Regulations change. Always confirm with the official state fish and wildlife agency before you hunt or fish. This site is an unofficial index, not legal advice. Each fact shows its source and the date we last read it.
Tennessee: 2026-27 deer seasons, resident license fees and official links
Run by: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). Below are the deer season dates and resident license fees we could read on official pages (regulation year 2026-27). This state is newly added and coverage is partial.
Deer seasons
| Season type | Zone / unit | Dates (inclusive) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| August archery-only (velvet) hunt | Private lands and select Unit 1 WMAs only | Aug 28, 2026 to Aug 30, 2026 | Not available on WMAs in other units. |
| Archery | Statewide (first segment) | Sep 26, 2026 to Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Young sportsman (gun, muzzleloader, archery) | Statewide (fall weekend) | Oct 31, 2026 to Nov 1, 2026 | Youths 6-16 with a qualifying adult; a second weekend is Jan 9-10, 2027. |
| Archery | Statewide (second segment) | Nov 2, 2026 to Nov 6, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader/archery | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 to Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Straight-walled cartridge rifles | Private lands only | Nov 14, 2026 to Nov 20, 2026 | Second week of the muzzleloader/archery season; single-shot, .35 caliber or larger straight-walled cartridges. |
| Gun/muzzleloader/archery | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Young sportsman (gun, muzzleloader, archery) | Statewide (winter weekend) | Jan 9, 2027 to Jan 10, 2027 |
Source: TWRA: deer season dates and bag limits. Last verified Oct 17, 2026. Dates can vary by zone, unit or land type; check the official page for your location.
Selected resident license fees
| License (resident) | Fee | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident combination hunt/fish annual license, ages 16-64 | $33.00 | Minimum license to hunt small game or fish; supplemental licenses are required for deer. | Official page |
| Supplemental big game gun license, resident | $33.00 | Archery and muzzleloader supplemental licenses are also $33 on the same page. | Official page |
| Annual sportsman license, resident ages 16-64 | $165.00 | Covers hunting, trapping and fishing without state supplemental licenses or non-quota permits. | Official page |
| WMA big game permit (non-quota), resident | $24.00 | Required for non-quota big game hunts on WMAs. | Official page |
Fees are copied from the official page linked in each row, last verified Oct 17, 2026. Fees, agent fees and online fees change; confirm before you buy.
Good to know
- Statewide antlered limit is two (one per day). Antlerless limits differ by deer management unit: Units 1-3 and Units 4-6 are listed separately in the table on the TWRA page.
Source: TWRA: deer hunting. Last verified Oct 17, 2026. - A Deer Bait Privilege License is required to hunt deer over bait on private land and is not available in CWD-positive counties; baiting is prohibited on public land.
Source: TWRA: deer hunting. Last verified Oct 17, 2026.
Not yet researched
Deer management unit antlerless bag limits by unit, WMA-specific dates, turkey, bear and small game dates, fishing seasons, resident fishing-only license fees, non-resident fees.