Muzzleloader Season Opens November 3

The first segment of Tennessee’s Muzzleloader/Archery Deer Season opens on Saturday, November 3 and goes to Friday, November 9 in all three of Tennessee’s deer hunting units, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).

Due to the extended period of hot temperatures, fewer archery hunters took to the woods this fall and the harvest during archery season was off by more than 600 deer.  This reduction in harvest during archery and the lack of abundance of acorns should mean a good harvest for muzzleloader hunters.

Hunters are allowed the following bag limit during this segment of muzzleloader season: Unit A – 5 deer, no more than one antlered; Unit L – 2 antlered (only one antlered deer per day) and 3 antlerless deer per day; and Unit B (East Tennessee) – 1 deer antlered only (Except either-sex during Nov. 3-7).

This year, there have been two days added to the time antlerless deer can be taken by muzzleloader hunters.  Last year, hunters were allowed either-sex deer during only the first 3 days of the muzzleloader season.  The last 4 days were antlered-only.  Hunters are still allowed to take one deer during the 7-day muzzleloader season, but they have 5 days to hunt either-sex, with the last two days being antlered-only.

For the exact boundaries of the different deer units consult a 2007 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide, available where hunting and fishing licenses are sold and at all TWRA offices.

Muzzleloading firearms of .40 caliber minimum plus long bows, compound bows and crossbows are legal hunting equipment for this season.

Resident hunters ages 16 through 64 must possess, in addition to other appropriate licenses, an annual big game license for the equipment used.  Lifetime Sportsman license, Junior Hunt/Trap/Fish, Adult Sportsman license and Permanent Senior Citizens license holders are not required to purchase supplemental big game licenses.

In addition to private lands, including public hunting areas, several wildlife management areas (WMAs) will be open to hunters during this muzzleloader season.  Hunters need to refer to the 2007 Hunting and Trapping Guide for a listing of these WMAs.