Deer season 2026–27 · last checked Sep 26, 2026
Tennessee deer season dates 2026–27
Official dates from Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, by season and zone, plus the public land in Tennessee from our directory. Archery opens Sept. 26, 2026. Firearms: Nov. 21, 2026 (Gun/muzzleloader/archery).
Last checked Sep 26, 2026 against the official Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency page. Dates vary by zone, unit and county, and agencies can change them. Confirm with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency before you hunt.
Quick answers
- When does archery deer season start in Tennessee?
- Sept. 26, 2026, per Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. See the table for zone differences and closing dates.
- When does gun (firearms) deer season start in Tennessee?
- Nov. 21, 2026 (Gun/muzzleloader/archery).
- Where are the official rules?
- Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency: hunting information. Bag limits, licenses, tags and weapon rules are not repeated here.
Tennessee deer season dates, 2026–27
Deer
| Season | Where | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| August archery-only | Private lands and select Unit 1 WMAs only | Aug. 28–30, 2026 |
| Archery | — | Sept. 26 – Oct. 30, 2026 and Nov. 2–6, 2026 |
| Young Sportsman (gun/muzzleloader/archery) | Youth 6–16 | Oct. 31 – Nov. 1, 2026 and Jan. 9–10, 2027 |
| Muzzleloader/archery | — | Nov. 7–20, 2026 |
| Gun/muzzleloader/archery | — | Nov. 21, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027 |
- Individual WMAs can have different dates and rules. See TWRA’s WMA regulations for the specific area.
- Antlerless limits differ by Deer Management Unit (Units 1–6). TWRA lists the counties in each unit.
Official sources (checked Sep 26, 2026)
Public land in Tennessee that may allow deer hunting
Our directory lists 194 named public land units in Tennessee (about 2.0M ac, from USGS PAD-US 4.1): 161 state wildlife & game areas, 17 forests & grasslands, 6 wildlife refuges & WPAs, 10 lake & reservoir project lands. PAD-US shows who manages the land. It doesn’t cover hunting rules. Before you go, check the area’s own rules with the managing agency. WMAs, refuges and forests often have special dates, permits or closed zones.
State wildlife areas & game lands in Tennessee
All 161 →- State wildlife / game area
North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area
155,278 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Campbell County, Scott County + 2 more
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
South Cherokee National Forest & Wildlife Management Area
128,959 acres
Joint management · Polk County, McMinn County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Catoosa Wildlife Management Area
79,198 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Cumberland County, Morgan County + 1 more
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Tackett Creek Wildlife Management Area
45,467 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Claiborne County, Campbell County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Oak Ridge Wildlife Management Area
29,364 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Roane County, Anderson County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Prentice Cooper State Forest & Wildlife Management Area
24,375 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Marion County, Hamilton County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Eagle Creek Wildlife Management Area
22,908 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Wayne County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Cheatham Wildlife Management Area
19,862 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Cheatham County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Bear Hollow Mountain Wildlife Management Area
14,813 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Franklin County
Restricted access
National & state forests and grasslands in Tennessee
All 17 →- National Forest land
Cherokee National Forest
660,829 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Monroe County, Polk County + 8 more
Open access - State forest
Natchez Trace State Forest
36,660 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Henderson County, Carroll County + 1 more
Open access - State forest
Chuck Swan State Forest
24,234 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Union County, Campbell County
Open access - State forest
Pickett State Forest
20,881 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Pickett County, Fentress County
Open access - State forest
Standing Stone State Forest
8,348 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Overton County, Clay County
Open access - State forest
Cedars Of Lebanon State Forest
6,971 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Wilson County
Open access
National wildlife refuges & WPAs in Tennessee
All 6 →- National Wildlife Refuge
Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge
21,502 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Lauderdale County, Dyer County
Restricted access - National Wildlife Refuge
Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge
12,339 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Lauderdale County, Tipton County
Restricted access - National Wildlife Refuge
Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge
11,483 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Haywood County
Restricted access - National Wildlife Refuge
Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge
6,567 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Stewart County
Restricted access
Counties with the most listed public land
- Dyer County (10)
- Obion County (8)
- Wilson County (6)
- Roane County (6)
- Benton County (6)
- Madison County (6)
- Gibson County (6)
- Hamilton County (6)
- Campbell County (5)
- Monroe County (5)
- Blount County (5)
- Hardin County (5)
Not legal advice and not an official source. This independent site is not affiliated with any government agency. Season dates are copied from the agency pages linked above as of the “last checked” date and may have changed since. The agency’s current regulations are what count. Full disclaimer.
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