HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. — Tennessee’s harvest of mature bucks is getting older. That is according to data from the National Deer Association (NDA).
In recent years, more and more Tennessee deer hunters are interested in finding “quality deer” versus “quantity.” That means they are often more inclined to allow smaller bucks to keep walking rather than pulling the trigger on them. While harvest regulations may be partially responsible for that mindset, in many cases it is simply due to more hunters having a “let them grow” philosophy.
To compile the new report, 21 states estimated the percentage of their 2024-25 antlered buck harvest that was 3-and-a-half years old or older and shared it for the NDA’s 2026 Deer Report . The report focuses on the 2024-25 season, the most recent season with complete harvest data available for all states…