Tennessee Hunting Season Dates
Recorded hunting windows for Tennessee, including historical and unverified entries.
Recorded dates, not hunting permission
Status assessment: 2026-10-14 UTC (static build snapshot). Static activity badges and day counts use this build assessment, not a live check. Interactive finder results show their own UTC assessment day.
1 of 7 recorded windows have date-review evidence. Other rows remain unverified. Historical records are retained and are not a current-season promise.
Check your current agency regulations, GMU or zone, hunt code, license and access restrictions before hunting. An agency link or successful publication fetch does not verify a row. Reviewed base dates do not cover every license-specific exception.
Date evidence: Official date source. Review dates apply only to the stated row scope, not an entire state or current license eligibility.
Tennessee Hunting Season Calendar
Find all hunting season dates for Tennessee including deer, elk, turkey, and waterfowl. Filter by species and hunting method.
Coming Up in Tennessee
Seasons opening in the next 60 days
Nov 21, 2026 - Jan 3, 2027
Opens in 38 days
Recorded Season Windows
All Tennessee hunting seasons organized by species
Deer 5 seasons
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 27 - Oct 31, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Archery only | |
| Archery | Oct 26, 2025 - Jan 5, 2026 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Concurrent with gun | |
| Rifle/Firearm | Nov 21, 2026 - Jan 3, 2027 Date window reviewed 2026-10-09; verify license-specific exceptions Official date source | Williamson Unit2 private non-exempt adult ordinary antlered repeating bottleneck centerfire rifle | Upcoming | Actual labeled current2026–27 combined guide printed66–67/PDF68–69: Williamson Unit2, not Unit3/old letter UnitC; regular gun Nov21–Jan3. Only private non-exempt adult ordinary antlered repeating bottleneck centerfire rifle subset reviewed, not individual permission. Early single-shot straight-wall private Nov14–20 is separate: manufactured incapable of multiple rounds/.35 or larger, not this repeating bottleneck rifle; youthJan9–10 excluded, no bridge. Antlered at least one antler three inches or longer; ordinary limit two per season/one per day, Earn-A-Buck/replacement/WMAbonus exceptions excluded here, not universal two-buck cap. Printed50/PDF52 centerfire rifle legal for deer, FMJ prohibited; early .35 straight-wall rule not minimum for all regular rifles; sunrise/sunset±30minutes, not hourly permission. Current hunting/big-game gun privileges/eligibility/bag/reporting/transport/permission/orange/local/rifle/device/ammunition/CWD/feeding/bait/closures/amendments require checks. No other county/unit/WMA/public/youth/bonus/antlerless/early/special/other-method coverage; six history rows/license metadata unverified. Government guide/index403 unread, no bypass; actual current publisher table/labeled resource PDF read, cover guides-path alias not substituted or assumed identical. | |
| Rifle/Firearm | Nov 22, 2025 - Jan 5, 2026 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Gun season | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 1-14, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Early muzzleloader | |
Turkey 1 season
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any Legal Method | Apr 4 - May 17, 2026 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | Spring season | |
Bear 1 season
| Method | Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any Legal Method | Sep 27 - Nov 22, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded; check your license | Historical record | East TN only | |
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Tennessee Hunting Regulations
License year, species, and agency information
- License Year
- Mar 1, 2025 - Feb 28, 2026
- Available Species
-
- Bear
- Deer
- Turkey
- Hunting Methods
-
- Archery
- Rifle/Firearm
- Muzzleloader
- Any Legal Method
- Wildlife Agency
- Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
This information is for reference only. Always verify regulations with your state wildlife agency before hunting or fishing.
Important Note for Tennessee
Only Williamson numeric Unit2 private non-exempt adult ordinary antlered repeating bottleneck centerfire rifle Nov21–Jan3 reviewed from current labeled2026–27 guide. Nov14–20 single-shot straight-wall/.35 privilege not this rifle; youthJan9–10/bonus/WMA/other hunts excluded. Antler≥3inches; ordinary two season/one daily, CWD Earn-A-Buck/replacement exceptions separate. Centerfire/noFMJ; .35 not all regular-rifle minimum. Current license/gun privileges/bag/permission/orange/reporting/transport/CWD/feeding/bait/rifle/device/local/amendment checks needed. Six history rows/license metadata unverified; not individual permission.
Hunting Method Legend
Tennessee Hunting FAQ
Common questions about hunting seasons in Tennessee
What are the hunting season dates for Tennessee?
Recorded Tennessee entries cover Bear, Deer, Turkey. Dates include history and unverified records; the recorded license-year metadata is not current verification. Check row evidence and current agency regulations and your license.
When does deer season start in Tennessee?
Recorded windows, not one continuous season: 2025-09-27 to 2025-10-31; 2025-10-26 to 2026-01-05; 2026-11-21 to 2027-01-03; 2025-11-22 to 2026-01-05; 2025-11-01 to 2025-11-14. Historical and unverified records may be included. Check each row's evidence and your current GMU/hunt code and license before hunting.
Does Tennessee require a draw for hunting?
Draw requirements depend on species, GMU or zone, hunt code and license type. Recorded date windows do not establish eligibility. Check the current Tennessee agency rules and your actual license.
Which recorded windows include the assessment date 2026-10-14 UTC in Tennessee?
The next recorded window is Deer starting Nov 21, 2026. Check its row evidence and current regulations; the record may be unverified.
What should I know about hunting in Tennessee?
Only Williamson numeric Unit2 private non-exempt adult ordinary antlered repeating bottleneck centerfire rifle Nov21–Jan3 reviewed from current labeled2026–27 guide. Nov14–20 single-shot straight-wall/.35 privilege not this rifle; youthJan9–10/bonus/WMA/other hunts excluded. Antler≥3inches; ordinary two season/one daily, CWD Earn-A-Buck/replacement exceptions separate. Centerfire/noFMJ; .35 not all regular-rifle minimum. Current license/gun privileges/bag/permission/orange/reporting/transport/CWD/feeding/bait/rifle/device/local/amendment checks needed. Six history rows/license metadata unverified; not individual permission.
Other States
Compare hunting seasons across states
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