I bet your deer hunting in Tennessee was so much enjoyable and unforgettable in 2023. Now it's time of the new year again. And all hunters should consider making new plans for the Deer Hunting Season in 2024 soon.
Tennessee is a hunter's paradise for deer hunting, with its diverse landscapes and abundant population of white-tailed deer. But that's not all - the state is also a good place for other game species like wild turkeys, squirrels, waterfowl, and small game.
We've got you covered with our comprehensive guide to the Tennessee Deer Hunting Season of 2023 - 2024. From season dates, hunting regulations to tips, this article is your one-stop resource for all things deer hunting in Tennessee.
Tennessee Deer Hunting Season
Normally, the Tennessee deer hunting season starts from late August to January of the next year.
There are 6 units that you can hunt deer in Tennessee. Each of them has different season dates and limits. Here are the details:
| Unit A, B, C, D (Antlered Bag Limit 2) | ||
| Season Type | Season Dates | Bag Limits |
| August¹ | Aug. 25–27 | Closed |
| Archery (A) | Sept. 23–Oct. 27 and Oct. 30–Nov. 3 | 4 deer |
| Young Sportsman2 (G/M/A) | Oct. 28–29 and Jan. 13–14 | 2 deer |
| Muzzleloader/Archery (M/A) | Nov. 4–17 | 2 deer |
| Gun/Muzzleloader/Archery (G/M/A) | Nov. 18–Jan. 7 | A: 2 deer
B, C, D: 1 deer |
| Unit L (Antlered Bag Limit 2) | ||
| Season Type | Season Dates | Bag Limits |
| August¹ | Aug. 25–27 | Closed |
| Archery (A) | Sept. 23–Oct. 27 and Oct. 30–Nov. 3 | 3 |
| Young Sportsman2 (G/M/A) | Oct. 28–29 and Jan. 13–14 | 3 |
| Muzzleloader/Archery (M/A) | Nov. 4–17 | 3 |
| Gun/Muzzleloader/Archery (G/M/A) | Nov. 18–Jan. 7 | 3 |
| Private Lands Only3 (G/M/A) Antlerless deer only |
Jan. 8–12 | 3 |
| Unit CWD (Antlered Bag Limit 3) | ||
| Season Type | Season Dates | Bag Limits |
| August¹ | Aug. 25–27 | Closed |
| Archery (A) | Sept. 23–Oct. 27 | 3 |
| Young Sportsman2 (G/M/A) | Oct. 28–29 and Jan. 13–14 | 3 |
| Gun/Muzzleloader/Archery (G/M/A) | Oct. 30–Jan. 12 and Jan. 15–31 | 3 |
For antlered bucks, the limit is two per person. For antlerless deer, the limits are:
* Unit L: 3 per day
* Unit A: 2 per season
* Unit B: 1 per season
* Unit C (Nov. 18-Dec. 3 only): 1 per season
* Unit D (Nov. 18-24 only): 1 per season
In Unit CWD, there's no limit to how many antlerless deer you can hunt each day. But the limit for antlered bucks is still three per person. However, if you're part of the Earn-A-Buck or Replacement Buck program, you can catch more than three antlered bucks in Unit CWD.
Tennessee Deer Hunting Regulations
To hunt deer in Tennessee, there are some basic rules that every hunter needs to follow:
Carcass Transport:
Only certain parts of deer, elk, moose, and caribou can be brought into Tennessee. These approved parts include deboned meat, clean skulls, skull plates and teeth, antlers, finished taxidermy, hides, and tanned products. These parts can be moved around within Tennessee without any issues.
Deer Harvest Check-In:
All deer that are hunted must be checked in. You can download the official TWRA On The Go App to on your phone to report a harvest as easy as it can be.
Equipment:
Archery equipment is allowed during muzzleloader and gun seasons, and muzzleloading equipment is allowed during gun season.
Albino Deer Limit:
It's important to note that hunting albino deer is not allowed in Tennessee. An albino deer is a deer with little or no pigment in its skin and hair, and pink eyes.
Tree Stand Requirement:
When hunting from tree stands, you will need to use a fall restraint system to prevent accidents of falling off the tree.
Tennessee Hunting Licenses&Permits
Tennessee Resident Hunting Licenses
| License Types | Costs |
| Hunting and Fishing Combination | $33.00 |
| Waterfowl Supplemental License | $37.00 |
| Annual Big Game Gun Supplemental License | $33.00 |
| Annual Big Game Archery Supplemental License | $33.00 |
| Annual Big Game Muzzleloader Supplemental License | $33.00 |
| Trapping | $33.00 |
| Annual Sportsman | $165.00 |
| Junior Hunt/Trap/Fish | $9.00 |
| Permanent Senior Citizen Hunt/Fish/Trap | $49.00 |
| Annual Senior Citizen Hunt/Fish/Trap | $4.00 |
| Annual Senior Citizen Sportsman | $49.00 |
Non-Resident Hunting Licenses
| License Types | Costs |
| 7-Day Junior Hunt - All Game | $26.00 |
| Annual Junior Hunt - All Game | $41.00 |
| 7-Day Hunt-Small Game/Waterfowl - No Big Game | $61.00 |
| Hunt-Small Game/Waterfowl - No Big Game | $110.00 |
| 7-Day Hunting - All Game | $214.00 |
| Annual Hunting - All Game | $305.00 |
| Trapping | $200.00 |
| Nonresident Elk License | $301.00 |
WMA Hunting Permits (resident and nonresident)
| License Types | Costs |
| WMA Small Game / Waterfowl | $61.00 |
| WMA Small Game / Waterfowl 1-Day | $12.00 |
| WMA Small Game Only | $20.00 |
| WMA Big Game (Non quota) | $24.00 |
| Cherokee WMA Big Game (Non quota) | $18.00 |
Disability Hunting & Fishing Licenses
| License Types | Costs |
| Annual Resident Hunting & Fishing Disabled Under 18 | $5.00 |
| Hunt & Fish Intellect Disabled Resident | $10.00 |
| Permanent Sport Fishing License for the Blind | $10.00 |
| Permanent Wheelchair Hunting and Fishing | $10.00 |
| Permanent DAV Hunting and Fishing | $10.00 |
| Permanent Mentally Challenged | $10.00 |
There are a few things that you may need to know about the licenses:
- Annual licenses are valid for 365 days from the day you buy them, unless otherwise noted. You need to renew them before they expire within 10 days, or you won't be able to hunt legally.
- You'll need a Social Security Number to buy a Tennessee hunting or fishing license, that's just the law.
- If you lose your license, no worries! You can reprint all your active licenses anytime by logging into your Gooutdoorstennessee.com account.
- If you hunt in a Wildlife Management Area, you might need a special permit, unless you have a Lifetime Sportsman License or you're under 16 years old and hunting small game or waterfowl.
- Except for licenses, hunters might need extra permits to hunt specific games, like Migratory Bird Permits ($ 1.00) and Federal Duck Stamp($25.00).
Summary
Here, we close the chapter on the Tennessee deer hunting season of 2024. The various hunting seasons showed us how diverse the wildlife in Tennessee is, and how exciting it is for both experienced and new hunters.
We hope this summary helps all hunters prepare for deer hunting with their next trip to Tennessee in advance. As we say goodbye to the last season, let's take the lessons we learned into the next hunting season and enjoy another year of great outdoors and the traditions of hunting.