Tennessee · Deer · 2026–27 Edition
Tennessee Deer Season 2026–27: Dates, Zones & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons by method
| Method | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| August velvet (archery) | Private + select Unit 1 WMAs | Aug 28 – Aug 30 |
| Archery | Statewide | Sep 26 – Oct 30 |
| Young Sportsman | Statewide | Oct 31 – Nov 1 |
| Archery (2nd) | Statewide | Nov 2 – Nov 6 |
| Muzzleloader / Archery | Statewide | Nov 7 – Nov 20 |
| Gun / Muzzleloader / Archery | Statewide | Nov 21 – Jan 3 |
| Young Sportsman (late) | Statewide | Jan 9 – Jan 10 |
02 — Bag limits
| Antlered | 2 per season statewide (1/day); bonus/Earn-A-Buck/Replacement Buck exceptions apply |
|---|---|
| Antlerless | Varies by Deer Management Unit (1–6) — see TWRA |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (August 28, 2026) 05:46 — 19:49
Rule: 30 minutes before legal sunrise to 30 minutes after legal sunset — TWRA's general rule. The exceptions in that same rule end at official sunset instead (turkey, migratory birds); deer is not among them.. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Tennessee sun times for any other date.
04 — License
A Tennessee hunting license and deer permit are required. Costs, age rules and where to buy are on our license page below.
Tennessee hunting license cost & deer permits →
Where to hunt public land in Tennessee — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — Scouting gear
Scouting a property before Tennessee's opener usually means glassing terrain and running a trail camera through the summer and early fall.
- Hunting binoculars on Amazon →
- Trail cameras on Amazon →
- Trail camera SD cards — class, capacity & format explained →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. These are category links, not a single named pick — we run no product tests of our own.
06 — FAQ
When does deer season start in Tennessee?
The earliest 2026–27 opener is August 28, 2026 — August velvet (archery), limited to Private + select Unit 1 WMAs. Other weapons and zones start later — see the table above.
When does deer season end in Tennessee?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is January 10, 2027. Individual methods and zones close on their own dates.
When does bow season start for deer in Tennessee?
August velvet (archery) opens August 28, 2026 (Private + select Unit 1 WMAs). Later segments may follow — see the seasons table.
When does rifle season start for deer in Tennessee?
Gun / Muzzleloader / Archery opens November 21, 2026 (Statewide). Later segments may follow — see the seasons table.
When does muzzleloader season start for deer in Tennessee?
Muzzleloader / Archery opens November 7, 2026 (Statewide). Later segments may follow — see the seasons table.
How many deer can you shoot in Tennessee?
2026–27 bag limits: Antlered — 2 per season statewide (1/day); bonus/Earn-A-Buck/Replacement Buck exceptions apply. Antlerless — Varies by Deer Management Unit (1–6) — see TWRA. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting deer in Tennessee?
On opening day (August 28, 2026) legal light runs 05:46 to 19:49. The rule is: 30 minutes before legal sunrise to 30 minutes after legal sunset — TWRA's general rule. The exceptions in that same rule end at official sunset instead (turkey, migratory birds); deer is not among them. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Tennessee sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt deer on my own land in Tennessee without a license?
Tennessee landowners, their spouse and children (and children's spouses), may hunt and fish their own farmland without a license — they don't have to live there. Tenants get the same right, but only while actually living on the land with the owner's permission. Deer, bear, and boar permits and the Duck Stamp still apply, and a signed exemption statement must be carried while hunting.
Verified · Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency · Last verified 2026-08-27
Publisher's note. Re-verified 2026-08-27 against TWRA's own deer page, fetched directly (tn.gov timed out on a first attempt that day and answered on a retry - worth a second try before reaching for a proxy). Every row of this file matches TWRA's 'Deer Season Dates and Bag Limits' table: August (A) Aug. 28-30, 2026; Archery (A) Sept. 26-Oct. 30 and Nov. 2-Nov. 6, 2026; Young Sportsman (G/M/A) Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 2026 and Jan. 9-10, 2027; Muzzleloader/Archery Nov. 7-20, 2026; Gun/Muzzleloader/Archery Nov. 21, 2026-Jan. 3, 2027. Antlered bag confirmed verbatim: 'All Units (statewide) - Two (2) antlered deer (1 per day, not to exceed 2 for the season)', exceedable only as a bonus deer on certain WMAs, under Earn-A-Buck in a CWD-positive county, or as a Replacement Buck. Antlerless stays per Deer Management Unit by design - TWRA sets it per Unit 1-6 and states that moving counties within a Unit does not raise it. Three source details not modeled here. The August hunt is archery-only velvet hunting on private land and select Unit 1 WMAs, and TWRA warns that WMAs listing 'open with statewide seasons' are NOT included in it. During the second week of Muzzleloader/Archery (Nov. 14-20, 2026) single-shot straight-walled rifles of .35 caliber or larger are legal on private land only, and those deer count against the muzzleloader bag. And the CWD Management Zone - all counties west of the Tennessee River - carries its own rules on top of these dates.