Quota Hunts

Application Information Needed

• A $12 non-refundable fee is required to submit an application, except for individuals possessing a valid Annual, Lifetime or Senior Sportsman License. Receipt and deposit of application fee(s) does not constitute permission to participate in the hunt.
  
• There is a vendor fee assessed to each application that varies depending on submission method.  Application fee(s) are non-refundable. 
• Applicants must have the appropriate, valid hunting licenses to submit an application, with the exceptions of the migratory bird permit and the federal duck stamp.
• Applicants must be 16 or older at the time of the hunt to apply.
• Applicants may select up to 48 hunt choices and rank them in order of preference.
• Applicants should review their application prior to submission and verify all information (name, hunt choices, etc.) upon completion to confirm accuracy.
• Ensure that you have a valid, accurate email address on your www.gooutdoorstennessee.com account. A receipt, which serves as proof of application and hunt choices, will be sent to the email address on the applicant’s account.
• Only parties with 4-8 members, at the deadline, will be accepted into the drawing.
• Once your application is complete, you may review your application (including party members) by logging into www.quotahunt.gooutdoorstennessee.com. Applications may be edited until the deadline.
• No applications will be accepted or edited after the deadline. 
• No person may apply more than once. Any person violating this rule and regulation is subject to having their permit and/or hunting privileges revoked and may be subject to prosecution. 
• Permits are not transferable

Cherokee Bear Party-Dog Hunts

The application period for these hunts will be from June 12 – July 24, 2024.

Cherokee Bear Party-Dog Hunt Instructions

This is a party hunt. In order to be a qualifying party, there must be 50 members in the party before the deadline.   

Cherokee Bear Party-Dog hunts can have up to a maximum of 75 permits per party. One party is permitted in each of the following areas: Upper Tellico, Lower Tellico, Upper Bald River, and Lower Bald River.

The bag limit is one bear, either sex

Party-Dog Area closed during scheduled quota party dog hunts.  

You may apply via the On The Go APP, GoOutDoorsTennessee, at a TWRA Licensed Agent or at a Regional Office, 

Find the Season Dates, Zone maps, and Hunt Regulations on our Bear Hunting page.

Elk and Youth Elk

The Elk and Youth Elk Draw application period for 2024 will be February 7 - 28, 2024.    

2024 Elk Draw Instructions

Find the Season Dates, Zone maps, and Hunt Regulations on our Elk Hunting page.

Landowners are not exempt from this permit requirement and must be drawn for a quota permit to hunt.  Nineteen (19) quota permits will be issued. One of the Nineteen (19) permits will be issued to a qualifying non-profit wildlife conservation organization with all proceeds benefiting the TWRA Elk Management Program. Another one of the Nineteen (19) permits will be issued to a resident Young Sportsman who is able to hunt all open elk zones.

Elk permits are valid for designated Elk Hunt Zones (EHZs) on North Cumberland WMA and on private lands in Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Morgan, and Scott counties.  All public land other than North Cumberland WMA is closed to elk hunting.   

It is the responsibility of elk permit holders to obtain verbal or written permission to hunt on private property.   TWRA does not guarantee hunters access to private lands. 

Customers who are interested in applying for both the WMA quota hunt and the Elk quota hunt will have to submit two applications, one for each. The computer drawings will be handled separately.  Quota Hunt applications can be conveniently submitted here, TWRA Licensed Agent locations,  TWRA Regional Offices, or via the TWRA Mobile App.  Applications cannot be accepted by mail.

Sandhill Crane Tag Drawing

The application period for the statewide drawing is September 4 – September 25, 2024.   These tags will be valid statewide, including the SE Crane Zone.   Only individuals with a TennesseeSandhill Crane Tag may hunt.

Sandhill Crane Tag Application: Applicants must be at least thirteen (13) years of age to compete in the drawing. Each application must be accompanied by a non- refundable handling fee, except for Sportsman License holders, Lifetime Sportsman License holders, and persons possessing an Annual Senior Citizen Sportsman License. Tags are non-transferable. 

