Tennessee Hunting Seasons 2024-25: Dates, Regulations, Licenses

TN Hunting Licenses & Permits

A Social Security Number is required by federal law to purchase a Tennessee hunting or fishing license.

Fees and seasons are subject to change.

License Expiration & Renewal

License Expiration Dates:

• Annual licenses and permits are valid for 365 days from the purchase date.
• Captive Wildlife Permits, Migratory Bird Permits, Federal Duck Stamp, and Slat Basket Tags expire on June 30 each year.

Renewal Eligibility:

• Licenses can be renewed within 10 days of expiration.

Where to Purchase TN Hunting Licenses

License Availability:

• Most licenses are available via the On The Go APP, GoOutDoorsTennessee, TWRA Licensed Agents, Regional Offices, county clerks, sporting goods stores, hardware stores, and boat docks.
• Specialty licenses (Wheelchair, Disabled Veteran, Intellectually Disabled, Blind Fishing) and the Lifetime Sportsman License have specific purchase locations.
• The Lifetime Sportsman License cannot be purchased at general license agents.

Native Tennessean Licenses:

• Nonresidents born in Tennessee can apply for Native Tennessean annual licenses. The program allows the purchase of hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses at the same cost as a resident.
• First-Time applicants must use the Native Tennessean Annual License Application.
• Previously applied non-residents can renew via:
  
  • On The Go APP
  • GoOutDoorsTennessee
  • TWRA Licensed Agent
  • Regional Office

If you misplaced a license:

• You can print all your hunting licenses, including lifetime licenses, at GoOutdoorsTennessee.com at no cost.
• or replace licenses at any license agent for $8.00.

Eligibility & Exemptions

Eligibility for Resident Licenses:

• Valid Tennessee driver’s license or state ID.
• Non-driving residents with 90 days’ continuous residence and genuine intent to make Tennessee their permanent home, providing two of the following:
  • Current Tennessee voter registration card
  • Current Tennessee vehicle registration or title
  • Form I-94 from U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services
  • Current rental/mortgage contract, deed of sale, or recent Tennessee real estate tax receipt
• Special Cases:
  • Active duty military personnel in Tennessee and their children under 16.
  • Students enrolled in a Tennessee school, college, or university for at least six months with an appropriate student ID.

License Exemptions:

• Residents born before March 1, 1926 (with proof of age and residency).
• Military personnel on leave with leave papers.
• Tennessee resident landowners, their spouses, children, and children’s spouses hunting on their own farmland (not jointly owned by unrelated persons).
• Resident grandchildren and great-grandchildren (under 16) hunting on resident grandparents’ or great-grandparents’ farmland.
• Tenants, their spouses, and dependent children who live on and care for farmland, with the landowner’s permission.
• First cousins and their children hunting small game on jointly owned farmland.
• Landowners and their children hunting on their parent’s land are exempt from Hunter Education Certification and blaze orange requirements.

Mandatory Hunter Education:

• Hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1969, must have completed a Hunter Education course.
• Certification from other states is accepted.
• Those under 10 years old must be accompanied by an adult (21 or older) who can take immediate control of the hunting device.

RESIDENT LICENSES & PERMITS

Hunting and Fishing Combination – $33

• Minimum license required to fish and/or hunt small game.
• Supplemental Licenses: Needed for hunting deer, bear, boar (feral hog), turkey, and waterfowl, based on equipment type:
  • Waterfowl
  • Big Game Gun (BG Gun)
  • Big Game Archery (BG Archery)
  • Big Game Muzzleloader (BG Muzzleloader)

Waterfowl Supplemental License – $37

Annual Big Game Gun Supplemental License – $33

Annual Big Game Archery Supplemental License – $33

Annual Big Game Muzzleloader Supplemental License – $33

Trapping – $33

Annual Sportsman – $165

• All-inclusive license for hunting, trapping, and sport fishing.
• No state supplemental licenses or non-quota permits needed.
• Allows application for quota permits at no additional fee.

Junior Hunt/Trap/Fish – $9

• Ages 13-15; valid for hunting all game, fishing, and trapping.
• Must be purchased before 16th birthday.
• No supplemental licenses needed, but WMA permits required.
• Fees apply for quota hunt permits and “leftover” permits.

Permanent Senior Citizen Hunt/Fish/Trap – $49

• Available at age 65 with proof of age and residency.
• No supplemental licenses needed, but WMA permits required.
• Fees apply for quota hunt permits and “leftover” permits.

