Tennessee Hunting Season Dates 2007-08

Hunting Seasons Set for 2007-08

During their meeting on May 24, 2007, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission voted to allow the use of 28 gauge shotguns for turkey hunting. Shot size of number 4 or smaller is still required. The TWRC also approved the addition of the rock dove (domestic pigeon) to the list of unprotected species.

Commission members approved the proposed change for checking big game harvests, stating that all animals harvested must be accompanied by one tagged animal and must be taken together to the nearest big game checking station by the most reasonably direct route within thirty-six (36) hours of the first kill where one new temporary kill tag will be issued. Evidence of species and sex must be available for inspection by wildlife officer or Agency designated personnel prior to issuance of permanent game tag.

The following proclamations were passed by the Commission:

2007 Manner and Means of Hunting, Taking, and Trapping

2007 Statewide Big Game Hunting Seasons and Bag Limits

2007 Statewide Small Game Hunting Seasons and Bag Limits

2007 WMA Hunting Seasons, Limits, and Miscellaneous Regulations

2007 Statewide Furbearer Hunting and Trapping Seasons and Bag Limits

2007 Proclamation Opening Hatchie, Lower Hatchie, Reelfoot, Lake Isom, Cross Creeks, Chickasaw, and Tennessee National Wildlife Refuges to Hunting

B. White-tailed Deer Bag Limits and Season Dates

B. Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Fentress, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Pickett, Polk, Scott, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi,
Union, Washington.

Statewide - Antlered Buck Bag Limit

The statewide bag limit for antlered bucks in Tennessee is three (3), except a hunter may take no more than two (2)  antlered bucks from Unit B. No more than 1 antlered deer may be taken per day. The only way the bag limit of three  antlered bucks may be exceeded is if bucks are taken on TWRA or NWR managed hunts where the bucks are noted as  bonus deer in the section listing WMA regulations. Deer taken on Ft. Campbell are also bonus deer.
Unit B - Bag Limits:

Season Type

Season Dates

Deer Bag Limits (see Note below)

Unit B

Archery

Sept. 22, 2007 - Oct. 26, 2007

Oct. 29, 2007 - Nov. 2, 2007
Nov. 10, 2007 - Nov. 16, 2007

2 deer, either sex

Muzzleloader

Nov. 3, 2007 - Nov. 9, 2007

1 deer, antlered only

(this deer may be either sex Nov. 3-7)

Dec. 7, 2007 - Dec. 9, 2007

1 deer, antlered only

Gun

Nov. 17, 2007 - Nov. 25, 2007
Dec. 15, 2007 - Jan. 2, 2008

2 deer, antlered only

See Quota Hunt Table – Section C for antlerless hunts

Young
Sportsman**

Oct. 27 – Oct. 28, 2007

1 deer, either sex

Jan. 12 – Jan 13, 2008

1 deer, either sex

* A Type 94 permit is required to hunt antlerless deer during this season except for landowners hunting under the landowner exemption (as described in T.C.A. 70-2-204), Sportsman license holders (including Lifetime Sportsman),  and hunters who possess a Type 167 permit.

** Youths 6-16 years of age may participate. 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 and who must also comply with fluorescent orange regulations, as specified for legal hunters.

Note: The statewide antlered buck limit is three (3), except no more than two (2) antlered bucks may be harvested in Unit B. Antlered deer must have antlers a minimum of three inches (3") in length on buck only or antlered only hunts. Antlerless deer are defined as deer with no antlers or deer with antlers less than three inches (3") in length.

Archery equipment is permitted during the muzzleloader and gun seasons while muzzleloading equipment is permitted during the gun season.

C. Antlerless White-tailed Deer Special Hunts
The following counties and portions of counties are open to antlerless deer hunting during the regular gun
season as specified.

Quota Hunts -- Special quota permit required, except for landowners hunting under the landowner exemption (as described in T.C.A. 70-2-204). Bag-limit one deer per permit except where noted.

Note: Blount, Knox, Roane, and Sullivan counties allow a bag limit of 2 deer per permit.

Non-quota Hunts -- No hunter quota but a Type 94 permit is required except for landowners hunting on
their own land, Sportsman license holders (including Lifetime Sportsman), and hunters who possess a Type 167 permit.

Note: Unit A & B: the bag limit for each county for each non-quota hunt is defined in the Table.
 

Black Bear Hunts

The Following Counties Are Open For Bear Hunting:

Blount, Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Monroe, Polk (that portion east of Hwy. 411 and north of Hwy. 64), Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington

 Wild Boar/Bear: Gun-Muzzleloader-Archery Nov. 12-15, 2007  (Dogs Permitted) 1 per year-Either Sex

 Wild Boar/Bear: Gun-Muzzleloader-Archery Nov. 29- Dec. 12, 2007  (Dogs Permitted) 1 per year-Either Sex.

Monroe

Boar only: Gun-Muzzleloader-Archery Oct. 8-9, 2007 (Dogs Permitted) 1 per year-Either Sex.  Gun-Muzzleloader-Archery Oct. 20-21, 2007  (Dogs Permitted) 1 per year-Either Sex. 

Bear:  Blount, Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Monroe, Polk (that portion east of Hwy. 411 and north of Hwy. 64), Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington - Archery Only Oct. 13 – 26, 2007 (No Dogs) 1 per year-Either Sex.

 Gun-Muzzleloader-Archery Nov. 22-Nov. 25, 2007 (No Dogs) 1 per year-Either Sex Blount, Cocke (South of I-40), and Sevier

Gun-Muzzleloader-Archery Sept. 24-Sept. 30, 2007  (Dogs Permitted) 1 per year-Either Sex.

