37 S.

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Natchez Trace 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

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Archery: Sep 26 – Oct 30, Nov 2–6
  • Young sportsman: Oct 31 – Nov 1, Jan 9–10
  • Muzzleloader: Nov 7–20
  • Gun: Nov 21 – Jan 3

In the guide: “Big Game: Same as statewide seasons, except as noted.”

Turkey

Follows the statewide seasons, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only. Quota hunt, 48 hunters drawn.

  • Spring young sportsman: Mar 27–28
  • Spring: Apr 3 – May 16

In the guide: “Turkey: Two (2) quota hunts (Tues–Wed and Fri–Sun) each week of Spring turkey season. Two hunt zones: North of I-40 and South of I-40. Hunter quota 48 per zone. One (1) male bearded turkey per hunt, counts toward statewide bag limit.”

Mar 27–28

Follows the statewide season (spring young sportsman Mar 27–28). Only for youth hunters.

In the guide: “Turkey (Young Sportsman): Same as statewide season.”

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

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Squirrel: Aug 22 – Mar 15, May 8 – Jun 13
  • Rabbit: Nov 7 – Feb 28
  • Quail: Nov 7 – Jan 15
  • Grouse: Oct 10 – Feb 28
  • Woodcock: Nov 14 – Dec 6, Jan 10–31
  • Dove: Sep 1–28, Oct 10 – Nov 1, Dec 8 – Jan 15
  • Ducks and teal: Sep 12–16, Nov 28–29, Dec 5 – Jan 31
  • Geese: Sep 1–20, Oct 10–22, Nov 28–29, Dec 5 – Feb 14
  • Raccoon: Sep 18 – Mar 15

In the guide: “Small Game: Same as statewide seasons, except as noted.”

Area rules

Horses on roads and trails open to motorized traffic or established for them. Motorized vehicles only on roads not designated closed; ORVs on roads open to other traffic and designated trails, in daylight or during authorized activities. Shooting range (see tnwildlife.org). Camping at Natchez Trace State Park campgrounds and cabins; contact the State Park office.

Nearby areas

Beech River WMA around 15 miles away

Camden WMA around 15 miles away

Jarrell Switch Refuge around 25 miles away

Spring Creek around 25 miles away

Hart's Mill around 30 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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