Annual Senior Citizen Hunt/Fish/Trap – $4

• Available at age 65 with proof of age and residency.
• No supplemental licenses needed, but WMA permits required.
• Fees apply for quota hunt permits and “leftover” permits.

Annual Senior Citizen Sportsman – $49

• All-inclusive license for hunting, trapping, and sport fishing.
• No state supplemental licenses or non-quota permits needed.
• Allows application for quota permits at no additional fee.

NON-RESIDENT LICENSES

Junior Hunt/Fish – No Big Game – $10
Required for nonresidents ages 13-15 to fish or hunt small game. A 7-Day Junior or Junior ALL Game Annual is required to hunt big game.

7-Day Junior Hunt – All Game – $26

Annual Junior Hunt – All Game – $41

7-Day Hunt-Small Game/Waterfowl – No Big Game – $61

Hunt-Small Game/Waterfowl – No Big Game – $110

7-Day Hunting – All Game – $214

Annual Hunting – All Game – $305

Trapping – $200.00

OTHER LICENSES

Federal Duck Stamp – $25

• Required for waterfowl hunters age 16 and over.
• Must carry with a person’s hunting license and state migratory bird permit.
• Must be signed across the face in ink.
• Can be purchased at GoOutdoorsTennessee.com (July 1 – January 17) or Post Office.
• Temporary stamp available immediately; physical stamp arrives within 30 days.

Migratory Bird Permits – $1

Apprentice Hunter Education Permit (Apprentice License) – $11

• It’s a supplemental license instead of a hunter education certificate, available for hunters 10+ who haven’t completed the mandatory course; It exempts from hunter education requirement for one year (up to three consecutive years).
• Purchase via On The Go APP, GoOutDoorsTennessee, TWRA Licensed Agents, or Regional Office.
• Holders must be accompanied by an adult (21+) meeting hunter education requirements and able to take immediate control of the hunting device.
• All other applicable hunting licenses/permits required.

TN General Hunting Regulations

Possession of Live Animals:

• No possession or transport of live animals taken during hunting/trapping seasons.
• Native species cannot be taken from the wild as pets.

Protected Species:

• Illegal to take, kill, or possess hawks, owls, songbirds, endangered species, or other protected species (e.g., snakes).
• Cougars and alligators expanding into Tennessee are protected and cannot be hunted until a season is proclaimed.

Roadkill Law:

• TCA 70-4-115 allows possession of wild game accidentally killed by a vehicle, except non-game and federally protected species.
• Deer: Notify TWRA or law enforcement within 48 hours.
• Bear: Requires a possession tag from a TWRA officer.

Hunting Hours:

• Big and small game (except bullfrogs, raccoons, opossums, foxes, and rabbits): 30 mins before sunrise to 30 mins after sunset.
• Turkey and migratory birds: Until official sunset (sandhill cranes till 3 pm).
• Dove season: Opens at noon on opening day.

Hunting and Trapping on Private Land:

• Hunters/trappers need landowner permission; written permission required for trapping.
• “Hunting By Written Permission Only” law: Properly posted private land requires written permission carry.

Hunting From a Stationary Vehicle:

• Legal to hunt from stationary motorized vehicles on private property (engine may run).
• Does not allow hunting from powered vessels, automobiles, or across public roads/rights-of-way.

Assisting Hunters:

• Hunters who have met their bag limit can accompany others without possessing ammunition, firearms, or archery equipment, while complying with all legal requirements.

Handgun Carry General Regulations:

• Handguns allowed on TWRA refuges, public hunting areas, state-owned wildlife management areas, and national forests (subject to federal law).
• Handguns can only be used for hunting if in full compliance with wildlife laws, rules, and regulations.

Big Game Tagging & Check-In Procedures

Tag Before You Drag

• Harvested big game must be checked in on your smartphone or physically tagged before midnight.
• Applies to everyone, including landowners and license-exempt individuals.

Harvest Confirmation Number

• Must be available for inspection until final processing.
• Required when taking an animal to a taxidermist, meat processor, or gifting it.

Check-In Requirements:

• Must check in by midnight on the day of harvest, before gifting, or leaving state.
• Temporary Transportation Tag must stay affixed until check-in.
• Evidence of sex, species, and antlered status must remain with the animal until check-in.

Bear Specifics:

• Bears must weigh 75 lbs. or more when afield.
• Quartered/boned bears must total at least 75 lbs.

The WMA Big Game Quota Hunts application period is June 12 – July 24, 2024.

Read about TWRA WMAs as well as general and species-specific regulations here.

Read about Public hunts in Tennessee here.