Tennessee Hunting Laws
Tennessee has no minimum or maximum caliber for centerfire deer rifles — but full metal jacket ammunition is banned for big game. New for 2026: a private-land-only, single-shot straight-wall rifle season (.35 caliber or larger) runs Nov. 14–20, inside the muzzleloader season window.
Rules checked against Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency regulations, August 30, 2026.
At a Glance
Check a Cartridge in Tennessee
Planning to Apply in Tennessee?
See draw odds by point level, fees, and deadlines on the Tennessee draw odds page.
Sourced Rules
Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it.
Rifle
1 ruleNo minimum or maximum caliber for deer/bear/elk rifles — any centerfire rifle is legal, provided it does not fire full metal jacket ammunition.
"Rifles and handguns using centerfire ammunition (full metal jacketed ammunition prohibited)"
General Hunting & Trapping Regulations — Big Game Firearms · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
Elk
Black Bear
|
No minimum or maximum caliber for deer/bear/elk rifles — any centerfire rifle is legal, provided it does not fire full metal jacket ammunition.
"Rifles and handguns using centerfire ammunition (full metal jacketed ammunition prohibited)" |
General Hunting & Trapping Regulations — Big Game Firearms | Aug 2026 |
Rifle and Handgun
1 ruleFull metal jacket (FMJ) ammunition is prohibited for big game — expanding-type bullets are effectively required.
"Rifles and handguns using centerfire ammunition (full metal jacketed ammunition prohibited)"
General Hunting & Trapping Regulations — Big Game Firearms · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
Elk
Black Bear
|
Full metal jacket (FMJ) ammunition is prohibited for big game — expanding-type bullets are effectively required.
"Rifles and handguns using centerfire ammunition (full metal jacketed ammunition prohibited)" |
General Hunting & Trapping Regulations — Big Game Firearms | Aug 2026 |
Shotgun
4 rulesShotguns for big game must be loaded with a single solid ball or slug — shot loads are not legal for deer, bear, or elk.
"Shotguns (including muzzleloading shotguns) using ammunition loaded with a single solid ball or slugs"
General Hunting & Trapping Regulations — Big Game Firearms · verified Aug 2026
Turkey shot must be No. 4 shot or smaller (finer) — shot larger than No. 4 is not legal.
"Shotguns using ammunition with No. 4 shot or smaller."
Turkey Hunting — Legal Hunting Equipment · verified Aug 2026
Waterfowl and sandhill cranes must be hunted with federally approved nontoxic shot, T size or smaller. Some WMAs additionally require nontoxic shot for small game — check the individual WMA's posted rules.
"All federally approved non-toxic shot ... Waterfowl and sandhill cranes may only be hunted with non-toxic shot of T size or smaller."
General Hunting & Trapping Regulations — Waterfowl & Migratory Birds · verified Aug 2026
The federal 3-shell plug rule applies to shotguns used for migratory birds (waterfowl/doves/etc.) — no such cap applies to deer rifles or shotguns.
"plugged with a one-piece filler...so its total capacity does not exceed three (3) shells"
General Hunting & Trapping Regulations — Waterfowl & Migratory Birds · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
Elk
Black Bear
|
Shotguns for big game must be loaded with a single solid ball or slug — shot loads are not legal for deer, bear, or elk.
"Shotguns (including muzzleloading shotguns) using ammunition loaded with a single solid ball or slugs" |
General Hunting & Trapping Regulations — Big Game Firearms | Aug 2026 |
|
Wild Turkey
|
Turkey shot must be No. 4 shot or smaller (finer) — shot larger than No. 4 is not legal.
"Shotguns using ammunition with No. 4 shot or smaller." |
Turkey Hunting — Legal Hunting Equipment | Aug 2026 |
|
Waterfowl
|
Waterfowl and sandhill cranes must be hunted with federally approved nontoxic shot, T size or smaller. Some WMAs additionally require nontoxic shot for small game — check the individual WMA's posted rules.
"All federally approved non-toxic shot ... Waterfowl and sandhill cranes may only be hunted with non-toxic shot of T size or smaller." |
General Hunting & Trapping Regulations — Waterfowl & Migratory Birds | Aug 2026 |
|
Waterfowl
|
The federal 3-shell plug rule applies to shotguns used for migratory birds (waterfowl/doves/etc.) — no such cap applies to deer rifles or shotguns.
"plugged with a one-piece filler...so its total capacity does not exceed three (3) shells" |
General Hunting & Trapping Regulations — Waterfowl & Migratory Birds | Aug 2026 |
Handgun
1 ruleNo minimum or maximum caliber for deer/bear/elk handguns — any centerfire handgun is legal, provided it does not fire full metal jacket ammunition.
