For the most recent information on hunting dates, bag limits, zones, units, and licenses and/or permits needed, please consult the Hunting and Trapping Guide.
Hey there, turkey hunters!
Are you itching to get out there and bag a gobbler this year? Well, wonder no more! I’ve got all the info you need on Tennessee’s 2024 turkey season, including dates, regulations, and some insider tips to help you bag that bird.
Let’s dive in!
️ Spring Turkey Season Dates:
- Statewide: April 13 – May 26, 2024
- Young Sportsman Hunt: April 6-7, 2024 (ages 6-16)
Fall Turkey Season Dates:
- Open in all counties except: Bledsoe, Bradley, Crockett, Dyer, Giles, Haywood, Lake, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lincoln, Loudon, McMinn, Monroe, Polk, Shelby, Tipton, Unicoi, and Wayne counties.
- Archery: Sept. 23 – Oct. 27, 2023, and Oct 30 – Nov. 3, 2023 (same as deer archery-only season)
- Shotgun/Archery: Oct. 14-27, 2023
Regulations:
- Bag Limit:
- Spring: One (1) bearded turkey per day, not to exceed two (2) per season, only one can be a jake.
- Fall: One (1) bearded turkey per county, except that Bledsoe, Bradley, Crockett, Dyer, Giles, Haywood, Lake, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lincoln, Loudon, McMinn, Monroe, Polk, Shelby, Tipton, Unicoi, and Wayne counties are closed to all fall turkey hunting.
- Legal Hunting Hours: Thirty (30) minutes before legal sunrise to sunset.
- Legal Hunting Equipment:
- Shotguns using ammunition with No. 4 shot or smaller. No restriction on the number of rounds in the magazine.
- Archery equipment (longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, and crossbows).
- Sighting devices including scopes are legal. Night vision, infrared, and other devices using artificial light to locate wildlife are illegal.
- A pre-charged pneumatic gun (Airbow) that shoots an arrow is legal for all hunters to use during statewide turkey gun seasons.
- Prohibited Acts: Baiting, possessing rifles, using handguns, possessing or using electronic calls, using live decoys, and loaded ammunition larger than No. 4 shot are prohibited.
Young Sportsman Hunt:
- Ages 6-16.
- One (1) bearded turkey per day, which counts toward the statewide bag of two (2), only one can be a jake.
- Each young sportsman must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult, 21 years of age or older, who must remain in a position to take immediate control of the hunting device. Youth 10 years of age or older must meet Hunter Education requirements.
- Multiple youths may be accompanied by a single non-hunting adult, who is not required to have a license.
️ Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs):
- Many WMAs are open with statewide seasons and bag limits, though some have restricted dates or quota hunts.
- Calling or attempting to call turkeys using any means to mimic the sounds made by turkeys is prohibited from March 1 to the opening day of spring turkey hunts on all WMAs.
- See the Quota Hunt page for turkey quota hunt application dates.
Insider Tips:
- Scout your area: Knowing where the turkeys are is key to success. Spend some time before the season scouting out potential hunting spots.
- Use decoys: Decoys can be a great way to attract turkeys into range.
- Be patient: Turkeys can be wary creatures, so be patient and wait for the right opportunity to take your shot.
- Call softly: Turkeys have excellent hearing, so call softly to avoid spooking them.
- Be safe: Always follow safe hunting practices, including wearing blaze orange and using a safe backstop.
Spring Turkey Quota Draw:
- The application period for 2024 Spring Turkey Hunts will be December 20, 2023 – January 10, 2024. Find out how to apply on the Quota Hunt Page.
Additional Resources:
- Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) Turkey Hunting Page: https://www.tn.gov/twra/hunting/big-game/turkey.html
- 2024 Spring Turkey Hunts application period, season turkey dates in TN: https://www.wate.com/news/tennessee/2024-spring-turkey-season/
Happy Hunting!
P.S If you’re looking for a great place to hunt turkeys in Tennessee, check out the TWRA’s website for a list of WMAs and other public hunting areas
P.P.S. Don’t forget to share your turkey hunting stories and photos with us on social media!
White-tailed Deer Hunting Units
Unit A includes Bradley, Carter, Hamilton, Hawkins, Johnson, Knox, Loudon, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Rhea, Roane, and Sullivan counties.
Anderson, Bledsoe, Campbell, Claiborne, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Grundy, Hancock, Jackson, Morgan, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Scott, Sequatchie, Van Buren, Warren, and White counties are included in Unit B.
