All firearms, hunting devices, and ammunition listed in the below table are legal for hunting purposes according to the individual species listed. If a firearm, hunting device, or ammunition is not listed in the below table. it is illegal to hunt within the State of Tennessee. Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) may have additional restrictions on some legal hunting devices.
Small Game
FIREARM, HUNTING DEVICE, AND AMMUNITION
BEAR
ELK
TURKEY
MIGRATORY BIRDS
FURBEARERS AND CROW
Shotguns (including muzzleloading shotguns) using ammunition loaded with Number Four (4) or smaller shot
Shotguns (including muzzleloading shotguns) using ammunition loaded with T shot (0.20-inch diameter) or smaller
Shotguns (including muzzleloading shotguns) using ammunition loaded with a single solid ball or slugs
Rifles and handguns using rimfire ammunition and air guns (.25 caliber or smaller)
Rifles and handguns using centerfire ammunition
(full metal jacketed ammunition prohibited)
Muzzleloading firearms (rifles and handguns) .36 caliber or larger
Air guns .35 caliber or larger
Pre-charged pneumatic gun which shoots an arrow (special conditions apply)
Archery equipment (longbows, recurves, compounds, and crossbows)
Raptors that are legally possessed under a valid falconry permit
*Only muzzleloading firearms may be used during the muzzleloader season. There are no changes to the muzzleloader season.
1. If using this equipment while hunting during deer, elk or bear season you must be a legal big game hunter.
2. Hunting arrows and bolts must be equipped with sharpened broadheads.
3. Waterfowl and sandhill cranes may only be hunted with non-toxic shot of T size or smaller.
4. Furbearers are defined as beaver, bobcat, coyote, fox, groundhog, mink, muskrat, opossum, river otter, raccoon, skunk, and weasel.
5. It is illegal to use rifles and handguns using centerfire ammunition from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.
6. Migratory birds, except waterfowl and sandhill cranes, may only be hunted with ammunition loaded with Number 4 or smaller shot size.
7. Muzzleloading firearms are defined as those firearms in which a projectile (rifle) or projectiles (shotgun) must be loaded from the muzzle (front) end of the barrel and the firearm being of design and manufacture that prevents the projectile(s) from being loaded from the breech (rear) end.
8. Must use a pre-charged pneumatic firing mechanism; in addition, the air gun must be equipped with a built-in manometer (air pressure gauge).
9. Persons possessing a permanent disabled license (Annual Resident Hunting & Fishing Disabled Under 18, Permanent Resident Hunting & Fishing Intellectually Disabled, Permanent Wheelchair Hunting and Fishing, Permanent DAV Hunting and Fishing) may use a pre-charged pneumatic gun which shoots an arrow during the archery, deer, bear and elk season as an accommodation for their disability.
10. A pre-charged pneumatic gun which shoots an arrow is legal for all hunters to use during modern gun season for deer, bear, elk and turkey.
11. Except hunting devices and ammunition are not allowed during the night-time coyote and bobcat only season. Buckshot and smaller shot is allowed.
1. For trapping purposes, "water set" is defined to mean traps set in water adjacent to and part of streams, ponds, lakes, wetlands, or other water courses and includes floating sets.
2. Steel foothold traps used for water sets must have an exterior jaw measurement of nine (9) inches or less measured at the hinge of the trap. Steel foothold traps used for ground sets must have an exterior jaw measurement of seven (7) inches or less measured at the hinge of the trap. Steel square instant-kill traps must have an exterior jaw measurement of sixteen (16) inches or less measured at the widest point, and steel circular instant-kill traps must have an exterior measurement of twelve (12) inches or less measured at the widest point.
3. Live traps are legal for taking any species of wildlife listed as having a trapping season. Live traps are defined as those traps that act as a cage after capture.
4. Steel cable snares having a minimum cable diameter of five sixty-fourths (5/64) of an inch and a maximum cable diameter of three thirty-seconds (3/32) of an inch are legal for all legal furbearer species during the legal trapping season. Spring activated snares other than Collarum snares are prohibited.
5. Commercially available dog-proof traps, also known as species-specific traps, are legal for trapping.
6. For ground sets, a trapper may use cushion-hold traps, laminated jaw traps, offset wide jaw traps, offset laminated jaw traps, and wide jaw traps with an exterior jaw measurement of seven (7) inches or less measured at the hinge point and with a minimum jaw thickness of one-fourth (1/4) of an inch. For ground sets, a trapper may also use double-jaw traps with an exterior jaw measurement of seven (7) inches or less of the upper and lower jaws combined and a minimum jaw thickness of one-fourth (1/4) of an inch. For water sets, a trapper may use cushion-hold traps, laminated jaw traps, offset wide jaw traps, offset laminated jaw traps, and wide jaw traps with an exterior jaw measurement of nine (9) inches or less measured at the hinge point. For water sets, a trapper may also use double jaw traps with an exterior jaw measurement of nine (9) inches or less of the upper and lower jaws combined.
7. Trappers shall mark all traps and snares with their name or TWRA ID number.
8. Steel traps placed inside a hole, cave, den, hollow log, hollow stump, or any like place shall be placed at least twelve (12) inches inside the entrance of such place, and it is unlawful to place steel traps in the open, except for water sets and trap types listed in paragraph five (5) above.
9. Lethal sets such as instant kill traps and waterset (“drowning”) traps must be inspected every seventy-two (72) hours. All other traps must be inspected every thirty-six (36) hours and any wildlife caught in the traps shall be removed.
