HUNTING SEASONS IN TENNESSEE 2025–26: Deer Hunting, Big Game and Small Game, Licenses, and Regulations Guide

Plan your 2025–26 TN hunt with our state‑by‑state guide—season dates, bag limits, licenses, bow & rifle rules, and key game species from white‑tailed deer to wild turkey to waterfowl. Whether you’re glassing a rutting buck at dawn in the Highland Rim, slipping decoys for mallards on the Mississippi River bottoms, or pursuing coyote year‑round on private land, Tennessee’s mountains, river valleys, and wetlands deliver premier big game and small game opportunities under clear regulations. What Is There to Hunt in Tennessee? Tennessee’s varied habitats support: Big Game: White‑tailed deer, wild turkey, black bear (draw hunts), invasive feral hogs (no closed season) Small Game & Upland Birds: Cottontail rabbit, gray squirrel, bobwhite quail, mourning dove Waterfowl & Migratory Birds: Ducks (mallard, teal, wood duck), Canada geese, coots, rails Furbearers & Predators: Coyote, fox, raccoon, nutria From the Appalachian Plateau to the Delta farmlands, Tennessee hunters pursue robust state animal populations across well‑timed seasons. What Animals Can You Hunt Year‑Round in Tennessee? On private lands with landowner permission—and a valid license—you may harvest unprotected or nuisance species such as coyote, feral hogs, nutria, and raccoon any time of year (no closed season, no bag limits). Public Wildlife Management Areas enforce posted season dates and method restrictions—always confirm before you hunt. Tennessee Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26 White‑Tailed Deer Youth Weekend: Sept 27–28, 2025 Archery: Oct 1 – Jan 31, 2026 Primitive Weapons: Oct 1 – Oct 21, 2025 (select WMAs) General Firearms: Nov 15 – Dec 15, 2025 Muzzleloader: Dec 16 – Dec 31, 2025 Late Antlerless: Jan 2 – Jan 30, 2026 (county tags) Bag limit: one antlered buck per season; antlerless deer by permit. Wild Turkey (Spring) Spring Youth Hunt: Mar 29–Apr 4, 2026 Spring General: Apr 5 – May 22, 2026 Fall Archery: Sept 1 – Sept 30, 2025 (select WMAs) Spring turkey permits cover both shotgun and archery; youth days foster safe mentoring. Black Bear Draw Hunts Only: Sept 15 – Sept 30, 2025 (WMAs) Bear tags issue via lottery; successful hunters must tag and report harvested bears per TWRA rules. Tennessee Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025–26 Small Game & Upland Birds Rabbit & Squirrel: Oct 1 – Feb 28, 2026 (8 rabbit; 8 squirrel/day) Bobwhite Quail: Nov 1 – Feb 28, 2026 (8/day; select WMAs) Mourning Dove: Sept 1 – Nov 30, 2025 & Dec 1 – Jan 31, 2026 (15/day) Shotguns loaded with non‑toxic shot required; upland hunters use dogs per WMA regulations. Waterfowl & Migratory Birds Early Teal: Sept 6 – Sept 26, 2025 Duck & Goose: Nov 15 – Jan 31, 2026 (zones split) Youth Waterfowl Day: Oct 18, 2025 Rails & Coots: Sept 1 – Nov 9, 2025 (25 & 15/day) Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset; Federal Duck Stamp, HIP, and state waterfowl permit required Delta impoundments and Tennessee River wetlands host migrating flocks; bag limits keep populations healthy. Bag Limits by Species White‑Tailed Deer: 1 buck; additional antlerless by permit Wild Turkey: 2 per spring; 1 fall archery Black Bear: 1 per draw permit Ducks: 6/day; sub‑limits apply Geese: 5/day Rails & Coots: 25 & 15/day Rabbit & Squirrel: 8/day each Coyote & Feral Hogs: No limits on private lands Bag limits balance sustainable harvest and fair‑chase across big game and small game. License & Tags Information for Tennessee Hunters (2025–26) All hunters must carry a valid TWRA hunting license and appropriate permits: Resident Hunting License: $27.50; Nonresident: $250 Deer Tags: $20 each; antlerless tags extra Turkey Permit: $15 (spring); fall archery by WMA draw Waterfowl Permit: $11; Federal Duck Stamp & HIP required Bear Permit: $25 (draw only) Furbearer Permit: $12; includes nutria, raccoon, fox Licenses fund wildlife management, habitat restoration, and enforcement; draw applications open in early summer. Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader TWRA authorizes: Archery: Compound and recurve bows, crossbows (archery seasons) Firearms: Center‑fire rifles, shotguns (slugs & buckshot) during gun seasons Muzzleloaders: Single‑shot black‑powder firearms in designated window Dogs & Bait: Allowed for waterfowl retrievers; predator control dogs on private lands Ensure compliance with caliber, draw weight, and non‑toxic shot requirements. Regulations & Resources TWRA regulations cover: Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset (some youth hunts vary) Zone Maps & Boundaries: WMA and county zone maps online Harvest Reporting: Mandatory for deer, turkey, bear within 48 hrs via Wildlife Manager Special Areas: Wildlife Management Areas, refuge zones, and CWD monitoring sites Before you head out, always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) website to stay compliant and ensure a legal, ethical hunt. This guide was created based on information from Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA): https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/twra/documents/guide/Hunt-Season-Planner.pdf With structured seasons, clear bag limits, and streamlined license systems, Tennessee delivers exceptional hunts for whitetail deer, wild turkey, ducks, and predators. Prepare your bow or rifle, secure the proper tags, and explore the Volunteer State’s rich wildlife heritage on your 2025–26 hunt.