Tennessee Spring Turkey Hunting 2026: Season Dates, Regulations & WMAs

Tennessee runs one of the longest spring turkey seasons in the Southeast—45 days of hunting from April 11 through May 24. Tags are over-the-counter, there's no drawing, and the state's Wildlife Management Areas offer hundreds of thousands of acres of public access. Whether you're a resident or driving in from out of state, here's what you need to know.

• Regular season: April 11 – May 24
• Bag limit: 4 gobblers, 1 per day
• Tags: over-the-counter, no draw required

When Is Tennessee Spring Turkey Season 2026?

Tennessee's regular spring gobbler season opens April 11 and runs through May 24, giving hunters 45 consecutive days in the field. Young sportsman hunts typically fall the weekend before the regular opener—check TWRA's annual proclamation for exact dates.

• Young sportsman hunt: Weekend before April 11 (check TWRA for confirmed dates)
• Regular season: April 11 – May 24
• Season length: 45 days

The season is uniform statewide with no zone splits, which simplifies planning if you want to hunt multiple WMAs or mix private and public land during the same trip. All dates are subject to change—verify at TWRA's turkey page before heading out.

License and Permit Costs

Tennessee turkey tags are sold over the counter with no lottery or drawing. You need a valid hunting license plus a turkey permit to hunt spring gobblers.

• Resident hunting license: $34
• Non-resident all-game hunting license: $231
• Resident turkey permit: included with license
• Non-resident turkey permit: $51
• Sportsman license (resident, all species): $113

Youth under 13 hunt free with a licensed adult. Active-duty military stationed in Tennessee can buy resident licenses. Check TWRA license information for the full fee schedule and any exemptions.

The over-the-counter tag system means you can decide to hunt on short notice—no need to plan months ahead for a draw. If you're putting together a last-minute turkey hunt, Tennessee is one of the easiest states to get into.

Where to Hunt on Tennessee Public Land

TWRA manages over 80 Wildlife Management Areas across the state, and many hold huntable turkey populations. The best public land options break down by region.

East Tennessee offers mountain hunting with big hardwood ridges and steep terrain. Cherokee National Forest spans over 650,000 acres across 10 counties with no quota requirements for spring turkey. Catoosa WMA (80,000 acres on the Cumberland Plateau) is one of the largest public hunting areas east of the Mississippi and holds a solid gobbler population.

Middle Tennessee includes Yanahli WMA near Lawrenceburg—a newer addition to the TWRA system with 8,600 acres of reclaimed farmland and timber. Bark Camp Barrens WMA and Laurel Hill WMA are also worth scouting.

West Tennessee is flat bottomland and agricultural ground. Natchez Trace State Forest WMA and Chickasaw WMA put you in traditional Southern turkey country with mixed hardwoods and planted pines.

• Cherokee National Forest: 650,000+ acres; no quota hunt required
• Catoosa WMA: 80,000 acres; Cumberland Plateau
• Yanahli WMA: 8,600 acres; reclaimed land with growing turkey numbers
• Chickasaw WMA: West Tennessee bottomland timber

Some WMAs run quota hunts during the first week of season, requiring a separate application. After quota periods end, most areas open to general-season hunting with no additional permits. Check TWRA's WMA regulations for specific area rules and quota deadlines.

For a broader look at Tennessee seasons, licenses, and public land across all species, see the Tennessee hunting guide.

Legal Methods and Regulations

Tennessee allows several weapon types for spring turkey:

• Shotguns with shot size No. 4 or smaller
• Archery equipment (compound, recurve, longbow)
• Crossbows
• Pre-charged pneumatic guns (airbows)
• Muzzleloading shotguns

Rifles are not legal for spring turkey. Electronic calls are allowed on private land but prohibited on most WMAs—check individual area regulations. You cannot use live decoys, bait, or any night-vision or infrared sighting devices.

Bag limit is 4 bearded turkeys for the spring season, no more than 1 per day. Only bearded birds are legal—a jake with a visible beard is a legal bird, but most experienced hunters pass on jakes to let the population grow.

If you're still choosing your setup, our budget turkey gun guide breaks down affordable shotgun options, and our camo and gear guide covers what to wear in the spring woods.

Hunting Hours

Legal shooting hours for spring turkey in Tennessee run from 30 minutes before official sunrise to sunset. There is no midday closure—you can hunt continuously through legal hours.

• Start: 30 minutes before sunrise
• End: sunset
• No midday break

That full-day window matters. Tennessee gobblers often go quiet mid-morning and fire back up after noon. Some of the best action on public land happens between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when other hunters have left the woods. Patience through the slow hours is a real edge, especially on pressured WMAs.

Harvest Reporting

Tennessee uses a "Tag Before You Drag" system. You must immediately tag your turkey with a completed harvest tag before moving the bird from the kill site. You then have 24 hours to report the harvest through TWRA's online system or by phone.

• Tag the bird before moving it from the kill site
• Report within 24 hours via TWRA online reporting or by phone
• Record the confirmation number on your tag

Failure to report is a violation that can result in fines and license revocation. The data feeds directly into TWRA's turkey management models, so accurate reporting helps maintain season structures and bag limits for future years.

If you're new to turkey hunting, the tagging process is straightforward—just don't forget to fill out the tag before you pick up the bird.

Plan Your Tennessee Turkey Hunt

Tennessee's combination of a long season, OTC tags, generous bag limits, and deep public land access makes it one of the most hunter-friendly turkey states in the country. Cherokee National Forest alone offers more acreage than some states' entire public land systems.

The key is scouting. With 45 days of season, you have time to locate birds, adjust your approach, and hunt multiple areas. Decoy setups matter on open WMA fields, and understanding the differences between duck hunting and turkey hunting strategies can sharpen your calling approach if you're crossing over from waterfowl.

Bring a young hunter if you can—Tennessee's youth weekends are a low-pressure way to get kids started in the sport. And remember that every turkey tag sold and every license purchased funds wildlife conservation in Tennessee and across the country.

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Sources

1. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. "Turkey Hunting." TWRA, tn.gov/twra/hunting/big-game/turkey. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
2. eRegulations. "Tennessee Hunting Regulations." eRegulations, eregulations.com/tennessee/hunting. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
3. OutdoorHub. "Tennessee Turkey Hunting Season Guide." OutdoorHub, outdoorhub.com. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.