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Turkey 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 turkey, hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

LEGAL TURKEYS:

    A bearded bird is defined as any bird, male or female, that has a beard. While bearded hens are out-of-the-ordinary, they are not uncommon in Tennessee.

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.

CHECKING IN TURKEYS:

    It is unlawful to move or transport or field dress turkey before validating 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 turkey. If multiple turkeys are taken, only one must be tagged. Within 36 hours, the turkey 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 turkey 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 turkey until after it has been taken to a checking station, where a permanent kill tag will be issued for the animal(s).

FIELD DRESSING TURKEY:

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

TURKEY FOUND DEAD:

    Any turkey found dead should be left where found and doesn't have to be reported. If the hunter wants to keep the turkey found dead, the Regional TWRA office should be contacted for authorization. Any vehicle in which an illegally possessed turkey is found is subject to confiscation. Any turkey 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 turkey hunting:

  • Shotguns and muzzleloading shotguns, 20 guage or larger, loaded with No. 4 shot or smaller.
  • Long bows, compound bows and crossbows using legal hunting arrows with broadheads.

PROHIBITED ACTS:
For deer hunting:

  • It is illegal to bait for turkeys. Possession of agricultural grain while turkey hunting is prohibited.
  • Rifles and handguns are prohibited.
  • Turkeys may not be shot or stalked from a boat in Dyer, Haywood, Lauderdale, Obion, Shelby or Tipton counties.
  • Use or possession of electronic calls is prohibited.
  • Use of live decoys is prohibited (artificial and mounted decoys are permissible).
  • Possession of ammunition loaded with shot larger than No. 4 is prohibited.
  • The use of any type of food to feed or attract wild turkeys on WMAs is prohibited.
  • Calling or attempting to call wild turkeys using any means to mimic the sounds made by turkeys is prohibited on all WMAs from March 1 until the opening day of the spring turkey hunts on the WMA.