Tennessee Hunting Season Changes Coming
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will present its recommendations for the 2026-27 hunting and trapping seasons at its March meeting. These recommendations can influence bag limits, season dates, and allowable methods — hunters in Tennessee should stay tuned for potential changes.
The upcoming recommendations are part of a multi-stage approval process. Wildlife and Forestry Chief Joe Benedict and Assistant Chief of Game Management Mark McBride will present the proposals, but the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission will cast its final vote on the 2026-27 regulations at its April 16-17 meeting in Knoxville. Once approved in April, the new hunting and trapping regulations are scheduled to take effect on August 1. The March 5-6 meeting, where the proposals are first detailed, will be live-streamed for public viewing on the TWRA's YouTube channel. A significant change already approved for the 2026-27 season is the new Deer Baiting Privilege License. Enacted by the state's General Assembly, this license will permit baiting with scattered corn and grain on private lands, except in counties affected by Chronic Wasting Disease. Another new regulation on the horizon involves the use of drones for recovering wounded deer. A law passed last spring allows for this practice on private property, and the TWRA is tasked with establishing the specific rules for how and when drones can be utilized for recovery. The March meeting agenda also includes an overview of big game harvest data and potential clarifications to rules governing various hunts, permits, and drawings. Additionally, the commission will continue a hearing on rules for off-highway vehicle (OHV) use on the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area. As these new proposals are considered, several hunting seasons from the previous regulations are concluding. Statewide trapping seasons for species like fox, mink, muskrat, and bobcat ended on February 28, along with hunting for rabbit, grouse, and quail. Squirrel, raccoon, and opossum seasons extend until March 15.
