Tennessee · Turkey · 2026–27 Edition
Tennessee Turkey Season 2026–27: Fall & Spring Dates, Bag Limits
Sep 26 — mark it
Mark it.
2026–27 Edition
01 — Fall turkey
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Archery Only · Segment 1 | Statewide | Sep 26 – Oct 30 |
| Fall Shotgun / Archery | All counties except Crockett, Dyer, Giles, Haywood, Lake, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lincoln, Shelby, Tipton, Wayne | Oct 17 – Oct 30 |
| Fall Archery Only · Segment 2 | Statewide | Nov 2 – Nov 6 |
02 — Spring gobbler
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Young Sportsman | Statewide | Mar 27 – Mar 28 |
| General Spring Season | Statewide (some public-land exceptions) | Apr 3 – May 16 |
03 — Bag limits
| Fall | 1 male turkey. No bearded hens. Any fall harvest counts toward the statewide bag limit of one. |
|---|---|
| Spring | 2 male turkeys per season, 1 per day; only one may be a jake. No hens (including bearded hens). |
| Young Sportsman | 1 male turkey per day; counts toward the spring bag of two. |
04 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 26, 2026) 06:08 — 18:36
Rule: Thirty (30) minutes before legal sunrise to sunset (per TWRA spring turkey hours). Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Tennessee sun times for any other date.
05 — License
A Tennessee hunting license and turkey permit are required. Spring and fall permits are often sold separately, and some states cap the number of gobblers per hunter per year across both seasons.
Tennessee licenses & permits — Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency →
06 — FAQ
When does turkey season start in Tennessee?
The earliest 2026–27 opener is September 26, 2026. Fall and spring seasons run separately — see the tables above.
When does turkey season end in Tennessee?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is May 16, 2027. Individual segments and zones close on their own dates.
When does spring turkey season start in Tennessee?
Young Sportsman opens March 27, 2027 (Statewide).
When does fall turkey season start in Tennessee?
Fall Archery Only · Segment 1 opens September 26, 2026 (Statewide).
Verified · Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency · Last verified 2026-08-01
Publisher's note. Fall shotgun/archery is closed in Crockett, Dyer, Giles, Haywood, Lake, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lincoln, Shelby, Tipton and Wayne counties. During fall season a hunter may not possess both archery equipment AND shotguns/rifles at the same time. No hens (including bearded hens) are legal in spring. An adult gobbler is defined by white barring to the wing-feather tip, equal-length tail feathers, a beard longer than 6 inches, or a spur at least 1/2 inch.