Hunting · Deer by State · Ranked #24 of 50
Tennessee Deer Hunting
West Tennessee river-bottom farmland, six Deer Management Units, and a season stretching into January make the Volunteer State a dependable whitetail destination.
Tennessee hunters checked 151,490 deer during the 2025-26 season, a decline of roughly 9,000 from the prior year's approximately 160,000, according to TWRA harvest figures. West Tennessee's Region 1, which covers the fertile Mississippi River bottomland counties, produced more than a fifth of the statewide harvest on its own.
The state is split into six Deer Management Units (DMUs) with unit-specific bag limits, and the season runs long: archery opens in late September, muzzleloader/archery follows in November, and the marquee gun season opens the Saturday before Thanksgiving and runs into early January.
Terrain ranges from West Tennessee's row-crop bottomland along the Mississippi, to Middle Tennessee's rolling farmland and cedar glades, to the steep hardwood ridges of the Cumberland Plateau and Appalachians in the east. That variety, paired with a large amount of national forest and TVA-managed public land, gives nonresidents plenty of options.
- Wild10 rank
- #24 · Very good
- 2025-26 harvest
- 151,490 deer checked
- Nonresident license
- All-game hunting license plus required big game licenses, available over the counter
- Bag limit
- Statewide antlered limit of 2; antlerless limits vary by Deer Management Unit
- Deer Management Units
- 6 statewide units (Units 1-6), each with its own season structure and limits
- Public land
- Cherokee National Forest, Land Between the Lakes, and 80+ Wildlife Management Areas
- Season length
- Archery opens late Sept.; gun season runs late Nov. into early Jan.
01
Tennessee deer hunting by the numbers
Where Tennessee sits nationally, and the figures behind our rank of #24 of 50.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| 2025-26 total deer harvest | 151,490 (down from ~160,000 in 2024-25) |
| West Tennessee (Region 1) share of harvest | More than 20% of statewide total |
| 2025-26 gun season opener | Nov. 22, 2025 |
| 2025-26 gun season close | Jan. 4, 2026 |
02
Tennessee deer seasons (2025-26)
Exact dates and unit-specific bag limits are set annually by Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission proclamation; always confirm current-year dates for your Deer Management Unit on TWRA's deer hunting page before you hunt.
| Season | Weapon | Typical window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Bow / crossbow | Late Sept. – late Jan. | Longest season of any weapon type; runs concurrent with other seasons in most units. |
| Muzzleloader/archery | Muzzleloader or bow/crossbow | Nov. 8 – Nov. 21, 2025 | Statewide antlered bag limit of 2; Units 1-3 allow up to 3 antlerless deer per day. |
| Gun season | Modern gun (rifle/shotgun/muzzleloader/archery) | Nov. 22, 2025 – Jan. 4, 2026 | Tennessee's marquee season, opening the Saturday before Thanksgiving and overlapping much of the rut. |
| Youth hunts | Any legal weapon | Designated weekends before and after gun season | Hunters under 16 only, with a licensed adult. |
| Late antlerless season | Any legal weapon (unit-dependent) | Portions of Jan. | Antlerless-only opportunities in select units to manage herd density. |
03
Tennessee deer tags & licenses
Tennessee sells deer hunting privileges over the counter to residents and nonresidents — there is no statewide draw for general deer hunting, making it straightforward to plan a self-guided hunt.
Bag limits are set by Deer Management Unit (the state is divided into six units), with West Tennessee's Units 1-3 generally offering the most liberal antlerless limits.
A limited number of quota hunts on specific Wildlife Management Areas are drawn through TWRA's online application system with a preceding application period.
Nonresidents buy an all-game hunting license plus the required big game license over the counter, with no draw needed for standard statewide deer hunting.
Only select Wildlife Management Area quota hunts require a separate application through TWRA's online draw system, applied for ahead of the season.
