enables anybody to openly carry a firearm when hunting in the state, as long as the firearm is handled in accordance with gun rules.

For the protection of hunting activities, the state also has hunter harassment legislation.

The legislation specifies that no one shall intentionally interfere with or impede hunting activities in the state, including fishing, trapping, and the like.

Tennessee Hunting Permits, Licenses, and Tags

Hunting permits are usually game-specific, and you’ll need both a hunting license and a game permit to hunt certain species during their season.

Tennessee hunting licenses, permits, and tags include the following:

Annual Tennessee Fishing License

Holders of this license may participate in Tennessee hunting seasons as long as they obtain the necessary hunting licenses. Residents and non-residents can obtain the license for $27 and $140, respectively.

One-Day Hunting Permit

This hunting permit is only good for one day. With this license, hunters can hunt all game animals except big game such as turkeys, bears, elks, and deer. It is available for $7 and $15 for locals and non-residents, respectively.

7-Day Hunting Permit

This hunting permit is only good for seven days. With this license, hunters can hunt all game animals except big game such as turkeys, bears, elks, and deer. It is only available to non-residents and costs $55.

Annual Youth Hunting Permit

This license is required for minors who want to hunt in Tennessee. However, extra permits will be necessary in addition to this license for the taking of big game such as deer and turkeys. A Tennessee youth hunting license must be purchased between the ages of 12 and 15, and it is valid for one year. Residents and non-residents can purchase it for $6 and $10, respectively.

Shooting Range Permit

This license is granted to hunters who want to hunt with weapons in certain areas of Tennessee. Hunters must receive these licenses, as well as any additional ones. It costs $5 and is available to both residents and non-residents.

Annual Trapping Permits

A trapping license is required in Tennessee to trap certain game. It costs $20 and $130 for residents and non-residents of the state, respectively.

Trapping Permits for Landlords and Tenants

Before setting traps on private property, hunters must acquire permission from the landowner. They must also obtain a landlord/tenant trapping permit. Residents can obtain the license, which costs $10.

Annual Youth Trapping Permit

This license is required for minors who want to trap in Tennessee. A Tennessee youth trapping license is required for children aged 12 to 15, and the license is valid for one year. It is exclusively available to residents and costs $5.

Combination Hunting and Fishing License

This license entitles the holder to hunt and fish in Tennessee. It is exclusively available to state citizens and is valid for one year. However, additional licenses and tags will be necessary for hunting species such as turkeys and deer. It is $42.00.

License for Sportsman Hunting and Fishing

This license is not restricted to hunting and fishing in Tennessee water bodies. It includes deer licenses, turkey licenses, migratory bird licenses, waterfowl licenses, and trout fishing licenses. It is only available to inhabitants of the state and costs $95.

Sportsman Hunting and Fishing License for Youth

This license is not restricted to youth hunting and fishing in Tennessee water bodies. It includes deer licenses, turkey licenses, migratory bird licenses, waterfowl licenses, and trout fishing licenses. It is only available to youth residents between the ages of 123 and 15, and it costs $95.

Sportsman’s License for Seniors and Disabled

This license has all of the benefits of the Tennessee Sportsman Hunting and Fishing License, but it is only available to senior and disabled people. Seniors must be 65 years old or older to apply for this license. It is priced at $12.

Permits for Hunting Deer

In Tennessee, many sorts of deer permits are issued. Among them are the following:

Deer Permit for the Entire State

This permit will allow hunters to take deer throughout the state. During the hunting season, there is a bag limit of four deer. It costs $35 for citizens and $120 for non-residents of the state, respectively.

Permit for Youth Deer Hunting

This deer ticket is available to youths aged 12 to 15. It has a four-deer bag limit. Residents and non-residents can purchase it for $10 and $15, respectively.

Additional deer licenses

This is a separate deer permit that is available to both residents and non-residents. The permit costs $15 and includes a bag limit of two deer.

Permits for Turkey

The following turkey permits are available in Tennessee:

Spring Turkey Permit for the Entire State

This permit will allow hunters to take turkeys throughout the state. During the hunting season, there is a bag limit of two turkeys. It is accessible for $35 and $75 for residents and non-residents of the state, respectively.

Permit for Youth Turkey Hunting

This turkey permit is available to youths aged 12 to 15. There is a bag limit of one turkey per season. Residents and non-residents can purchase it for $10 and $15, respectively.

Tennessee Fishing and Hunting Licenses, Permits, and Tags

Tennessee hunting and fishing licenses, permits, and tags include the following:

Annual Tennessee Fishing License

This license entitles the possessor to fish in numerous bodies of water within the state. Residents and non-residents can purchase it for $23 and $55, respectively.

One-Day Fishing Permit

This permit is only good for one day. This license allows you to catch fish in Tennessee’s bodies of water. It is available for $7 and $15 for locals and non-residents, respectively.

3 Day Fishing Permit

This license is only good for three days. It is exclusively available to locals and costs $55.

7-Day Fishing Permit

This hunting permit is only good for seven days. It is a non-resident Tennessee out-of-state hunting license that costs $35.

Permit for Trout

The permit is solely valid for trout harvesting. It is available to both residents and non-residents and costs $10.

Tennessee Deer Season

Tennessee’s hunting season differs for various games and weaponry to take the games. Hunters must be aware of the start and end dates for the game animals they intend to hunt.

