BIG GAME HUNTING
All hunting seasons are closed unless opened by specific Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission Proclamation. Big game animals are deer, turkey, bear and elk. For legal hunting methods, see page 14.
Fluorescent Orange: Hunters must wear on the upper portion of their body and head a minimum of 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange (blaze orange), visible front and back while hunting big game except on archery-only and turkey hunts. A hat and vest fulfills requirements. Blaze orange camo is legal if it contains 500 square inches of fluorescent orange. In those areas where the archery-only deer season dates overlap with another big game gun season (i.e. bear), archers are required to wear 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange. Field Dressing Big Game: Evidence of species or sex of big game animals must not be destroyed prior to checking in and/or while the animal is afield. Normal field dressing, quartering and icing down of the meat is permitted. Turkeys must remain intact until checked in. Big Game Found Dead: All big game found dead should be left where found and need not be reported. Individuals wanting to keep big game found dead, or any portion of the animal, must first contact the local Regional TWRA office within 48 hours for authorization. Any vehicle in which an illegally possessed big game animal is found is subject to confiscation. Big game, except bear, accidentally killed by a motor vehicle may be possessed by any person for personal use and consumption if the TWRA or a local law enforcement agency is notified within 48 hours. A bear killed by a motor vehicle may be possessed only upon the issuance of a receipt from the TWRA.
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Stop the Spread of Chronic Wasting Disease Don't let ignorance of the law cost you a trophy of a lifetime Carcass Importation laws are in effect CWD has NOT yet been found in Tennessee and is not known to pose a risk to human health. Should CWD ever be discovered in Tennessee, it will absolutely have an affect on the way we manage our white-tailed deer herd.
Therefore...
Chronic Wasting Disease, otherwise known as CWD, is a transmissible, neurological disease of deer and elk producing small lesions in brains of infected animals. It is characterized by loss of body condition, behavioral abnormalities and death. CWD is classified as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), and is similar to mad cow disease in cattle and scrapie in sheep. While the possibility of human infection remains a concern, it is important to note there have been no verified cases of humans contracting CWD.
If you plan on hunting cervids (mule deer, white-tailed deer, moose, or elk) in states and Canadian provinces having had occurrences of CWD, you must properly prepare the carcass according to the instructions below BEFORE transporting it into Tennessee.
Visit www.tnwildlife.org for a list of CWD states and provinces and detailed information regarding importation regulations.
Carcass Preparation Procedures Carcasses and other cervid parts from these areas that may be brought into or possessed in Tennessee include: a. meat that has bones removed b. antlers, antlers attached to cleaned skull plates or cleaned skulls (where no meat or tissues are attached to the skull) c. cleaned teeth d. finished taxidermy and antler products e. hides and tanned products.
Failure to comply with the above will be in violation of Tennessee law!
2017-2018 Hunting & Trapping Guide