CLARKSVILLE, Tenn (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The 2019 deer archery-only hunting season opens statewide in Tennessee on Saturday, September 28. Archery season dates are the same in five of Tennessee’s deer hunting units. The dates are Sept. 28-Oct. 25 and Oct. 28-Nov. 8.
There are ample opportunities for deer hunters in Tennessee, with more than 100 wildlife management areas and refuges across the state managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Hunters are reminded that they must possess the appropriate licenses and permits in order to take part in deer hunting.
Private lands are also available for hunting, though hunters must obtain permission from landowners.
The 2019-20 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide contains all the information for hunters. Guides are available where hunting and fishing licenses are sold, on the TWRA website and the TWRA app.
Prior to the addition of Unit CWD, Tennessee was divided into five deer management units; A, B, C, D, and L. The antlerless deer bag limits for the archery-only season are four in Units A-D and three per day in Unit L areas. The antlered deer bag limit is a total of two for the entire 2019-20 deer season.
For the first-year Unit CWD in the southwestern portion of the state, the archery season dates are Sept. 28-Oct. 25. The Unit CWD was created in response to CWD (chronic wasting disease) being discovered in the area last December.
In Unit CWD, the statewide limit may be exceeded if taken under the Earn-A-Buck Program or taken under the Replacement Buck Program. Detailed information of Unit CWD Earn-A-Buck and Unit CWD Replacement Buck programs can be found on page 35 of the 2019-20 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide.