From Contributed Reports

Resource: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency or 615-781-6500. Copies of annual fishing and hunting seasonal guides with licensing information can be downloaded from the Web site.

Public Hunting Areas
Tennessee hunters have access to more than 63,000 acres of public hunting lands through a cooperative effort between the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and various landholding companies to provide public hunting with the landowner setting, collecting and administering permits and the TWRA enforcing the rules and regulations governing these areas. Seasons are open
the same as statewide seasons.

Tennessee is also divided into the following districts by TWRA: West Tennessee – Region 1; Middle Tennessee – Region II;
Cumberland Plateau – Region III; and East Tennessee – Region IV.

There are 51,000 acres in Campbell and Claiborne counties. Permits and maps are available at area businesses and TWRA regional offices. For more information, contact Resources Management Inc. 606-248-2091.

General Regulations
Permits
On Public Hunting Areas where required, as per agreement:
(a) Before any person may hunt on a Public Hunting Area he or she must possess a valid and appropriate hunt permit purchased from a Public Hunting Area permit agent. This permit must be available for inspection while on the area.
(b) A Public Hunting Area permit is subject to cancellation if the permittee violates any of the rules and regulations of the area.

General Rules
Use, possession, or transportation of firearms, bows and arrows or other weapons is expressly prohibited except during times when they may be legally used for hunting.

Safety Rules
(a) The hunter's permit is subject to cancellation if he or she is found to be careless with firearms and no permit fee refund will be made.
(b) No hunt participant shall be in possession of any alcoholic beverage, narcotic drug, barbiturate, or marijuana while hunting within a Public Hunting Area. No person may be under the influence of these substances while hunting on a Public Hunting Area.
(c) Firearms loaded with ammunition in either the chamber or magazine may not be transported in or on motorized vehicles. Exception: muzzleloaders may be transported in a loaded condition if the percussion cap or primer is removed from the nipple or tube. Flintlock muzzleloaders must have the priming powder removed from the pan, the frizzen open and the vent plugged.
(d) Hunting is specifically prohibited inside safety zones on all Public Hunting Areas.

Miscellaneous
(a) All motorized vehicles must be muffler equipped to suppress noise and be spark arrestor equipped to prevent fires. Operation of motorized vehicles is confined to roads not designated as closed and driving off road into woods, fields, strip mines, foot trails, and utility rights-of-way is prohibited.
(b) Vehicles shall not be parked in any manner which will block or deny access to any road or trail.
(c) The use of wire, nails or other metal materials is prohibited in the building or attaching of climbing devices or hunting stands on or in trees. Hunting is prohibited from any stand attached to a tree with these materials. Portable climbing devices and stands that do not injure trees are exempted from this rule.
(d) No person shall deface, damage, destroy or remove any equipment, structures, signs, trees, plants, dirt or gravel from any Public Hunting Area without proper authorization.
(e) No garbage, refuse, litter or sewage shall be left or deposited on a Public Hunting Area.
(f) The use of buckshot for hunting and/or taking of deer and turkey are specifically prohibited.
(g) Open fires are prohibited on all Public Hunting Areas.
(h) Other miscellaneous uses of Public Hunting Areas shall be in accordance with posted notices and/or as indicated on the hunt permit.

Other Hunting Lands & Seasons
Hartsville Generating Site
For permit and rules contact:
Phyllis Daigle
TVA Resource Stewardship
400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT 11B
Knoxville, TN 37902
865-632-6767

Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area - Seasons
Federal rules for deer apply. A permit is required for feral hog hunting during the Jan. 19 - Feb. 28, 2005 season (no dogs allowed). For more information about hunting and obtaining a feral hog hunting permit call Big South Fork NRRA at 423-569-9778 or the BSFNRRA Bandy Creek Visitor Center at 423-286-7275.

Private Wildlife Preserve - Seasons
(a) Individuals lawfully hunting captive wildlife on a wildlife preserve are not required to have a hunting license.
(b) Upland game birds and waterfowl - Open year-round, No limit.
(c) Waterfowl: March 15 - October 15, no limit.
(d) Big game (hogs, and non-native hoof stock only) - year round. No limit.
(e) Elk, red deer, and mule deer harvested on wildlife preserves are subject to CWD testing.
(f) Small game animals (fenced enclosures only) - Open year round. No limit.
(g) The taking of bobcat is specifically prohibited.
(h) Hunting of native populations of wildlife on shooting preserves shall be the same as statewide hunting seasons. The hunting and taking of black bear is strictly prohibited on a wildlife preserve. Hunters must possess the appropriate licenses and permits when hunting native populations.

Federal Refuges
Federal refuge seasons and regulations may be different from the ones listed here. Check with the individual refuge for their specific seasons and regulations.
Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge
731-635-7621
Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge
931-232-7477
Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge
731-635-7621
Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge
731-772-0501
Reelfoot and Lake Isom National Wildlife Refuges
731-538-2481
Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge
731-642-2091

Miscellaneous
Other TWRA lands not proclaimed as a WMA or refuge are open with statewide seasons unless otherwise indicated.
State-wide Seasonal Information
Bobcat: No season; hunting prohibited by law.
Coyote: May be hunted year-round.
Turkey: Statewide season is open April – May in all Tennessee counties, excluding wildlife management areas (WMAs) and, refuges unless specifically listed. A hunter may take a total of four bearded turkeys for the spring season with restrictions. See hunting rules and regulations at www.state.tn.us/twra. WMAs are open April – May and in March for juvenile hunts. Dates vary per calendar year, so check with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency for exact dates, times and locations of all WMA areas. Federal permits are required for all national wildlife refuges.
Deer: There are rules with regard to legal bucks and bag limits of no more than a total of three antlered bucks per year, with no more than two coming from the same season’s unit area. Albino deer are prohibited from hunting.

Seasons vary per calendar year and are open late September through early January for specific deer units and hunting devices such as bow and arrow, muzzleloader to rifle.

Special season for young sportsmen, ages 10-16 are also open in late Octoberand mid-January.