10. For ground sets adjacent to waterways and no more than fifty (50) feet from the shoreline, a trapper may use a 110-body grip trap, or its equivalent, with a maximum exterior jaw measurement of six (6) inches wide by six (6) inches tall. Such a trap shall be a single-spring trap with a factory spring designated for that trap. The lowest point of the trap closest to the ground shall be no more than one-half (1/2) inch above the surface of the ground. The trap shall be used as a non-baited or lured set unless it is set at a minimum of twelve (12) inches inside a hole, den, or cubby.
11. All traps shall be attached to a stake, drag, or anchor, with chain, wire at sixteen (16) gauge or larger, or cable of one-sixteenth (1/16) inch size or larger.
1. Federal regulations relative to baiting, firearms, bag and possession limits, wanton waste, tagging, and methods of hunting are hereby adopted and will be applicable to hunting and/or taking of species listed.
2. No person shall hunt migratory game birds, except crows, with a shotgun of any description capable of holding more than three (3) shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler, incapable of removal without disassembling the gun, so its total capacity does not exceed three (3) shells.
3. All persons who hunt migratory game birds are required to have in their possession a valid Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit in addition to other required Tennessee licenses and permits, with the following exceptions:
» Landowners hunting on their own land;
» Lifetime license holders;
» Residents of Tennessee under 13 years of age;
» Residents of Tennessee who are 65 or older;
» Military personnel on leave or furlough.
4. Refer to federal regulations 50 CFR Ch. 1 (21.41 and 21.43) for conditions and restrictions applicable to the taking of crows in certain depredation or health hazard situations outside of the crow sport hunting season.
5. Pursuant to federal regulations, during the Light Goose Conservation Season, waterfowl hunters may use unplugged shotguns and electronic calls.
Youths, ages 6–16, must be accompanied by an adult, 21 years of age or older, who must remain in a position to take immediate control of the hunting device except as otherwise noted.
In addition to state regulations, the following federal rules apply to taking, possessing, shipping, transporting, and storing migratory game birds. This is only a summary. Each hunter should also consult actual regulations, which may be found in Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 20.
Restrictions
No person shall take migratory game birds:
Closed Season No person shall take migratory game birds during the closed season.
Shooting or Falconry Hours No person shall take migratory game birds except during the hours open to shooting and falconry as prescribed.
Daily Bag Limit No person shall take more than one (1) daily bag limit per day.
Field Possession Limit No person shall possess more than one (1) daily bag limit while in the field or while returning from the field to one’s car, hunting camp, home, etc.
Wanton Waste All migratory game birds killed or crippled shall be retrieved, if possible, and retained in the custody of the hunter in the field.
Tagging No person shall give, put, or leave any migratory game birds at any place or in the custody of another person unless the birds are tagged by the hunter with the following information: The hunter’s signature, address, the total number of birds involved by species and the dates such birds were killed. No person or business shall receive or have in custody any migratory game birds belonging to another person unless such birds are properly tagged.
Possession of Live Birds Wounded birds reduced to possession shall be immediately killed and included in the daily bag limit.
Dual Violation Violation of state migratory bird regulations is also a violation of federal regulations.
Dressing No person shall completely field dress any migratory game bird (except doves and band-tailed pigeons) and then transport the birds from the field. The head or one fully feathered wing must remain attached to all such birds while being transported from the field to one’s home or to a migratory bird preservation facility.
Shipment No person shall ship migratory game birds unless the package is marked on the outside with (a) the name and address of the person sending the birds, (b) the name and address of the person to whom the birds are being sent, and (c) the number of birds, by species, contained in the package.
Importation For information regarding the importation of migratory birds killed in another country, hunters should consult 50 CFR 20.61 through 20.66. One fully feathered wing must remain attached to all migratory game birds being transported between a port of entry and one’s home or to a migratory bird preservation facility. No person shall import migratory game birds killed in any foreign country, except Canada, unless such birds are dressed (except as required above), drawn and the head and feet are removed. No person shall import migratory game birds belonging to another person.
Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp The law requires that each waterfowl hunter, 16 years of age and over, must carry on his or her person a valid Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Federal Duck Stamp) signed in ink across the face.
Caution More restrictive regulations may apply to National Wildlife Refuges open to public hunting. For additional information on federal regulations, contact:
Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
RM 132-C, U.S. Courthouse,
801 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203.
Telephone: 615-736-5532.
Please Report Banded Birds!
The USGS Patuxent Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) encourages hunters to report banded birds. Band reports must be submitted through the mobile-friendly website, www.reportband.gov, by persons in the US and other countries, aside from Canada. Those who call the toll-free line will hear a message announcing the change and directing them to the website.
The BBL encourages everyone reporting a band to use www.reportband.gov. A report requires only around 5 minutes to complete online. After a report is submitted, the date and location where the bird was originally banded are provided and a Certificate of Appreciation along with additional banding details (date, location of banding) will be sent via email.
Capturing and banding birds requires considerable effort, and documenting the recovery or re-sighting of banded birds is essential to profit from that effort. Band recovery data are the basis for improving the conservation and knowledge of bird populations in North America. Please help the BBL, its many partners, and the birds of North America by continuing to report your band recoveries.
To Report Recovered Duck and Goose Bands: www.reportband.gov
Attention Hunters *** Special Regulations ***
Plugged Shotguns
No person shall hunt migratory game birds, except crows, with a shotgun of any description capable of holding more than three (3) shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler, incapable of removal without disassembling the gun, so its total capacity does not exceed three (3) shells.
Legal Shot