Unit B's last open season will end today, while the last open season in Units A and L will end Sunday. A youth hunt, open for hunters ages six through 16, will take place January 12-13.
While the final tally is not yet available, it is a certainty that the 2007-2008 harvest will be significantly lower than what was expected by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and quite a bit lower than last year's record harvest as well. Many factors will likely be blamed, chief of which will likely be a severe drought that has persisted across much of the state, warm temperatures to open the season, and a pre-season outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), which is believed to have wiped out in excess of 30% of the deer herd in some isolated areas.
With the closure of deer season, small game hunters will have the woods to themselves. Most of the state's small game hunting seasons remain open through February 28, giving hunters plenty of remaining opportunities to get into the woods.