04
What Tennessee deer licenses cost
| License / tag | Price |
|---|---|
| Resident annual hunting/fishing combo | approx. $33 base license, plus big game license |
| Nonresident annual all-game hunting license | approx. $305 |
| Nonresident big game license (deer) | required in addition to base hunting license; check current TWRA fee schedule |
| Nonresident annual sportsman license | bundled option covering hunting and big game license, priced at a discount versus buying separately |
05
Tennessee deer hunting laws you must know
The rules that catch hunters out most often. Not a substitute for the regulations book.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Blaze orange | Required during gun season for all hunters; archery-only hunters outside gun season are generally exempt. |
| Baiting | Legal on private land in most of the state, but prohibited on WMAs and within Chronic Wasting Disease zones — check current CWD zone maps. |
| Crossbows | Legal for all hunters during archery season and gun season, no permit or disability documentation required. |
| Sunday hunting | Allowed on private land statewide; check individual WMA regulations, as some public areas restrict Sunday access. |
| Legal firearms | Centerfire rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, and handguns meeting caliber minimums are legal during gun season. |
| Tagging/reporting | All deer must be reported through the Tennessee Deer Registry before the carcass is moved from the point of kill, per TWRA's 'Tag Before You Drag' program. |
| CWD carcass transport | Whole carcasses and high-risk parts may not leave designated CWD zones; only deboned meat, cleaned skulls/antlers, and similar finished products can be transported out. |
| Hunter education | Required for anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1969, unless hunting under direct supervision of a licensed adult per apprentice provisions. |
06
What to expect hunting deer in Tennessee
Tennessee's landscape breaks into three broad hunting regions: West Tennessee's flat, fertile Mississippi River bottomland and row-crop agriculture, Middle Tennessee's rolling farmland and limestone cedar glades, and East Tennessee's rugged Cumberland Plateau and Appalachian ridges.
West Tennessee (TWRA Region 1) consistently produces the highest per-acre harvest densities thanks to abundant agriculture, while eastern public land sees lower deer densities but far less hunting pressure.
The rut generally peaks in mid-to-late November across most of the state, aligning closely with the opening weeks of gun season, which typically produces the highest harvest of the year.
Weather during archery season runs mild, with 60s-80s°F common in late September and October; the gun season opener around Thanksgiving typically sees 30s-50s°F with occasional cold fronts.
07
Tennessee deer hunting tips
Field-tested advice specific to this state's deer, terrain and pressure.
- 1Plan around the late-November gun season opener if you want the highest odds of encountering rutting activity, but expect the heaviest hunting pressure on public land during that window.
- 2Bowhunt West Tennessee row-crop bottoms in October for pattern-able early-season deer before pressure builds ahead of gun season.
- 3Check Deer Management Unit-specific bag limits before you go — antlerless limits differ meaningfully between West Tennessee's liberal Units 1-3 and the more conservative eastern units.
- 4Verify current CWD zone boundaries before booking, since baiting and carcass-transport rules change as zones are updated.
- 5Consider quota WMA hunts like Catoosa or Ames Plantation if you want lower pressure than general public land, but apply well ahead of the season through TWRA's draw system.
- 6Nonresidents should budget for the all-game hunting license plus the required big game license, or compare the bundled sportsman license for potential savings.
Why Tennessee ranks #24 for deer hunting
Tennessee hunters checked 151,490 deer in the 2025-26 season, down about 9,000 from the prior year's roughly 160,000 but still a strong statewide total, with West Tennessee's Region 1 alone accounting for more than a fifth of the harvest thanks to fertile row-crop bottomland along the Mississippi River. Six Deer Management Units, a long season running from late September into January, and a mix of national forest, TVA, and WMA public land keep it a solid, affordable option for traveling hunters, even if it lacks the marquee trophy reputation of neighboring Kentucky.
Tier: Very good · Species: White-tailed deer
Where to hunt deer in Tennessee
Tennessee's public-land base includes national forest in the east, TVA-managed reservoir land in the west, and dozens of TWRA wildlife management areas spread across all three regions, giving nonresidents accessible options regardless of which part of the state they target.
Cherokee National Forest
National forest · East Tennessee
Roughly 650,000 acres of Appalachian ridges split into northern and southern sections; classic mountain bowhunting with lower deer density but light pressure.
