Tennessee hunting and fishing laws
The Tennessee rules that catch people out, in plain English: hunter education, minimum age, blaze orange, Sunday hunting, shooting hours, baiting, night hunting, tagging and private land. Each one links to the state's own text.
Season dates for 2026-27. Page updated October 12, 2026.
These pages sum up the rules to help you find them. They are not legal advice. The state's own regulations govern, so check them before you go.
Hunter education in Tennessee
All hunters, resident or nonresident, born on or after January 1, 1969, must possess proof of successfully completing a Hunter Education course. Hunters under 10 are exempt but must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years of age who remains in a position to take immediate control of the hunting device. An Apprentice License exempts hunters 10 and older for one year, renewable up to three consecutive years.
Minimum hunting age in Tennessee
No license is required for ages 12 and under. A Junior Hunt, Fish and Trap license covers ages 13 through 15 and must be purchased before the 16th birthday. No absolute minimum hunting age was located in the agency material.
Blaze orange in Tennessee
Applies to: Big game
A minimum of 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent blaze orange or blaze pink must be visible front and back while hunting big game, except on archery-only and turkey hunts. Blaze pink is allowed. When an archery-only deer season overlaps another big game gun season, such as bear, archers must still wear the 500 square inches.
Sunday hunting in Tennessee
Not verified. TWRA's 2026-27 season summary, hunting regulations and big game pages list no Sunday hunting closure, but no agency statement that Sunday hunting is allowed was found. Confirm with the official regulations before you hunt.
Shooting hours in Tennessee
All big game and small game species may be hunted during daylight hours only, from 30 minutes before legal sunrise to 30 minutes after legal sunset. The exceptions are bullfrogs, raccoons, opossums, the chasing of foxes and rabbits, and coyotes and bobcats during the night-time season.
Baiting in Tennessee
No person shall make use of bait to hunt wildlife unless the bait has been removed and any electronic feeder disabled at least 10 days prior to hunting, except pursuant to a deer bait privilege license.
Applies to: Bear
Not verified. TWRA's bear hunting page has no baiting rule. The Deer Bait Privilege License covers white-tailed deer on private land only, and TWRA warns that no depredation permits are issued for bear damage at bait sites or feeders. Confirm with the official regulations before you hunt.
Night hunting in Tennessee
Firearms or archery equipment with any device utilizing an artificial light capable of locating wildlife are prohibited, except shotguns during the night-time coyote and bobcat-only season. Raccoon and opossum are night-legal species.
Tagging and reporting a harvest in Tennessee
Applies to: Big game
Tag big game before moving it, either by attaching a paper tag or by tagging and checking it in electronically with the TWRA On The Go app. Big game must be checked in by midnight on the day of harvest and before it is gifted or leaves the state, and the harvest confirmation number must be available for inspection until final processing. Evidence of species, sex and antlered status must stay with the animal while afield.
Hunting on private land in Tennessee
If private land is posted with signs that show the owner's name and address and the words "HUNTING BY WRITTEN PERMISSION ONLY," a hunter or trapper must carry the owner's written permission.
Can you show your Tennessee license on your phone?
License and tag/check-in can be on your phone.
TWRA says the On The Go app “stores your license information and allows you to electronically tag/check-in your harvest in the field. You don't need to carry any paper while you're hunting!” The app works out of cell range and gives a harvest confirmation number, which “must be available for inspection by TWRA personnel until the time of final processing.” Hunters using paper tags must attach one before moving the animal.
Phone with TWRA On The Go app
Tennessee hunting season dates, 2026-27
The main seasons, from the state's published dates. Zones and units can differ; each season links to the state's own page for it.
| Season | Dates | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer — archery | Sep 26 – Oct 30, 2026 | Statewide | Second segment Nov 2-6. Archery also open in muzzleloader and gun seasons |
| Deer — gun/muzzleloader/archery | Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 | Statewide | Young Sportsman Oct 31-Nov 1 and Jan 9-10 |
| Deer — muzzleloader/archery | Nov 7 – Nov 20, 2026 | Statewide | |
| Black bear — early | Oct 3 – Oct 5, 2026 | Bear Hunting Zone 1 | BHZ 1 also Nov 9-16 and Nov 30-Dec 16. BHZ 2 and 3 dates differ |
| Turkey — spring | Apr 3 – May 16, 2027 | Statewide | Young Sportsman Mar 27-28, 2027 |
| Turkey — fall shotgun/archery | Oct 17 – Oct 30, 2026 | Statewide | Archery-only fall turkey runs with deer archery |
| Mourning dove | Sep 1 – Sep 28, 2026 | Statewide | Opens at noon Sept 1. Also Oct 10-Nov 1 and Dec 8-Jan 15 |
| Ducks | Nov 28 – Nov 29, 2026 | Statewide | Second segment Dec 5, 2026-Jan 31, 2027 |
| Ducks — second segment | Dec 5, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 | Statewide | |
| Bobwhite quail | Nov 7, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027 | Statewide | Ruffed grouse Oct 10-Feb 28 |
What you can hunt in Tennessee
Big game
- White-tailed deer General season
- Black bear General season Bear hunt zones; party-dog hunts on Tellico are permit limited
- Elk Draw or limited entry Nineteen quota permits statewide
- Wild hog General season Landowners year round; licensed hunters only on designated areas during big game seasons
Upland and small game
- Wild turkey General season Spring and fall
- Ruffed grouse General season
- Bobwhite quail General season
- Rabbit and squirrel General season
- Raccoon and opossum General season
- Groundhog and crow General season
- Pheasant No season Not on the small game season list
Waterfowl and migratory
- Ducks and geese General season
- Dove, woodcock, snipe, rail General season
- Sandhill crane Draw or limited entry Tag drawing
Furbearer and predator
- Coyote General season Year round
- Bobcat and fox General season
What you can fish for in Tennessee
License plus an Annual Trout Supplemental for trout
Fishing licenses sold: 1-day, 3-day, 10-day, Annual
Trout and char
- Rainbow, brown, brook, cutthroat and lake trout Needs a stamp Trout Supplemental; Gatlinburg and Tellico need an area permit
Warmwater
- Black bass General season
- Walleye and sauger General season
- Muskellunge General season One fish, 36 inch minimum
- Northern pike General season
- Chain pickerel General season
- Catfish General season
- Crappie General season
- Bluegill and bream General season
- Yellow perch General season
- White and yellow bass General season
- Striped and hybrid striped bass General season
- Skipjack herring General season
Other
- Paddlefish General season Short spring season
- Lake, shovelnose and pallid sturgeon No season None may be harvested
- Alligator gar No season Protected
Official Tennessee links
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Carry your Tennessee license on your phone
Sportsmen Ledger holds your hunting and fishing licenses and tags, these rules and your harvest log, and it works with no signal. Free to start.
Compare with other states
- Hunter education requirements by state
- Minimum hunting age by state
- Blaze orange requirements by state
- Sunday hunting laws by state
- Legal shooting hours by state
- Baiting laws by state
- Night hunting laws by state
- Tagging and harvest reporting by state
- Hunting on private land, state by state
- Can you show your hunting or fishing license on your phone? Every state