This page of Tennessee hunting seasons is updated annually. While Thepredatorhunter.com focuses on coyotes, fox, and bobcats, it is hoped other game hunters will take up predator hunting as well. We suggest you check out these predator hunting links specific to the state of Tennessee:
Purchase a hunting license in Tennessee here.
Learn the rules for hunting coyotes in Tennessee.
Learn the rules for hunting bobcats in Tennessee.
Learn the rules for hunting fox in Tennessee.
Tennessee hunting seasons for deer 2022-2023.
Deer
Antlered Deer: Male or female deer with at least one (1) antler that is a minimum of three (3) inches in length. Antlerless Deer: Male or female deer with no antlers or with antlers that are less than three (3) inches in length. Antlerless deer hunters may harvest up to the unit antlerless bag limit in each unit. Moving to a different county within the same deer hunting unit does not increase the hunter’s bag limit.
Archery equipment is legal during muzzleloader and gun seasons, muzzleloading equipment is legal during gun season.
Statewide Bag Limit: Two (2) antlered deer (one per day, not to exceed 2 for the license year). The statewide bag limit of two (2) antlered deer may be exceeded if taken as a bonus deer, if taken under the Earn-A-Buck Program in Unit CWD (see CWD in Tennessee), or if taken as a Replacement Buck (see CWD in Tennessee).
| Units A, B, C, D, L bag limit: 2 antlered deer. No more than 1 per day. Unit CWD bag limit 3 antlered deer. | ||
| A | Aug. 26-28, 2022 Private Lands Only Antlered deer only | Units A, B, C, D, L |
| G/M/A | Aug. 26-28, 2022 Antlered deer only. Private lands and select public lands | Unit CWD |
| A | Sep. 24-Oct. 28, 2022; Oct. 31-Nov 4, 2022 Antlerless bag: Units A, B, C, D=4; Unit L, 3/day, no season limit | Units A, B, C, D, L |
| A | Sep. 24-Oct. 28, 2022 Antlerless bag: 3/day, no season limit | Unit CWD |
| G/M/A | Oct. 29-30, 2022; Jan. 14-15, 2023 Young Sportsman (ages 6-16). Antlerless bag: Units A, B, C, D=2; Units L, CWD=3/day | Statewide |
| M/A | Nov. 5-18, 2022Antlerless bag: Units A, B=2; Units C, D=1; Unit L=3/day | Units A, B, C, D, L |
| G/M/A | Oct. 31- Jan. 13; Jan. 16-31, 2023 Antlerless bag: 3/day | Unit CWD |
| G/M/A | Nov. 19, 2022 – Jan. 8, 2023 Antlerless bag: Unit A=2; Unit B=1; Unit L=3/day; Unit C=1(Nov. 19-Dec. 4 only); Unit D=1 (Nov. 19-25 only) | Units A, B, C, D, L |
| G/M/A | Jan. 9-13, 2023 Private Lands OnlyAntlerless bag: 3/day. No antlered deer in Unit L | Unit L |
Tennessee hunting season for Elk 2022-2023.
ELK (QUOTA HUNT)
A Sep. 24 – Sept. 30, 2022; 7 permits, 1 antlered elk/permit
G/M/A Young Sportsman (resident only, ages 13-16)
Oct. 1- 7, 2022; 1 permit, for 1 antlered elk
G/M/A Oct. 8 – 14, 2022; 7 permits, 1 antlered elk/permit
Tennessee hunting season for bear 2022-2023.
Black Bear
Bag limit: 1 per license year. Cubs under 75 lbs. are prohibited.
A No dogs: Sep. 24 – Oct. 21, 2022
Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, Transitional
G/M/A Dogs allowed: Oct. 8 – 11, 2022 & Oct. 14 – 16, 2022 Zone 2
G/M/A Dogs allowed: Oct. 1 – 2, 2022 & Oct. 8 – 14, 2022 Zone 3
G/M/A Dogs allowed: Oct. 1 – 3, 2022 & Oct. 8 – 9, 2022 Zone 1
G/M/A No dogs, Young Sportsman
(ages 6-16): Oct. 29 – 30, 2022 Zones 1, 2, 3
G/M/A Dogs allowed: Oct. 31 – Nov. 4, 2022 Zones 2, 3
G/M/A Dogs allowed: Nov. 7 – 14, 2022 Zone 1
G/M/A No dogs: Nov. 19 – 22, 2022 Zones 1, 2, 3
G/M/A Dogs allowed: Nov. 28 – Dec. 11, 2022 Zone 3
G/M/A Dogs allowed: Nov. 28 – Dec. 14, 2022 Zone 1
G/M/A Dogs allowed: Nov. 28 – Dec. 22, 2022 Zone 2
G/M/A Dogs allowed: Dec. 29, 2022 – Jan 1, 2023 Zone 3
Tennessee hunting seasons for Turkey 2022-2023.
FALL TURKEY
Bag Limit: 1 bearded turkey, per county, only in counties open to fall turkey hunting.
A Sep. 24 – Oct. 28, 2022, Oct. 31 – Nov. 4, 2022
S Oct. 15-28, 2022
SPRING TURKEY 2023
S/A Young Sportsmans (ages 6-16) – April 8-9, 2023
Daily bag: 1 bearded turkey per day. Counts toward spring season bag of two (2), only one can be a jake.
S/A General Season – April 15- May 28, 2023
Bag limit: 2 bearded turkeys, only one can be a jake; no more than 1 per day. Adult gobbler must have at least one of the following: a beard longer than 6 inches, tail feathers are all the same length, wing feathers have white barring all the way to the tip, a spur that is at least 1/2 inch long.
Tennessee hunting seasons for game birds for 2022-2023.
GAME BIRDS
Grouse Oct. 8 , 2022 – Feb. 28, 2023: Daily bag 3
Quail Nov. 5, 2022 – Feb. 28, 2023: Daily bag 6
Tennessee hunting seasons for migratory birds for 2022-2023.
Sandhill Crane
Statewide Zone Dec. 3, 2022 – Jan. 12, 2023
Southeast Zone Dec. 3, 2022 – Jan. 12, 2023 & Jan. 16 – 31, 2023
Mourning Dove Sep. 1-28, 2022: Daily bag 15 | Oct. 8 – 30, 2022: Daily bag 15 | Dec. 8, 2022- Jan. 15, 2023: Daily bag 15
Woodcock Nov. 12 – Dec. 4, 2022: Daily bag 3 | Jan. 10 – Jan. 31, 2023: Daily bag 3
Snipe Nov. 14, 2022- Feb. 28, 2023: Daily bag 8
Canada Goose Sep. 1-18, 2022: Daily bag 5
Wood Duck/Teal Sep. 10-14, 2022: Daily bag 6, not to exceed 2 wood ducks/day
Teal-only Sep. 15-18, 2022: Daily bag 6
Ducks, Coots, and Mergansers – Bag limit is 6 ducks per day.
Statewide Zone Nov 26 – 27, 2022 & Dec 5, 2022 – Jan 31, 2023
Veterans and Active Military Feb 5. and 12, 2023
Young Sportsman Feb. 4, 2023, and Feb. 11, 2023: All zones, ages 16 and under
Tennessee Hunting seasons for small game.
Squirrel Aug. 27, 2022 – March 15, 2023, Daily bag 10
Spring Squirrel May 13, 2023 – June 11, 2023, Daily bag 10
Rabbit Nov. 5, 2022 – Feb. 28, 2023, Daily bag 5
Bullfrog Year-round (except on TWRA Managed Lakes June 1-30 2023, 20 per person per night)