Tennessee’s first segment of gun season for deer hunters opened Saturday, Nov. 22 in all three of the state’s deer hunting units, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
For better wildlife management, Tennessee is divided into the three deer units. (A map identifying Units A (DeKalb County), B, and L can be found on pages 22-23 of the 2008 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide). The season for each unit is as follows:
*Unit A – Nov. 22 – Dec. 7 and Dec. 20 – Jan. 11.
*Unit B (East Tennessee) Nov. 22 – 30 and Dec. 20 – Jan. 7.
*Unit L – Nov. 22 – Dec. 7 and Dec. 20 – Jan. 11.
The statewide bag limit for antlered bucks is three, except a hunter may take no more than two antlered bucks from Unit B. No more than one antlered buck may be taken per day.
For antlerless deer hunting in Units A and B during this season, refer to the list of hunts on page 21 of the Hunting and Trapping Guide. There are quota and non-quota hunts listed on that page.
An Annual Sportsman, Lifetime Sportsman, Type 167 Permit, or Type 94 permit is required to harvest antlerless deer during this season on all non-quota hunts in Units A, B, and L.
Antlerless deer are defined as deer with no antlers or deer with antlers less than three inches in length.
TWRA personnel will be collecting data at various check-in stations across the state on Saturday. Antlered bucks will be measured and aged and deer will be checked for evidence of EHD.
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1969 is required to carry proof of satisfactory completion of a hunter education class or be in possession of the Apprentice Hunting License (along with other required licenses) while hunting any species in Tennessee.
For more information about Tennessee’s deer hunting seasons, refer to the Hunting and Trapping Guide available at all license agents or on the TWRA website at www.tnwildlife.org.
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