37 S.

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Chuck Swan State Forest

2026-27 season.

Check before you hunt. Confirm these dates in 2026-2027 Tennessee Fishing, Hunting & Trapping Guide. Seasons, closures and area rules can change.

Deer, bear, dove, ducks and geese, rabbit, quail, grouse, woodcock, raccoon, furbearers, and hogs

Closed Aug 1–28, Mar 1 – Jul 31.

In the guide: “Closed to hunting March 1–the fourth Friday in August, except for Spring Turkey and Spring Squirrel hunting.”

Deer and bear

Oct 2–3

Archery. Quota hunt, 400 hunters drawn.

In the guide: “Deer/Bear - Archery: Oct. 2–3, Hunter quota 400. One (1) deer, either sex. One (1) bear. Deer and bear counts toward statewide bag.”

Deer

Oct 24–25

Firearms. Quota hunt, 200 hunters drawn. Only for youth hunters. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun - Young Sportsman): Oct. 24–25. Hunter quota 200. One (1) deer, either sex (Bonus deer).”

Nov 13–14

Muzzleloader, buck only. Quota hunt, 650 hunters drawn.

In the guide: “Deer (Muzzleloader): Nov. 13–14. Hunter quota 650. One (1) deer, antlered only. Deer count toward statewide bag.”

Dec 4–5

Firearms, buck only. Quota hunt, 650 hunters drawn.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun): Dec. 4–5. Hunter quota 650. One (1) deer, antlered only. Deer counts toward statewide bag.”

Dec 11–12

Firearms, buck only. Quota hunt, 650 hunters drawn.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun): Dec. 11–12. Hunter quota 650. One (1) deer, antlered only. Deer counts toward statewide bag.”

Turkey

Apr 1–3

Any legal weapon, shooting ends at noon. Quota hunt, 25 hunters drawn.

In the guide: “Turkey: April 1–3. Hunter quota 25. One (1) male bearded turkey per hunt. No jakes allowed. Turkey counts toward statewide bag limit. Hunting ends at noon each day.”

Apr 15–17

Any legal weapon, shooting ends at noon. Quota hunt, 25 hunters drawn.

In the guide: “Turkey: April 15–17. Hunter quota 25. One (1) male bearded turkey per hunt. No jakes allowed. Turkey counts toward statewide bag limit. Hunting ends at noon each day.”

Ducks and geese

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Ducks and teal: Sep 12–16, Nov 28–29, Dec 6–10, Dec 13 – Jan 31
  • Geese: Sep 1–20, Oct 10–22, Nov 28–29, Dec 6–10, Dec 13 – Feb 14

In the guide: “Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Waterfowl hunting is closed as posted.”

Small game, grouse, woodcock, dove, and ducks and geese

Closed Oct 2–3, Oct 24–25, Nov 13–14, Dec 4–5, Dec 11–12, Apr 15–17.

Closed from sunset the day before; open by day until then.

In the guide: “Small game hunting will close at sunset the day before and during scheduled big game hunts.”

Quail

Closed this season.

In the guide: “Closed to quail hunting.”

Squirrel

Closed Aug 1–28, Mar 1 – May 7, Jun 14 – Jul 31.

Only the spring squirrel season is open.

In the guide: “Closed to hunting March 1–the fourth Friday in August, except for Spring Turkey and Spring Squirrel hunting.”

Squirrel, rabbit, and dove

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Squirrel: Aug 29 – Oct 1, Oct 4–23, Oct 26 – Nov 12, Nov 15 – Dec 3, Dec 6–10, Dec 13 – Feb 28, May 8 – Jun 13
  • Rabbit: Nov 7–12, Nov 15 – Dec 3, Dec 6–10, Dec 13 – Feb 28
  • Dove: Sep 1–28, Oct 10–23, Oct 26 – Nov 1, Dec 8–10, Dec 13 – Jan 15

In the guide: “Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Small game hunting will close at sunset the day before and during scheduled big game hunts unless otherwise specified. Closed to quail hunting.”

Raccoon

Closed Oct 1–3, Oct 23–25, Nov 12–14, Dec 3–5, Dec 10–12, Apr 14–17.

The night before each hunt, too.

In the guide: “Small game hunting will close at sunset the day before and during scheduled big game hunts.”

Dec 13–19

Any legal weapon.

In the guide: “Raccoon: Seven (7) one (1) night hunts, Dec. 13–19. Hunters must check out by 1 a.m. One (1) raccoon per person.”

Coyote

Aug 1–8, Jun 6 – Jul 31

Any legal weapon.

Free permit from the WMA office. The 2027 hunt runs through Aug. 14.

In the guide: “Coyote: June 7, 2026–Aug. 8, 2026; June 6, 2027–Aug. 14, 2027. No Limit. Centerfire allowed. Call WMA office for free permit. 865-278-3248.”

Area rules

Deer driving, loud noises and harassment on all deer hunts are prohibited. Entering from Norris Lake during the deer and turkey hunts is prohibited. Guides prohibited on all hunts. Horses, ATVs, non-licensed passenger vehicles and motorcycles are prohibited on Main Forest Road; ORV, horseback riding, bicycles and all other vehicles are restricted to roads marked "open to vehicular traffic." Speed limit 25 mph; riders under 18 on off highway vehicles need a helmet; noise limit 86 dBs at 50 feet. Waterfowl hunting is closed as posted. Beaver and coyote may be taken on any hunt with a weapon legal for that hunt; groundhog, fox and skunk on any small game hunt; bobcat on any scheduled hunt that coincides with the statewide bobcat season. Turkey hunters must sign in and out at the check station (out by 1 p.m.). Trapping Jan. 2–Feb. 28 by quota, one party per compartment. Dog training Sept. 1–March 15, daylight hours. Shooting range open Thursday and Friday noon to sunset and Saturday and Sunday sunrise to sunset, closed during big game quota hunts (permit required).

Nearby areas

Cove Creek WMA around 10 miles away

North Cumberland WMA around 20 miles away

Buffalo Springs WMA around 20 miles away

Forks of the River WMA around 25 miles away

Oak Ridge WMA around 35 miles away

Most WMAs are open with statewide seasons except as noted in their listing; on those, the season dates, bag limits and legal weapons of the county the WMA is in apply. WMAs marked BG, SG or WF need a Big Game, Small Game or Waterfowl WMA permit on top of the license (Sportsman and Lifetime license holders are exempt). The August archery deer hunt is closed on WMAs open with statewide seasons, except certain Unit 1 WMAs. On WMAs open with statewide seasons, quail season runs Nov. 7 to Jan. 15. Hunters may not enter more than two hours before sunrise and must be out one hour after sunset. Legal hours are 30 minutes before legal sunrise to 30 minutes after legal sunset, except turkey and migratory birds, which end at official sunset. Youths may hunt ducks and geese Feb. 6 and 13, and veterans and active military Feb. 7 and 14. A light goose conservation season runs Feb. 15 to Mar. 31 with a free permit. Unless a listing says otherwise, furbearers may be taken on any scheduled big game or small game hunt that coincides with a statewide furbearer season, with the weapons legal for that hunt (page 81).

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