Computer Draw: A total of 2,500 tags (2 tags/hunter) will be issued for statewide use through a computerized drawing. The application period for the statewide drawing is Sept. 4 – Sept. 25, 2024. These tags will be valid statewide, including the SE Crane Zone. 

Sandhill Crane Identification Test: All sandhill crane hunters must pass an internet-based crane identification test each year before hunting. All tags issued are invalid until the “Sandhill Crane Test” validation code is written on the tag. The purpose of this test is to improve the hunter’s awareness and ability to distinguish between sandhill cranes and other protected species that may be encountered while hunting. The test is available at twra.state.tn.us/SandhillCraneTest.

Be sure the bird you intend to shoot is a sandhill crane. Accidental or intentional shooting of a whooping crane is considered a dual violation and subject to state and federal laws. Don’t shoot unless you’re sure.

Harvest Reporting: Each harvested crane must be accompanied by a completed kill tag (each tag allows harvest of  one (1) crane) and be checked in by the end of the calendar day of harvest by any TWRA-approved check-in method. Also, hunters issued sandhill crane tags MUST fill out and submit a post-season survey before Feb. 10, regardless of whether they hunted or harvested a sandhill crane. Failure to submit the post-season survey results in hunters not being eligible to apply for a sandhill crane tag in future draws.

Hunting Hours: Hunting hours for sandhill cranes are from sunrise until 3:00 pm local time.

Federal Regulations: No shotguns larger than 10-gauge or capable of holding over 3 shot shells. Federally approved non-toxic shot is required.

Hunters May Apply:

You may apply via the On The Go APP, GoOutDoorsTennessee, at a TWRA Licensed Agent or at a Regional Office, 

Find the Season Dates, Zone maps, and Hunt Regulations on our Sandhill Crane Hunting page.

WMA Big Game 

The WMA Big Game Quota Hunts application period is June 12 – July 24, 2024.

• 2024 WMA Big Game Instructions

You may apply via the On The Go APP, GoOutDoorsTennessee, at a TWRA Licensed Agent or at a Regional Office, 

Milan Quota Hunt Map - WMA Maps  - Big Game WMA General Regulations

Find the Season Dates, Zone maps, and Hunt Regulations on our Big Game page.   

WMA Waterfowl Hunts 

Application Periods

The application periods for the 2024 Waterfowl Sites drawing will be:

• The application period for Season Long Waterfowl sites (Tier 1) is June 26 – July 17, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.   Awarded permits must be claimed by August 7, 2024.   You can find more information in our 2024 Season Long Waterfowl Instruction Flyer.
• The application period for Early Season Waterfowl sites is September 25 – October 15, 2024, at 11:59 pm. CDT. The deadline to claim awarded permits is October 28, 2024.   If any permits remain, a leftover drawing will be held on November 11, 2024.
• The application period for Mid-Season Waterfowl sites is October 23 – November 12, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. CST. The deadline to claim awarded permits is November 25, 2024. If any permits remain, a leftover drawing will be held on December 9, 2024.
• The application period for Late Season Waterfowl sites is November 13 – December 3, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. CST. The deadline to claim awarded permits is December 16, 2024.  If any permits remain, a leftover drawing will be held on December 30, 2024.
• The application period for Youth/Military Waterfowl sites is November 13 – December 3, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. CST. The deadline to claim awarded permits is December 16, 2024.   If any permits remain, a leftover drawing will be held on December 30, 2024.

How to Apply

• You may apply via the On The Go APP,  GoOutDoorsTennessee, at a TWRA Licensed Agent or at a Regional Office, 
• Learn how to claim your waterfowl quota hunt permit in our instruction pamphlet.
• An interactive map of the waterfowl blind sites can be found at Waterfowl Blind Site Map
• Find the Season Dates, Zone maps, and Hunt Regulations on our Waterfowl & Migratory Birds Hunting page.