Official pageLand Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
National recreation area · Northwest Tennessee/Kentucky border
170,000 acres between Kentucky and Barkley Lakes offering quota and non-quota deer hunts on federally managed land shared with Kentucky.
Official pageChickasaw Wildlife Management Area
WMA · West Tennessee
Bottomland hardwood WMA along the Hatchie River known for solid buck numbers amid heavy regional agriculture.
Catoosa Wildlife Management Area
WMA · Cumberland Plateau
Large, rugged plateau-top WMA popular for quota hunts and known for producing quality bucks with managed pressure.
Ames Plantation Wildlife Management Area
WMA · West Tennessee
Historic working farm and research property with quota hunts and strong agricultural food sources near Memphis.
Gear for Tennessee deer season
Tennessee's mix of Appalachian ridges, cedar-glade farmland, and Mississippi River bottoms calls for a versatile whitetail setup — capable in steep eastern terrain but equally suited to field-edge stand hunting out west.
- Best Hunting Rifles
Bolt guns from budget workhorses to mountain rifles.
- Best Compound Bows
Forgiving, quiet compounds that tune without a fight.
- Best Hunting Boots
Early-season to mountain boots ranked on fit and support.
- Best Hunting Jackets
Insulated and shell layers ranked by warmth-to-noise.
- Best Rain Jackets & Pants
Hard shells that keep a hunt going through real weather.
- Best Merino Base Layers
Next-to-skin wool for cold sits and long stalks.
- Best Fixed-Blade Knives
Blades that field dress, cape, and quarter without failing.
- Best Cellular Trail Cameras
Scouting cameras that send pictures instead of burning boots.
Watch: deer hunting in Tennessee
Real hunts and how-tos filmed in Tennessee, embedded from the creators' own channels with our notes on what to take from each.
Why watch: TWRA's own recap of a recent Tennessee deer season, including regional harvest trends.
Why watch: TWRA feature on Tennessee's deer and small-game hunting traditions and history.
Why watch: TWRA biologists break down a recent statewide Tennessee deer harvest total county by county.
Why watch: Explains Tennessee's most competitive quota deer hunt and how nonresidents can apply.
Why watch: TWRA staff preview Tennessee's 2025-26 deer season changes and key dates.
Official Tennessee deer hunting resources
- Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) (home)
- Current deer regulations
- Buy licenses & tags
- TWRA 2025-26 gun season announcement
- TWRA 2025 muzzleloader season announcement
- TWRA Hunter's Toolbox harvest reports
Last reviewed 2026-03. Found something out of date? Tell us in the community.
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Questions
Frequently asked
- Can nonresidents hunt deer in Tennessee?
- Yes. Nonresidents buy an all-game hunting license plus a required big game license over the counter, with no draw needed for standard statewide deer hunting.
- How many deer can I take in Tennessee?
- The statewide antlered bag limit is 2 per year, while antlerless limits vary by Deer Management Unit, with West Tennessee's Units 1-3 generally the most liberal.
- When is the rut in Tennessee?
- Peak breeding activity generally runs mid-to-late November across most of the state, closely overlapping the gun season opener around Thanksgiving.
- Are crossbows legal in Tennessee?
- Yes, crossbows are legal for any hunter during archery season and gun season without a permit.
- Does Tennessee have chronic wasting disease?
- Yes, CWD has been detected in parts of the state, and TWRA maintains CWD zones with baiting and carcass-transport restrictions that are updated as new cases are confirmed.
- Do I have to wear blaze orange in Tennessee?
- Blaze orange is required during gun season; archery-only hunters outside gun season are generally exempt.
- What was Tennessee's deer harvest in 2025-26?
- Tennessee hunters checked 151,490 deer in 2025-26, down about 9,000 from the roughly 160,000 taken the prior season.
- What's the best public land for Tennessee deer hunting?
- Cherokee National Forest offers the most contiguous acreage in the east, while West Tennessee WMAs like Chickasaw and Ames Plantation are known for strong numbers tied to heavy regional agriculture.
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