37 S.

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Prentice Cooper 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, coyote, and hogs

Closed Aug 1–28, Mar 1 – Jul 31.

In the guide: “Closed to all hunting March 1–the fourth Friday in August, except during spring turkey and spring squirrel seasons.”

Deer

Sep 19–21

Archery. Quota hunt, 400 hunters drawn. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Archery): Sept. 19–21. Hunter quota 400. Two (2) deer, no more than one (1) antlered (bonus deer).”

Sep 22–25

Archery. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Archery): Sept. 22–25. Two (2) deer, no more than one (1) antlered (bonus deer).”

Oct 8–10

Muzzleloader. Quota hunt, 250 hunters drawn. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Muzzleloader): Oct. 8–10. Hunter quota 250. Two (2) deer, no more than one (1) antlered (bonus deer).”

Oct 24–25

Firearms. Only for youth hunters. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun - Young Sportsman): Oct. 24–25. Two (2) deer, no more than one (1) antlered (bonus deer).”

Oct 29–31

Muzzleloader. Quota hunt, 250 hunters drawn. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Muzzleloader): Oct. 29–31. Hunter quota 250. Two (2) deer, no more than one (1) antlered (bonus deer).”

Nov 6–8

Firearms, buck only. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun): Nov. 6–8. One (1) deer, antlered only (bonus deer).”

Nov 28 – Dec 3

Firearms, buck only. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun): Nov. 28–Dec. 3. Two (2) deer, antlered only (bonus deer).”

Turkey

Apr 6–11, Apr 14–16, Apr 22–24, Apr 27 – May 2

Any legal weapon.

In the guide: “Turkey: Six (6) hunts: April 6-8, 9–11, 14–16, 22–24, 27-29, April 30-May 2. One (1) male bearded turkey per day. Counts toward statewide bag limit.”

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

Closed Sep 19–25, Oct 8–10, Oct 24–25, Oct 29–31, Nov 6–8, Nov 28 – Dec 3.

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

In the guide: “Small game hunting and dog training 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 all hunting March 1–the fourth Friday in August, except during spring turkey and spring squirrel seasons.”

May 1 – Jul 31

Follows the statewide season (May 8 – Jun 13).

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

Squirrel, rabbit, grouse, woodcock, dove, and ducks and geese

Aug 1 – Feb 28

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Squirrel: Aug 29 – Sep 18, Sep 26 – Oct 7, Oct 11–23, Oct 26–28, Nov 1–5, Nov 9–27, Dec 4 – Feb 28
  • Rabbit: Nov 9–27, Dec 4 – Feb 28
  • Grouse: Oct 11–23, Oct 26–28, Nov 1–5, Nov 9–27, Dec 4 – Feb 28
  • Woodcock: Nov 14–27, Dec 4–6, Jan 10–31
  • Dove: Sep 1–18, Sep 26–28, Oct 11–23, Oct 26–28, Nov 1, Dec 8 – Jan 15
  • Ducks and teal: Sep 12–16, Dec 5 – Jan 31
  • Geese: Sep 1–18, Oct 11–22, Dec 5 – Feb 14

In the guide: “Small Game: Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Small game hunting and dog training will close at sunset the day before and during scheduled big game hunts unless otherwise indicated. Closed to quail hunting. Small game hunting ends on the last day of February.”

Raccoon

Closed Sep 18–25, Oct 7–10, Oct 23–25, Oct 28–31, Nov 5–8, Nov 27 – Dec 3.

The night before each hunt, too.

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

Raccoon and furbearers

Nov 6 – Feb 28

Any legal weapon, Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays only.

In the guide: “Fox - Opossum - Raccoon: First Friday in Nov.–end of Feb., except hunting will be limited to Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights only. Bag limit is one (1) per party per night.”

Area rules

No entry between sunset and sunrise. Organized motorized competitions are prohibited; vehicle noise limit 86 dBA at 50 feet; 25 mph speed limit unless posted. Side roads and trails closed to motor vehicles Dec. 20–March 15. Big game hunters must check in big game at the WMA check station when it's in operation. Contact the area manager for wheelchair accessible deer and turkey blinds. Small game hunting and dog training close at sunset the day before and during scheduled big game hunts. Shooting range open Thursday, Friday and Saturday during daylight, closed during big game hunts (permit required). Camping: Hunter check station campground year-round except Jan. 1–Feb. 28 and big game hunts; Davis Pond campground year-round except big game hunts; Tennessee Wall campground year-round. Dog training Sept. 1–March 15.

Nearby areas

North Chickamauga Creek WMA around 10 miles away

Bear Hollow Mountain WMA around 35 miles away

Hiwassee Refuge around 35 miles away

Chickamauga WMA around 35 miles away

Fall Creek Falls State Park around 40 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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