Section II. Feral Hog Seasons (No hunting with dogs allowed except where indicated.)

Feral hogs are defined as any wild hog found in Tennessee except on Catoosa, South Cherokee, and Foothills WMA’s. Feral hogs are considered big game but are not required to be tagged or checked in at big game checking
stations.

Private lands (Public Hunting Areas are considered private land)
Year round season, except in holdings on Catoosa WMA and No limit -either sex South Cherokee where season is open with statewide deer
seasons with no dogs.

Publicly owned lands

Open during scheduled white-tailed deer hunts No limit -either sex
unless otherwise specified.

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area is also No limit -either sex
open from Jan. 16-Feb. 29, 2008.

In the following counties dogs may be used for feral hog hunting on the dates indicated5

Monroe, Polk (East of Hwy. 411 & North of Hwy. 64)

Gun-Muzzleloader-Archery Oct. 8-15, 2007
(Dogs Permitted) No limit-Either Sex

Blount, Cocke (South of I-40), and Sevier
Gun-Muzzleloader-Archery Sept. 24-Sept. 30, 2007
(Dogs Permitted) No limit-Either Sex

Blount, Cocke, Monroe, Polk (East of Hwy. 411 & North of Hwy. 64) and Sevier

Gun-Muzzleloader-Archery Nov. 12-15, 2007

(Dogs Permitted) No limit-Either Sex

Gun-Muzzleloader-Archery Nov. 29-Dec. 12, 2007

(Dogs Permitted) No limit-Either Sex

Monroe

Gun-Muzzleloader-Archery Oct. 20-21, 2007
(Dogs Permitted) No limit-Either Sex

Section III. Black Bear

A. Black Bear Bag Limits and Season Dates

The Following Counties Are Open For Bear Hunting:

Blount, Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Monroe, Polk (that portion east of Hwy. 411 and north of Hwy. 64), Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington
 

Gun-Muzzleloader-Archery Nov. 12-15, 2007

(Dogs Permitted) 1 per year-Either Sex

Gun-Muzzleloader-Archery Nov. 29- Dec. 12, 2007

(Dogs Permitted) 1 per year-Either Sex.

Monroe

Gun-Muzzleloader-Archery Oct. 8-9, 2007
(Dogs Permitted) 1 per year-Either Sex.

Gun-Muzzleloader-Archery Oct. 20-21, 2007
(Dogs Permitted) 1 per year-Either Sex.

Blount, Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Monroe, Polk (that portion east of Hwy. 411 and north of Hwy. 64), Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington


Archery Only Oct. 13 – 26, 2007
(No Dogs) 1 per year-Either Sex.

Gun-Muzzleloader-Archery Nov. 22-Nov. 25, 2007
(No Dogs) 1 per year-Either Sex

Blount, Cocke (South of I-40), and Sevier

Gun-Muzzleloader-Archery Sept. 24-Sept. 30, 2007
(Dogs Permitted) 1 per year-Either Sex.

Sept. 4-17, 2007. No bears may be taken. No weapons may be possessed. Daylight hours only.

B. Special Bear Hunting Regulations:
 

1. The limit of bears for any person participating in the statewide or managed hunts or both shall not exceed
one (1) bear per calendar year.


2. Cubs or female bears with cubs at side may not be taken at any time. A cub is defined as any bear
weighing seventy-five (75) pounds or less.


3. All harvested bears must be checked out at an official checking station. Bears may be whole or field
dressed, but must weigh 75 pounds or greater when checked in.

4. The reproductive sex organs shall remain attached to each bear harvested at least until the bear has been
officially checked out at an official bear checking station.

Section IV. General Regulations for 2008 Spring Turkey Harvest

A. Prohibited Acts

1. The use of any type of food to feed or attract wild turkeys on WMAs. Shooting or stalking turkeys from a
boat in Shelby, Dyer, Tipton, Lauderdale, Haywood or Obion counties prohibited. Calling or attempting to
call wild turkeys using any call to mimic the sounds made by a wild turkey is prohibited from March 1st to
the opening day of the spring turkey hunts on all WMAs.

2. A licensed turkey hunter, who has filled his/her bag limit or does not possess a valid permit for a quota
hunt, may accompany another turkey hunter (except on WMAs where prohibited) and assist him/her in
calling, but may not have a gun or bow in his possession.
 

B. 2008 Statewide Spring Turkey Season Dates

1. Spring Turkey Season Dates

March 29 through May 11, 2008

2. Statewide Young Sportsmen Hunt (6-16 years of age)

March 22-23, 2008. Each youth 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, who is not required to have a license.

C. Spring Turkey Bag and Possession Limits

One (1) bearded turkey per day, not to exceed four (4) per season. Turkeys taken on all quota hunts and
specially designated WMA’s are bonus turkeys.

Young Sportsmen hunt - One (1) bearded turkey. Turkey counts toward statewide bag unless taken on
WMA where turkey is listed as bonus bird.

D. Spring Turkey Shooting Hours

Thirty (30) minutes before sunrise to sunset

Section V. 2007 Fall Turkey Hunting (Shotgun/Archery)

The following counties are open for archery only fall turkey hunting during fall archery only deer seasons. Bag limit for this season is one turkey either-sex. These same counties are open for one quota gun fall turkey hunt on Nov 10-16 with a bag limit of one turkey either-sex per permit with the exception that those counties indicated by an asterisk (*) are open Nov. 10-16 and Dec. 10-14 and have a bag limit of three (3) either-sex turkeys per permit.

Small game season to be announced.