"Rifles and handguns using centerfire ammunition (full metal jacketed ammunition prohibited)"
General Hunting & Trapping Regulations — Big Game Firearms · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
Elk
Black Bear
|
No minimum or maximum caliber for deer/bear/elk handguns — any centerfire handgun is legal, provided it does not fire full metal jacket ammunition.
"Rifles and handguns using centerfire ammunition (full metal jacketed ammunition prohibited)" |
General Hunting & Trapping Regulations — Big Game Firearms | Aug 2026 |
Muzzleloader
1 ruleMuzzleloading rifles, handguns, and shotguns must be .36 caliber or larger.
"Muzzleloading firearms .36 caliber or larger"
General Hunting & Trapping Regulations — Big Game Firearms · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
Elk
Black Bear
|
Muzzleloading rifles, handguns, and shotguns must be .36 caliber or larger.
"Muzzleloading firearms .36 caliber or larger" |
General Hunting & Trapping Regulations — Big Game Firearms | Aug 2026 |
Air Gun
1 ruleAir guns used for deer, bear, or elk must be .35 caliber or larger.
"Air Guns ... .35 caliber or larger"
General Hunting & Trapping Regulations — Big Game Firearms · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
Elk
Black Bear
|
Air guns used for deer, bear, or elk must be .35 caliber or larger.
"Air Guns ... .35 caliber or larger" |
General Hunting & Trapping Regulations — Big Game Firearms | Aug 2026 |
All Weapons
2 rulesAt least 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange or pink on the upper body and head (front and back) is required while hunting big game, except on archery-only and turkey hunts. Where archery season overlaps a big-game gun season, archers must also wear it.
"Hunters must wear on the upper portion of their body and head a minimum of 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange (blaze orange) / Pink, visible front and back while hunting big game except on archery-only a..."
Big Game Hunting — Safety Requirements · verified Aug 2026
Tennessee's printed hunting guide allows suppressors for all species but tells hunters to hold the required federal licence and to carry proof of it in the field. Since ATF stopped requiring registration on 9 October 2026, a suppressor bought after that date comes with no federal document to carry, and TWRA's website states the same numbered rule more loosely — only that you must be 'legally able to own such devices under federal law'. Until TWRA reconciles the two, the safe course is to file the free voluntary ATF registration and carry the approved form. The guide's reference to the Treasury Department is also out of date; the NFA has been administered by the Justice Department since 2003.
Suppressor law in 2026: what changed · suppressor prices
"The use of suppressors/silencers is legal for persons possessing the required federal license from the United States Department of Treasury. Hunters using these devices must have proof of such license on their person."
Manner & Means — Miscellaneous, item 10, printed page 52 · verified Oct 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
Elk
Black Bear
|
At least 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange or pink on the upper body and head (front and back) is required while hunting big game, except on archery-only and turkey hunts. Where archery season overlaps a big-game gun season, archers must also wear it.
"Hunters must wear on the upper portion of their body and head a minimum of 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange (blaze orange) / Pink, visible front and back while hunting big game except on archery-only a..." |
Big Game Hunting — Safety Requirements | Aug 2026 |
|
All species
|
Tennessee's printed hunting guide allows suppressors for all species but tells hunters to hold the required federal licence and to carry proof of it in the field. Since ATF stopped requiring registration on 9 October 2026, a suppressor bought after that date comes with no federal document to carry, and TWRA's website states the same numbered rule more loosely — only that you must be 'legally able to own such devices under federal law'. Until TWRA reconciles the two, the safe course is to file the free voluntary ATF registration and carry the approved form. The guide's reference to the Treasury Department is also out of date; the NFA has been administered by the Justice Department since 2003.
Suppressor law in 2026: what changed · suppressor prices
"The use of suppressors/silencers is legal for persons possessing the required federal license from the United States Department of Treasury. Hunters using these devices must have proof of such license on their person." |
Manner & Means — Miscellaneous, item 10, printed page 52 | Oct 2026 |
Federal Rules That Apply in Every State
These federal requirements apply in Tennessee on top of state law.
Sources
How to Use This Page
Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it. Rules marked needs review come from summaries rather than the regulation text, and never produce a green answer in the checker. The checker's energy figures are typical factory loads, so where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, check your own load's rating. This page covers equipment only, not seasons, tags or local ordinances, and it isn't legal advice. The current Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency regulations are the final word.