Tennessee · Turkey · 2026–27 Edition
Tennessee Turkey Season 2026–27: Fall & Spring Dates, Bag Limits
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 hunting license cost & turkey permits →
Where to hunt public land in Tennessee — WMAs by county & access rules →
06 — Scouting gear
Patterning a gobbler's roost and strut zone before Tennessee's opener usually means glassing from a distance and running a trail camera through late winter and early spring.
- 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.
07 — 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).
How many turkeys can you shoot in Tennessee?
2026–27 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. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting turkey in Tennessee?
On opening day (September 26, 2026) legal light runs 06:08 to 18:36. The rule is: Thirty (30) minutes before legal sunrise to sunset (per TWRA spring turkey hours). Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Tennessee sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt turkey 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 2026-08-16
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. RE-VERIFIED 2026-09-01, fetched directly from the TWRA seasons summary (tn.gov answered without a timeout this time; on an earlier attempt a second try was what worked). The fall table confirms both rows word for word: 'Archery Only | Sept. 26 - Oct. 30, 2026 / Nov. 2 - Nov. 6, 2026 | One (1) male turkey. No bearded hens allowed.' and 'Shotgun/Archery | Oct. 17 - 30, 2026 | Open in all counties, except closed in Crockett, Dyer, Giles, Haywood, Lake, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lincoln, Shelby, Tipton, and Wayne counties.' The possession rule is on the same page and is why this file carries it: 'During the fall turkey season, a turkey hunter may not be in possession of both archery equipment and shotguns and/or rifles.' TWRA notes there that detailed zones, units and licence requirements live in the Hunting and Trapping Guide — the summary is a planning overview, not the regulation itself.