What are the laws for hunting fox in Tennessee? This article covers many of the fundamental laws you will need to know to get started. It also provides information such as seasons, harvest limits, and required permits for bobcat hunting in Tennessee. It is not a legal document and is not intended to cover all hunting laws and regulations.
In Tennessee, the fox hunting season runs from November 19th to Feb 28, 2022 and Nov. 18 to Feb. 28, 2023. Hunting permitted during daylight hours only (30 minutes before official sunrise and until 30 minutes after official sunset). A valid hunting license is required, and there are no bag limits.
Purchase a Tennessee hunting license here.
Check out all the Tennessee hunting seasons.
First time hunting fox? Check out these articles:
Read: How to call in a fox.
Read: How to use tracks and scat to hunt a fox.
Related: Read the laws for hunting coyotes in Tennessee.
Related: Read the rules for hunting bobcats in Tennessee.
General rules and laws for hunting fox in Tennessee.
Using electronic callers and decoys when hunting fox in Tennessee.
Electronic calls, mouth calls or other types of game calls or predator calls may be used when hunting fox. Mechanical/ electronic decoys may be used as well.
While electronic callers are expensive, mouth and hand callers are cheaper but harder to use.
Read this article and watch the video to learn how to use a closed reed rabbit squealer.
Follow along as call manufacturer Brian Rush shows you three open reed calls you can learn and use today.
You can check the price for an electronic caller on Amazon.
Decoys are legal. You can read about some highly effective but inexpensive ($20) decoys here.
Suppressors. The use of suppressors/silencers is legal for persons possessing the required federal license from the United States Department of Treasury. Hunters using these devices must have proof of such license on their person.
Illegal and prohibited methods of hunting fox in Tennessee.
Prohibited Acts
- Possession of ammunition except that as specifically authorized is prohibited while hunting. The use or possession and/or the accompanying of anyone using or possessing raccoon calls, squallers, weapons, ammunition, or climbers while training dogs is prohibited during training season, except raccoon calls may be used during authorized field trials.
- The use of dogs in taking or attempting to take deer or elk is prohibited. Taking or attempting to take deer being pursued by dog, or dogs, is prohibited.
- Juveniles under the age of eighteen (18) are prohibited from using handguns for the purpose of hunting.
- No person shall make use of bait to take wildlife unless the bait has been removed and any electronic feeder disabled at least 10 days prior to hunting.
- Possession of firearms prohibited while chasing coyote, fox, and bobcat with dogs from the first Saturday in November through the end of the deer season.
The use of the following equipment is prohibited when fox hunting in Tennessee.
- Predator calls while night hunting.
- Pod arrows (any pod-type device for holding drugs or chemicals on an arrow) or any drugs or chemicals used in pod arrows while archery hunting.
- Explosive arrowheads while archery hunting.
- Firearms capable of fully automatic fire.
- Firearms or archery equipment with any device utilizing an artificial light capable of locating wildlife.
- Any electronic light amplifying night vision scope, thermal imaging device or similar devices while in possession of a firearm or archery tackle between sunset and sunrise.
- Electronic calls or live decoys while hunting wild turkey, foxes, and waterfowl (except electronic calls are legal during the Conservation Season for Blue, Snow, and Ross’ geese).
- Rifles or handguns with full metal jacketed ammunition.
- Rifles or handguns with centerfire ammunition between 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise.
- Any loose shot other than non-toxic (as approved by U.S. Fishing and Wildlife Service) or any shotgun shell loaded with shot other than non-toxic while hunting waterfowl, coots, gallinules, Virginia rails, and sora rails.
- Any firearm including air guns using archery bolts.
- Tracer ammunition.
