Young hunters ages 6 to 16 can take to the field Saturday, Oct. 31, for Tennessee's first young sportsman deer hunt of the season.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) announced the two-day hunt will run Saturday, Oct. 31, through Sunday, Nov. 1. Youth may use a gun, muzzleloader or archery equipment, according to a TWRA press release.

Every young hunter must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult at least 21 years old. The adult must stay close enough to take immediate control of the hunting device and must wear fluorescent orange or pink clothing, the same requirement that applies to legal hunters. A single qualifying adult may accompany multiple youth, according to the agency.

Licensing by age

Requirements depend on the hunter's age:

  • Ages 6-9: No hunting license or hunter education certification needed.
  • Ages 10-12: Must meet hunter education requirements or hold an apprentice license.
  • Ages 13-15: Must meet the same requirements as 10- to 12-year-olds and also carry a junior hunting license.
  • Age 16: Must hold the appropriate adult licenses.

Local bag limits

Spring Hill and Thompson's Station fall within Williamson and Maury counties, both part of TWRA's Deer Management Unit 2. During the young sportsman hunt, the statewide antlered bag limit is three per day, according to the TWRA deer seasons page. Bag limits for antlerless deer vary by unit, and some wildlife management areas carry additional rules.

TWRA recommends all hunters review the 2026-27 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide for county-specific seasons and limits. The guide is available on the TWRA website, the TWRA app and at locations where hunting and fishing licenses are sold.

All harvested deer must be checked in through TWRA's big game check-in process, according to the agency's regulations.

What's ahead for deer season

The statewide gun, muzzleloader and archery season opens Saturday, Nov. 21, and runs through Jan. 3, 2027. New for the 2026-27 season, hunters may use single-shot rifles with straight-wall cartridges of at least .35 caliber on private land only during Nov. 14-20, according to TWRA. The rifles must be incapable of holding multiple rounds as manufactured.

A second young sportsman deer hunt is set for Jan. 9-10, 2027.