At their April 21 meeting, the Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission set the state’s 2023-2024 hunting season dates. Surprisingly, there were no changes to the Volunteer State’s deer seasons other than the typical calendar shift of dates.
In this article, we highlight those deer season dates, along with key deer hunting regulations. It’s worth noting this is not a comprehensive guide. For a full list of regulations, be sure to check out the TWRA website.
2023-2024 Tennessee Deer Season Dates
| Season | Units A,B,C,D and L | Unit CWD |
|---|---|---|
| August Season | Aug 25-27 (A) | Aug 25-27 (G/M/A) |
| Archery | Sep. 23-Oct. 27 Oct. 30-Nov 3 | Sep. 23-Oct. 27 |
| Young Sportsman | Oct. 28-29 Jan. 13-14 | Oct. 28-29 Jan. 13-14 |
| Muzzleloader/Archery | Nov. 4-17 | |
| Firearms Season | Nov. 18 – Jan. 7 | Oct. 30 – Jan. 12 Jan. 15-31 |
| Private Lands Season | Jan. 8-12 Unit L only |
Tennessee Deer Zone Map
Bag Limit
Units A, B, C, D, L bag limit: 2 antlered deer (No more than 1 per day). Unit CWD bag limit: 3 antlered deer (No more than 1 per day; with all taken solely in Unit CWD or in combination with no more than two (2) deer taken outside Unit CWD).
The only way to exceed the statewide bag limit of 2 Antlered deer is to harvest one in Unit CWD.
Hunter Education Requirements
All hunters born on or after January 1, 1969, must carry proof they have successfully completed a Hunter Education course. Hunter Education certification is accepted from all other states.
Children under 10 years of age do not need a Hunter Education certificate, but must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years of age who must remain in a position to take immediate control of the weapon.
Legal Deer Hunting Weapons
- Shotguns (including muzzleloading shotguns) using ammunition loaded with single solid ball or slugs
- Rifles and handguns using centerfire ammunition (full metal jacketed ammunition prohibited)
- Muzzleloading firearms (rifles and handguns) .36 cal. or larger
- Air guns .35 cal. or larger
- Pre-charged pneumatic gun which shoots an arrow (special conditions apply)
- Archery equipment (longbows, recurves, compounds, and crossbows)
Legal Deer Hunting Hours
Legal deer hunting hours are 30 minutes before official sunrise and until 30 minutes after official sunset.
Deer Check-In Procedures
Before moving your harvested big game, you must either check it in on your smartphone or physically tag the animal and check it in before midnight. These procedures are a requirement for everyone, including landowners and those exempt from license requirements.
- Big game must be checked in by midnight on the day of harvest AND before being gifted to another person or leaving the state.
- Temporary Transportation Tag must remain affixed to the animal until it is checked in.
- Evidence of the animal’s sex, species, and antlered status (if applicable) must remain with the animal while afield and until checked in.
The harvest confirmation number is important!
After check-in, it must be available for inspection by TWRA personnel until time of final processing. It must accompany an animal taken to a taxidermist, meat processor, or gifted to another person.
Hunter Orange Requirements
Tennessee deer hunters must wear at least 500 square inches of blaze orange on their upper body and head, visible front and back, while deer hunting except on archery-only hunts. A hat and vest fulfills this requirement.
Blaze orange camo is legal if it contains 500 square inches of fluorescent orange. In those areas where the archery-only deer season dates overlap with another big game gun season (i.e., bear), archers are required to wear 500 square inches of blaze orange.
Blaze orange is required during the August Hunt in Unit CWD as well.