Tennessee Hunting for deer in Tennessee and various wildlife in 2020–21 includes the following:

Seasons for deer hunting in Tennessee

Archery Hunting Season (September 5th to January 18th)
Crossbow hunting season begins on September 19th and ends on January 18th.
Muzzleloader Hunting Season (October 17th to October 18th and December 12th to December 20th)
Modern Gun Hunting Season (November 14th to November 29th)
Youth-only Gun Hunting Season (October 10th to October 11th)

Some deer hunting firearm seasons in Tennessee may differ depending on the hunting zone. Hunters should contact the Tennessee Department of Fish and Wildlife to confirm the particular date for their hunting zone.

Seasons for hunting elk in Tennessee

Season for archery and crossbow hunting (12th September to 25th September and 5th December to 11th December)
Bull Firearms Hunting Season (September 26th to September 30th and October 3rd to October 7th)
Cow Firearms Hunting Seasons (November 28th to December 2nd and December 26th to January 30th)
(All elk season dates) Youth-only hunting season

Elk hunting seasons in Tennessee vary depending on Turkey hunting in Tennessee. whether the elk has antlers or not.

Seasons for hunting turkey in Tennessee

Fall Archery Season (September 5th to September 18th)
Fall Firearms Season (October 24th to October 30th and December 5th to December 11th)
Fall Crossbow Season (October 1st to October 18th and December 14th to December 31st)

The spring turkey hunting season is still in the proposal stage; interested hunters should check the state hunting department website to confirm the date.

Small Game Hunting Season in Tennessee

Crow Hunting Season (September 1st to November 7th and January 4th to February 28th)
Groundhog Hunting Season (March 1st to February 28th)
Squirrel Hunting Season (August 15th to November 13th and November 16th to February 28th)
Grouse Hunting Season (November 1st to February 28th)
Rabbit hunting season runs from November 1st to February 10th.
Hunting Season for Quail (November 1st to February 10th)

Small game hunting seasons will differ depending on Tennessee hunting zones. Furthermore, bag restrictions, hunting rules, and regulations for the hunting season will differ depending on the game species you wish to take. Hunters should visit the Tennessee Department of Wildlife and Fish website to confirm all pertinent information about the individual games they wish to participate in.

Tennessee Wildlife, Recreation, and Fishing

The following are some of the most prevalent fauna and games in Tennessee:

Tennessee deer hunting

Tennessee has a bag restriction of two deer per season and one per day for each hunter. In Tennessee, antler deer must be at least 3 inches long. Aside from that, this is an antlerless deer. Taking albino deer is likewise forbidden in Tennessee.

Tennessee Turkey Hunting

Tennessee turkey hunting has seen constant growth over the years, particularly when it comes to harvesting wild turkeys. They are also evenly dispersed across all counties.

Hunting for elk in Tennessee

Elk hunting in Tennessee is concentrated in the eastern section of the state due to the abundance of elk. Breathitt County has the state’s largest elk herd.

Hunting for Quail in Tennessee

In recent years, quail hunting in Tennessee has been less prevalent than usual. However, there is still a lot of preserve hunting for the games available, as well as numerous other opportunities to take quail in Tennessee public hunting areas.

Pheasant hunting in Tennessee

Pheasant hunting is uncommon in Tennessee because the game is not native to the state. Nonetheless, there are numerous preserves and game farms that have stock pheasants available for licensed hunters to take.

Hunting and shooting ranges in Tennessee

The following shooting ranges are open to the general public in Tennessee:

Hunter Education Center at Stones River
Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area and Prentice Cooper State Forest
The Smoky Mountain Sports Club is a sports club in the Smoky Mountains.
Firing Range at the Royal Blue Wildlife Management Area
Clays from Montlake
Prairie Shooters Association.
The Nashville Gun Club
Bend of the River Public Shooting Club is a shooting club located in Bend, Oregon.
Wildlife Management Area: Chuck Swan
Skeet & Trap League of Henry Horton
Fayetteville Municipal Gun Range.
Cheatham Wildlife Management Area is a wildlife management area.

Hunting Lands in Tennessee for Sale and Lease

Tennessee hunting lands for sale include the following:

32.51 acres in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee (Humphreys County).
281.59 acres in Hampshire, Tennessee (Lewis County).
225.02 acres in Tennessee (Hickman County).
1,932 acres in Deer Lodge, Tennessee (Morgan County).
Whitleyville, Tennessee (Clay County), on 1,184 acres, is an outstanding recreational and hunting property in North Central Tennessee.
52 acres in Greeneville, Tennessee (Greene County).
a superb hunting opportunity for huge deer on 2,000 acres near Indian Mound, Tennessee (Stewart County).
Hunting land on 20 acres in Kingston Springs, Cheatham County
Warren County has almost 2,000 acres of land available for lease.
Sequatchie County, Tennessee Real Estate, 36 Acres

Tennessee hunting lands for lease include the following:

The highest bidder will receive a three-year lease on 93 acres of exceptional deer, duck, and turkey hunting property in Hardin County.
In Marion County, Tennessee, a hunting lease of 700 acres is available.
A lease of 150 acres in Junction County with water and electricity
Grundy County 950-acre farm hunting lease pasture and woods with houses and barns if desired.
Hunting, fishing, and living rights to 110 acres in Stewart County are adjacent to 1800 acres of federal no-firearms area.
926 acres in Henderson County near Cedar Grove, on an annual lease with the option to renew.
594 acres of mature hardwoods and bedding ground. Yearly leases are available, as are all hunting rights.