Deer Archery Hunting Season to Open

NASHVILLE --- Tennessee’s 2012 deer archery-only season opens statewide on Saturday, Sept. 22. The archery season dates in all three of the state’s deer hunting units are the same. The dates are Sept. 22-Oct. 26 and Oct. 29-Nov. 2.

The antlerless deer bag limits by units are four in Units A and B deer management areas and three per day in Unit L areas. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission approved the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s proposal to increase the antlerless archery season bag limit in Unit B to four deer per season at its 2012-13 seasons setting meeting in May.

The antlered deer bag limit is a total of three for the year. A hunter may take his three antlered deer during any season, but no more than one per day.

In addition to deer, archers may harvest wild turkeys of either sex during the archery-only deer season in counties that have a fall turkey gun hunt. Turkeys harvested during the archery-only deer season count toward the fall turkey county bag limits. (A list of counties and their bag limits are located on page 32 of the 2012 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide).

The TWRA suggests all archery hunters obtain a 2012 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide. The guide lists the counties and bag limits for each of the different deer management units. The guides are available where hunting and fishing licenses are sold and on the TWRA website, www.tnwildlife.org.

During the opening weekend of the 2011 deer archery-only season, 2,811 were harvested an increase of 407 from 2010. All 95 counties reported harvests during the last year’s opening weekend. 

Hunters are reminded that they must possess the appropriate licenses and permits. Any hunter born on or after Jan. 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. 

---TWRA---