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Deer Hunting Regulations

The following is intended as a quick reference only. These regulations are intended to be accurate, but that accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Please consult the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's Hunting & Trapping Guide before hunting in Tennessee. If you have a question that isn't answered here, please submit it to us via our Question & Answer section and we will find the answer to your question. Thank you.

HUNTER EDUCATION:

    All hunters, resident or nonresident, born on or after January 1, 1969, must possess proof that they have successfully complete a hunter education course to hunt in Tennessee. Hunters under the age of 10 do not have to possess proof of course of completion, but must be accompanied by an adult (age 21 or older) who remains in position to take control of the hunting weapon at all times.

HUNTING ON PRIVATE LAND:

    All hunters who are hunting on private land are required to obtain the permission of the landowner before hunting. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency recommends obtaining written permission. TCA 70-4-106 states that if land has been properly posted with signs that include the landowner's name and address plus the wording "hunting by written permission only," and a hunter is hunting the land without written permission, he or she is subject to prosecution.

HUNTING HOURS:

    For deer, hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise through one-half hour after sunset.

LEGAL BUCKS:

    To be defined as a legal buck, the deer must have antlers a minimum of three inches in length. Antlerless deer are defined as those with no antlers or with antlers less than three inches in length.

ALBINO DEER:

    Hunting, trapping, or possession of albino deer is prohibited as set forth in TCA Chapter 70-4-130. An albino deer is a deer with a lack, or significant deficiency, of pigment in the skin and hair, and has pink eyes.

BAITING:

    Supplemental feeding of wildlife is permitted in Tennessee. However, hunting over any site where food has been planted to attract or feed wildlife is prohibited. All food must be removed at least 10 days prior to hunting.

USE OF DOGS:

    It is illegal to use dogs to hunt deer in Tennessee. Furthermore, shooting at deer being chased by dogs is prohibited.

HUNTER ORANGE:

    Hunters must wear a minimum of 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange, which is visible from the front and back, on the upper part of their body. A hat and vest fulfills this requirement. Blaze orange camo is legal, but must contain the 500 square inches of fluorescent orange.

CHECKING IN DEER:

    It is unlawful to move or transport or field dress deer before invalidating and attaching a properly-completed temporary kill tag. If the hunter intends to continue to hunt, he does not have to stop hunting and tag the animal until he or she is ready to move or field dress the deer. If multiple deer are taken, only one must be tagged. Within 36 hours, the deer must be transported to the nearest checking station, where a permanent kill tag and a new temporary kill tag will be issued. The permanent kill tag must remain with the animal until final processing. Any deer taken to a taxidermist must have a permanent kill tag. Any person legally hunting without a license, or with a permanent license, is not required to tag his or her deer until after it has been taken to a checking station, where a permanent kill tag will be issued for the animal(s).

FIELD DRESSING DEER:

    Removing evidence of the species or sex of the deer is prohibited prior to a permanent kill tag being issued at the checking station.

DEER FOUND DEAD:

    Any deer found dead should be left where found and doesn't have to be reported. If the hunter wants to keep the deer found dead, the Regional TWRA office should be contacted for authorization. Any vehicle in which an illegally possessed deer is found is subject to confiscation. Any deer killed by a motor vehicle may be kept, provided the TWRA or a local law enforcement agency is notified within 48 hours.

LEGAL WEAPONRY:
For deer hunting:

  • Shotguns using ammunition loaded with single solid ball or rifle slug. No magazine restrictions.
  • Rifles using center-fire ammunition, except in counties where prohibited by legislative acts.
  • Muzzleloading percussion cap or flintlock rifles, handguns or shotguns of .40 caliber or larger. Muzzleloading firearms are defined as those capable of being loaded by the breech.
  • Longbows, compound bows, crossbows and other bows drawn or held by a mechanical device. (Hunting arrows and bolts must be barbless and sharpened).
  • Handguns shooting center-fire ammunition, having a barrel length of four inches or more, except in counties where prohibited by legislative acts.
  • All weapon sighting devices are legal, except those producing artificial light capable of locating wild game. Night scopes are illegal.

AMMUNITION:
For deer hunting:

  • Possession of ammunition except that is specifically authorized is prohibited on all Wildlife Management Areas, federal refuges and Public Hunting Areas.
  • Possession or use of buckshot is prohibited except in counties where permitted by Private Acts.
  • Possession of shotgun ammunition with more than one solid ball is prohibited.
  • Possession of shot larger than No. 4 is prohibited.

ILLEGAL WEAPONS:
For deer hunting:

  • Shotguns using ammunition loaded with shot larger than No. 4
  • Rifles or handguns loaded with military or other full-metal-jacketed type of ammunition
  • Any weapon with a poisoned or chemically-treated tip or explosive head
  • Weapons capable of fully-automatic fire
  • Weapons with any device utilizing artificial light capable of locating wildlife

PROHIBITED ACTS:
For deer hunting:

  • The use of dogs in taking or attepting to take deer. Taking or attempting to take deer being pursued by dog(s), whether or not the dogs are yours.
  • The use or possession of a pod arrow, any pod-type device for holding drugs or chemicals on an arrow, or any drugs or chemicals used in pod arrows.
  • Transferring quota hunt permits. Anyone hunting with a borrow permit is subject to prosecution for hunting in a closed season.
  • Youths under the age of 18 using a handgun for the purpose of hunting.
  • Hunting over a site where bait has been placed to feed or attract wildlife unless the bait has been removed at least 10 days prior to hunting.
  • Removing evidence of the species or sex of the deer prior to a kill tag being issued at a checking station.
  • Loaded guns being transported on all WMAs and Public Hunting Areas. A muzzleloader is considered unloaded if the cap is removed from the nipple. A crossbow is considered unloaded if the bolt is removed.
  • Hunting on public land within 100 yards of a visible dwelling house.
  • The use of a spotlight or headlight or other artificial light to attempt to locate deer.
  • Hunting from a public road right-of-way, from a motorized vehicle (except on private land, where hunting from stationary motorized vehicles is permitted so long as the vehicle is incapable of being licensed for use on a highway), or shooting over a public road or right-of-way.