NASHVILLE --- Tennessee’s second segment of gun season for deer hunters is heading down the home stretch with one deer unit slated to have its season end Jan. 7 while the remaining two units will have their seasons close on Jan. 11.
The state’s 2008-09 deer hunting seasons will conclude in all units with the Young Sportsman Deer Hunt to be held the weekend of Jan. 17-18. Only youth, ages 6-16 may partcipate in the Young Sportsman Hunt, regardless of whether they possess a junior or adult license.
For better wildlife management, Tennessee is divided into three deer units. (A map identifying Units A, B, and L can be found on pages 22-23 of the 2008 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide). The closing dates for the second segment for each unit are as follows:
*Unit A - Jan. 11.
*Unit B - Jan. 7.
*Unit L - Jan. 11.
The statewide bag limit for antlered bucks is three, except a hunter may take no more than two antlered bucks from Unit B. No more than one antlered buck may be taken per day.
For antlerless deer hunting in Units A and B, refer to the list of hunts on page 21 of the Hunting and Trapping Guide. There are quota and non-quota hunts listed on that page.
An Annual Sportsman, Lifetime Sportsman, Type 167 Permit, or Type 94 permit is required to harvest antlerless deer on all non-quota hunts in Units A, B, and L.
Antlerless deer are defined as deer with no antlers or deer with antlers less than three inches in length.
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1969 is required to carry proof of satisfactory completion of a hunter education class or be in possession of the Apprentice Hunting License (along with other required licenses) while hunting any species in Tennessee.
For more information about Tennessee’s deer hunting seasons, refer to the Hunting and Trapping Guide available at all license agents or on the TWRA website at www.tnwildlife.org.
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