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Compound Bow Hunting in Tennessee — Mountain Elk & River Bottom Whitetail

Whitetail DeerElkWild TurkeyBlack Bear

📅 2026 Season & License Info

Archery Season Open

September 23

Archery Season Close

January 15

Min Draw Weight

40 lbs

Resident License

$34/yr

Non-Resident License

$140/yr

Top Species

Whitetail Deer, Elk, Wild Turkey, Black Bear

📍 Top Public Hunting Spots

Cherokee National Forest

660,000 acres

Whitetail Deer, Bear, Turkey

Eastern TN mountains. 2 separate ranger districts. Remote hunting with creek bottom access.

Catoosa WMA

80,000 acres

Whitetail Deer, Turkey, Bear

Cumberland Plateau. Tennessee's premier public deer hunting area. Quality deer management.

Big South Fork NRRA

125,000 acres

Whitetail Deer, Turkey, Bear

KY/TN border. Gorge country with rim hunting. Underused and holds quality deer.

⚖️ Tennessee Archery Regulations

  • •Minimum draw weight: 40 lbs
  • •Tennessee elk hunting in northeast TN — limited draw tags
  • •Sunday hunting allowed
  • •Archery season extends into January — prime late-season hunting

💡 Expert Tips for Tennessee

  • →Tennessee's elk herd in the northeast is growing — start accumulating preference points for elk tags
  • →Cumberland Plateau WMAs (Catoosa, North Cumberland) provide excellent quality deer hunting
  • →The rut in middle Tennessee peaks around November 5–15
  • →Bear bowhunting in Cherokee National Forest is an underrated opportunity
⚠️ Regulation Disclaimer: Hunting regulations change annually. Always verify current season dates, bag limits, and equipment requirements with the Tennessee state wildlife agency before hunting. This information is for planning purposes only.