General Information About Big Game Hunting
Which Animals Are Considered "Big Game" in Tennessee?
Big game animals are deer, turkey, bear, wild boar/feral hog, and elk.
Hunting Big Game In Tennessee
All hunting seasons are closed unless opened by specific Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission proclamation.
A Word About Tree Stands
The TWRA urges all deer hunters hunting from tree stands to use a fall restraint system. Most deer hunting accidents involve hunters falling from a tree stand. Proper use of a fall restraint system could prevent or lessen the severity of these accidents.
Fluorescent "Blaze" Orange Requirements
Hunters must wear on the upper portion of their body and head a minimum of 500-square inches of daylight fluorescent orange (blaze orange), visible front and back, while hunting big game except on archery-only and turkey hunts. (A hat and vest fulfills requirements.) Blaze orange camo is legal if it contains 500 square inches of fluorescent orange. In those areas where the archery-only deer season dates overlap with another big game gun season (i. e. bear or boar), archers are required to wear 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange (TCA-70-4-124).
Field Dressing Big Game
Evidence of species or sex of big game animals must not be destroyed prior to a permanent kill tag having been issued at a checking station. Normal field dressing, quartering, and icing down of the meat is permitted.
Tagging Game & Checking Stations
It is unlawful to move, transport or field dress any big game animal, except for feral hogs, without invalidating and attaching a properly completed temporary kill tag. If additional animals are to be harvested on that calendar day, the hunter is not required to stop hunting and tag the animal until he/she is ready to move, transport, or field dress the animal.
All animals harvested must be accompanied by one tagged animal and must be checked in at a big game checking station or a TWRA Internet site within thirty-six (36) hours where one new temporary kill tag will be issued. Hunters may not hunt on subsequent calendar days until previous day's animals are checked in and a new kill tag is issued. Evidence of species and sex must be available for inspection by a Wildlife Officer or Agency designated personnel prior to issuance of permanent game tag.
The permanent harvest tag is a legal document and must be signed by the hunter. By signing the permanent harvest tag, the hunter is affirming that the information, as it appears on the permanent tag, is correct and valid. The permanent game tag must remain with the carcass until final processing.
Persons legally hunting without a license are also required to take any big game animal harvested to a checking station. After receiving a temporary harvest tag from checking in their first kill, these persons must comply with all tagging regulations.
All big game taken to a taxidermist to be mounted must be accompanied by documentation showing the permanent gamel tag number, checking station number, and date of kill.
All youth, or guardians of youth, under the age of 16 that do not have an official TWRA ID# (found on hunting license) must know, or carry with them, their Social Security Number in order to check-in a big game animal. This includes youth hunting under the landowner exemption or youth under the age of 10.
Big Game Found Dead
All big game found dead should be left where found and need not be reported. Individuals wanting to keep big game found dead must first contact the local Regional TWRA office for authorization. Any vehicle in which an illegally possessed big game animal is found is subject to confiscation. Big game, except bear, accidentally killed by a motor vehicle may be possessed by any person for personal use and consumption if the TWRA or local law enforcement agency is notified within 48 hours. A bear killed by a motor vehicle may be possessed only upon the issuance of a receipt from the TWRA.
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