You’re driving down a Tennessee highway when a deer suddenly jumps in front of your car. After the unfortunate collision, you might wonder if you can legally take the animal home. This situation happens more often than you’d think, and Tennessee has specific laws about what you can do with roadkill.
Tennessee Code TCA 70-4-115 allows you to take home wild game animals that are accidentally killed by motor vehicles, with some important exceptions. The state permits personal use and consumption of 28 different wild game species. However, you can’t take home non-game animals or federally protected wildlife species.
Understanding roadkill laws in Tennessee helps you stay legal while also reducing waste of natural resources. You’ll learn what animals you can claim, how to properly report and take roadkill, and what penalties exist for breaking these rules. These regulations apply whether you hit the animal yourself or find it already dead on the road.
Is It Legal to Take Roadkill in Tennessee?
Yes, it is legal to take roadkill in Tennessee for personal use and consumption. Tennessee law allows residents to collect 28 different wild game animals that have been accidentally killed by vehicles.
The state created these rules to prevent waste of wildlife. You can take home animals like deer, turkey, and even bears if you follow the proper steps.
Important requirements you must follow:
- You need to report the roadkill to authorities
- Certain animals require a special “kill tag” from a Wildlife Resources officer before you can take them
- The animal must have been accidentally killed by a vehicle
- You can only use the roadkill for personal consumption, not for sale
For larger game animals like bears, you must get permission and a kill tag from a Wildlife Resources officer before taking the animal. This extra step helps the state track wildlife populations and ensure compliance with hunting regulations.
If you skip the required reporting process, possessing roadkill becomes illegal. The animal is still considered state property until you get proper authorization.
Tennessee encourages residents to use roadkill rather than let it go to waste. However, you should always check the condition of the animal before taking it home. Roadkill that has been sitting too long or shows signs of disease poses health risks.
How to Claim Roadkill in Tennessee
If you want to keep a deer or other big game animal you find dead on the road, you need to follow specific steps. You must contact TWRA or any law enforcement officer within 48 hours of finding the animal. This notification requirement applies to deer accidentally killed on the road.
When you make contact, be ready to provide your name and address. You’ll also need to explain where you found the animal. The officer will document the incident and may issue you a permit or receipt.
For bears specifically, you must obtain a physical receipt before collecting the animal. This receipt proves you legally claimed the roadkill.
The notification process protects you from potential poaching charges. Without proper documentation, transporting a dead deer or bear could look like illegal hunting. Law enforcement needs to verify the animal died from a vehicle collision rather than being shot or killed by other means.
Here’s what you’ll need to report:
- Your full name and contact information
- The exact location where you found the animal
- The date and approximate time of discovery
- The species of animal
You should contact authorities as soon as possible after finding the animal. Waiting too long can make the meat unsafe to eat due to decomposition. The 48-hour window gives you time to report while keeping the meat fresh enough for consumption if properly handled.
Not all roadkill requires this process. Tennessee’s roadkill regulations focus mainly on big game animals like deer and bears.
What Animals Can You Salvage in Tennessee
Tennessee allows you to collect certain roadkill animals, but not all species are legal to take home. White-tailed deer are the most commonly salvaged roadkill in the state.
You can legally collect these animals if you find them as roadkill:
- White-tailed deer (most common)
- Wild turkey
- Wild hogs
- Other non-protected game animals
However, some animals are off-limits for collection. Bears cannot be taken home if you find them dead on Tennessee roads, even though the state has relatively lax laws for other large animals.
You also cannot collect federally protected wildlife or non-game species. These protected animals must be left alone regardless of how they died.
If you hit a deer with your vehicle and want to keep it, you must report it to authorities under Tennessee Code 70-4-115. This reporting requirement helps the state track wildlife deaths and prevent illegal hunting disguised as roadkill collection.
The rules exist to protect endangered species and prevent people from claiming they found animals they actually hunted illegally. Always check current regulations before collecting any roadkill, as laws can change. When in doubt, contact your local Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency office for guidance on whether a specific animal is legal to salvage.
Penalties for Illegal Roadkill Possession in Tennessee
If you violate Tennessee’s roadkill laws, you could face criminal charges. A violation of the roadkill permit law is a Class C misdemeanor.
Class C misdemeanors in Tennessee can result in up to 30 days in jail and fines up to $50. While this might seem minor, a criminal record can affect your employment and background checks.
More serious penalties apply if you illegally possess protected wildlife. Taking or possessing protected wildlife without proper authorization is a Class A misdemeanor. However, if the wildlife is valued at $500 or more, penalties increase significantly.
Class A misdemeanors carry harsher consequences than Class C violations. You could face up to 11 months and 29 days in jail, plus fines up to $2,500.
Key situations that could result in penalties include:
- Taking roadkill without obtaining the required permit
- Possessing federally protected species killed on roads
- Taking non-game wildlife as roadkill
- Falsely claiming you accidentally hit an animal when you intentionally killed it
Law enforcement officers can determine whether an animal was truly killed by accident. Signs of intentional hunting, such as bullet wounds or arrow marks, will lead to illegal taking charges rather than simple roadkill violations.
If you’re unsure whether you can legally possess roadkill you’ve found, contact the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency before taking the animal. It’s better to ask first than face criminal charges later.
