Tennessee is one of the most hunting-rich states in the Southeast, offering everything from trophy whitetail deer in the river bottomlands to spring turkey on Appalachian ridges and waterfowl in the Mississippi Flyway. Before you head into the field, though, you need to make sure your paperwork is in order.
Understanding the hunting license requirements in Tennessee is not complicated, but the system does have layers — base licenses, supplemental permits, age-based rules, and exemptions that catch many hunters off guard. This guide walks you through every piece of that puzzle so you can hunt legally and confidently.
Who Needs a Hunting License in Tennessee
If you take, or attempt to take, fish or game by any method — or if you assist someone else to do so — you must have a valid fishing or hunting license. That rule applies whether you are a resident or a visitor, and whether you are hunting deer, squirrels, or migratory birds.
Age is the primary factor that determines whether you need a license at all. The following applies to both resident and nonresident juvenile hunters: those under the age of 10 may hunt without a license anywhere in Tennessee, but must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older…