NASHVILLE, Tenn (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Tennessee is opening deer season with the statewide, three day archery private lands only/antlered only deer season August 23-25. In addition, there will be a new muzzleloader/archery, antler only hunt for the new Unit CWD for private lands and selected public lands.
Unit CWD hunting regulations only apply to CWD (chronic wasting disease) positive counties, including Fayette, Hardeman and Madison, and CWD high-risk counties, including, Chester, Haywood, McNairy, Shelby and Tipton. Deer taken in Unit CWD have the option for voluntary sampling. If a hunter wants a deer tested, he/she may visit a processor or submit a head in a drop off freezer location. Locations can be found here.
The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission voted last year to establish a 3-day season to give hunters an opportunity to harvest a buck with velvet-covered antlers.
Outside of the CWD Unit, the hunt is not open on any TWRA wildlife management areas. A list of Unit CWD public lands open for the hunt are available online. or on page 35 of the 2019-20 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide.
The annual bag limit for antlered deer is two with no more than one per day. Deer taken during this three-day hunt will count toward the bag limit.
The three-day hunt will also coincide with Tennessee’s Free Hunting Day.