Unit C includes Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Jefferson, Unicoi, Union, and Washington counties.
Unit D includes Blount, Monroe, Polk, and Sevier counties.
Bedford, Benton, Cannon, Carroll, Cheatham, Coffee, Davidson, Decatur, Dickson, Dyer, Franklin, Giles, Hardin, Henry, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Lake, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marshall, Maury, Montgomery, Moore, Obion, Perry, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Wayne, Weakley, Williamson, and Wilson counties are all included in Unit L.
Unit CWD includes Chester, Crockett, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Haywood, Henderson, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Shelby, and Tipton counties.
Deer Seasons and Bag Limits – 2023-2024
Units A, B, C, D, L bag limit: 2 antlered deer (No more than 1 per day). Three antlered deer are allowed per unit (no more than one per day); they may be taken exclusively within the unit or in combination with no more than two (2) deer taken outside the unit.) See the Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide for deer units and county listings.
Archery1 – Aug. 25-27 – Units A, B, C, D, L, Private Lands, Antlered deer only.
G/M/A1 – Aug. 25-27 – Unit CWD, Antlered deer only. Private lands and select public lands (see hunting guide for details).
A – Sep. 23-Oct. 27; Oct. 30-November 3: Antlerless bag: Units A, B, C, D, L
A – Sep. 23-Oct. 27 – Unit CWD, Antlerless bag: 3/day, no season limit
G/M/A Young Sportsman2 (ages 6-16) Oct. 28-29; Jan. 13-14 – Statewide Antlerless bag: Units A, B, C, & D=2; Units L & CWD=3/day.
M/A – Nov. 4-17 – Antlerless bag: Units A, B, C, D, and L
G/M/A – Oct. 30 – Jan. 12; Jan. 15-31 – Unit CWD, Antlerless bag: 3/day
G/M/A – Nov. 18 – Jan. 7 – Units A, B, C, D, L, Antlerless bag: Unit A=2; Unit B=1; Unit C=1 (Nov. 18-Dec. 3 only); Unit D=1 (Nov. 18-24 only); Unit L=3/day.
G/M/A – Jan. 8-12 Private Lands Only3 – Unit L, Antlerless bag: 3/day. No antlered deer in Unit L.
1. Only on private property; archery only, with the exception of Unit CWD, where firearms and muzzleloaders are permitted and some public lands are also available for hunting. See Region 1 WMA regulations (page 50) to see which public lands are open during this hunt. Fluorescent orange is required in Unit CWD.
2. Youths 6-16 years of age may participate. Participating youth can use gun, muzzleloader, and archery equipment (G/M/A). Young sportsmen must be escorted by a non-hunting adult who is at least 21 years old. This adult must be able to take immediate control of the hunting device and adhere to the fluorescent orange rules that apply to lawful hunters. Multiple youths may be accompanied by a single, qualifying adult. Units A, B, C, and D have antlerless bag limits that cannot be exceeded in total for the four days combined—two antlerless deer.
3. All privately owned land in Unit L is open for hunting, including leased and individual property. It is the duty of all hunters to secure written or verbal consent before hunting on privately owned territory. No public lands or WMAs are open during this period. No antlered deer may be taken during this period in Unit L.
A Sep. 30 – Oct. 6, 2023; 7 permits, 1 antlered elk/permit
G/M/A Young Sportsman (resident only, ages 13-16) Oct. 7 – 13, 2023; 1 permit, for 1 antlered elk
G/M/A Oct. 14 – 20, 2023; 7 permits, 1 antlered elk/permit
Bag limit: 1 per season. Cubs under 75 lbs. are prohibited.
No dogs A – Sept. 23 – Oct. 20, All Zones G/M/A – Young Sportsman, (Ages. 6-16): Oct. 28-29, Zone 1, 2, 3 G/M/A – Nov. 18-21 – Zone 1, 2, 3.
Dogs Allowed – G/M/A Oct. 7-9, 14-15 – Zone 1 Oct. 7-10, 13-15 – Zone 2 Sept. 30-Oct. 1, Oct. 7-13 – Zone 3 Nov. 6-13 – Zone 1 Oct. 30-Nov. 3 – Zone 2, 3 Nov. 27-Dec. 13 – Zone 1 Nov. 27-Dec. 21 – Zone 2 Nov. 27-Dec. 10 – Zone 3 Dec. 28-31 – Zone 3.
Restrictive Bear Hunt Sept. 16-22 – Private lands within Kettlefoot/Laurel Fork Reserves
Bag Limit: 1 bearded turkey, per county, only in counties open to fall turkey hunting.
A Sep. 23 – Oct. 27, 2023, Oct. 30 – Nov. 3, 2023
S Oct. 14-27, 2023
S/A Young Sportsmans (ages 6-16) – April 8-9, 2023
Daily bag: 1 bearded turkey per day. Counts toward spring season bag of two (2), only one can be a jake.
S/A General Season – April 15- May 28, 2023
Bag limit: 2 bearded turkeys, only one can be a jake; no more than 1 per day. The following requirements must be met by an adult gobbler: a beard longer than six inches; tail feathers that are all the same length; wing feathers with white barring all the way to the tip; and a spur measuring at least half an inch.
S/A Young Sportsmans (ages 6-16) – April 6-7, 2024
Daily bag: 1 bearded turkey per day. Counts toward spring season bag of two (2), only one can be a jake.
S/A General Season – April 13- May 26, 2024
Bag limit: 2 bearded turkeys, only one can be a jake; no more than 1 per day. The following requirements must be met by an adult gobbler: a beard longer than six inches; tail feathers that are all the same length; wing feathers with white barring all the way to the tip; and a spur measuring at least half an inch.
Grouse Oct. 14, 2023 – Feb. 29, 2024: Daily bag 3
Quail Nov. 4, 2023 – Feb. 29, 2024: Daily bag 6
Sandhill Crane (Quota Hunt)
Statewide Zone Dec. 2, 2023 – Jan. 30, 2024
Southeast Zone Dec. 2, 2023 – Jan. 11, 2024 & Jan. 15 – 30, 2024
Mourning Dove Sep. 1 – 28, 2023 | Oct. 14 – Nov. 5, 2023 | Dec. 8, 2023 – Jan. 15, 2024: Daily bag 15.
Woodcock Nov. 11 – Dec. 3, 2023 | Jan. 10 – Jan. 31, 2024: Daily bag 3
Crow June 11 – July 12, 2023 (Fri, Sat. Sun. only) | Sep. 1 – Sep. 5, 2023 | Sep. 9 – Dec 20, 2023 (Fri. , Sat. , Sun. only) |.
Jan. 1 – Feb 28, 2024; No daily bag limit
Snipe Nov. 14, 2023- Feb. 28, 2024: Daily bag 8
Canada Goose Sep. 1-17, 2023: Daily bag 5
Wood Duck/Teal Sep. 9-13, 2023: Daily bag 6, not to exceed 2 wood ducks/day
Teal-only Sep. 14-17, 2023: Daily bag 6
Ducks, Coots, and Mergansers – Bag limit is 6 ducks per day with restrictions
Statewide Zone Nov 25 – 26, 2023 & Dec 5, 2023 – Jan 31, 2024
Veterans and Active Military Feb 4. and Feb. 11, 2024
Young Sportsman Feb. 3, 2024, and Feb. 10, 2024: All zones, ages 16 and under
For additional details on these seasons, as well as the sandhill crane and other goose seasons, consult the complete Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide.
BIG Changes for Tennessee’s 2023 Spring Turkey Season
FAQ
What are the dates for turkey season in Tennessee?
Can you hunt turkeys in the fall in Tennessee?
Can I hunt on my own land without a license in Tennessee?
What license do I need to hunt turkey in TN?
When is Tennessee’s spring turkey hunting season?
NASHVILLE — Tennessee’s statewide spring turkey hunting season opens Saturday, April 13 and continues through Sunday, May 26. According to Roger Shields, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s Wild Turkey Program Coordinator, hunter success may depend on what area of the state you will be hunting.
Will Tennessee have a turkey hunting season in 2024?
What to know ahead of spring season Tennessee’s 2024 spring turkey hunting season is right around the corner. An estimated 117,680 hunters participated in Tennessee’s 2023 spring turkey hunting season, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency .
Who can hunt spring turkey in Tennessee?
Young sportsmen, from ages 6-16, can hunt spring turkey in Tennessee on April 6-7. Each youth must be accompanied by an adult, 21 or older, who may not hunt and is positioned to take control of the hunting device. Youth ages 10 or older must meet hunter education requirements. The shotgun and archery season for adults runs April 13-May 26.
When can you shoot a Turkey in Tennessee?
Youth ages 10 or older must meet hunter education requirements. The shotgun and archery season for adults runs April 13-May 26. Shooting hours are from 30 minutes before legal sunrise to sunset. How many turkeys are you allowed in Tennessee?