Can You Hunt Bears in Tennessee in 2026? What TWRA Rules Require
November 6, 2026
Bear hunting season in Tennessee 2026 opens with a September archery hunt and runs in zone-based pieces through early January. The rules change by zone, by weapon and by whether hounds are allowed, so a hunter who reads only one date range can easily end up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Tennessee does not run a statewide bear season. You hunt inside designated Bear Hunt Zones, and large chunks of bear country are closed outright.
This article walks through the TWRA dates, methods, limits and reporting steps you need before you head out. For the full text of every rule, the agency’s own bear hunting page is the authoritative source.
Bear Hunting Season Dates in Tennessee 2026
The 2026 season starts with the Restricted Bear Reserve Hunt and the archery-only season, then moves into zone-specific gun, muzzleloader and archery hunts. TWRA lists the Restricted Bear Reserve Hunt for September 19 to 25, 2026. That hunt is separate from the general seasons below.
The statewide archery-only season is a still-hunt season. According to TWRA data reproduced by hunting-season aggregators, archery only runs September 26 through October 23, 2026 in all bear hunt zones, still-hunt only.
| Hunt | 2026 Dates | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Restricted Bear Reserve Hunt (Kettlefoot and Laurel Fork) | Sept. 19-25 | Private lands only |
| Archery only, still hunt | Sept. 26-Oct. 23 | All Bear Hunt Zones |
| Young Sportsman hunt | Oct. 31-Nov. 1 | Zones 1-3; private land only in Zones 4 and 5 |
| Gun, muzzleloader or archery, still hunt | Nov. 21-24 | Zones 1, 2 and 3 |
| Gun, muzzleloader or archery, still hunt | Dec. 12-13 | Zone 5, private land only |
Hound seasons run on separate dates by zone, covered in the hound section below. TWRA’s seasons summary page is the place to confirm any date before you commit to a trip.
Bear Season by Weapon and Method in Tennessee: Archery, Muzzleloader and Firearm
Tennessee splits bear hunting by method in a way that matters on the ground. Archery gets the longest window, and the gun and muzzleloader hunts are shorter and tied to specific zones.
- Archery: The Sept. 26-Oct. 23 still-hunt season is the only season limited to archery equipment.
- Gun, muzzleloader or archery, still hunting: Short windows such as Nov. 21-24 in Zones 1, 2 and 3 allow all three methods without hounds.
- Gun, muzzleloader or archery with hounds: Hound hunts run in early, mid and late segments in the zones that allow them.
TWRA directs hunters to its general hunting regulations for legal equipment, so check that document for caliber and bow specifications before the season.
Spring Bear Season in Tennessee
Tennessee has no spring bear hunting season. Bears cannot be hunted in spring.
What does happen in spring is bear dog training. Training in Zones 1 and 2 returns May 17 to June 6, 2027, and the same dates apply in Zone 3. No bears may be taken or pursued to be taken during training, and bear reserves are closed to it.
Bear Hunting Zones, Units and Management Areas in Tennessee
Bear hunting happens inside Bear Hunt Zones, or BHZs, drawn by county. TWRA describes the first three as follows:
- BHZ1: Carter, Cocke (north of I-40), Greene, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties.
- BHZ2: Blount, Cocke (south of I-40), Jefferson (east of Hwy 411) and Sevier counties.
- BHZ3: McMinn (east of Hwy 411), Monroe and Polk counties, excluding South Cherokee WMA.
Zone 5 covers Hancock and Hawkins counties and is limited to private land. TWRA also designates a Transitional Zone of counties along the edge of bear range, and you should check the county list before hunting near zone lines.
Pro Tip: Closed areas matter as much as open ones. Bear reserves, Mt. Roosevelt WMA, state parks, Scott State Forest, national parks and recreation areas are closed to bear hunting unless otherwise stated.
Bear Hunting License, Tag and Permit Requirements in Tennessee
You need a valid Tennessee hunting license with the big game privileges that cover bear. Tennessee does not use a physical tag for bears. Harvest is recorded through the check-in process described later in this article.
The Restricted Bear Reserve Hunt is a permit hunt, and youth hunters take part under the same regulations as permitted adults. Juveniles must comply with all regulations specified for permitted hunters. For current license prices and which license package covers bear, use the TWRA license pages or a TWRA license agent.
Bear Permit Draws and Lotteries in Tennessee
The main drawn opportunity for bear is the Restricted Bear Reserve Hunt on private lands in the Kettlefoot and Laurel Fork area. TWRA also runs Bear Party-Dog Hunts in set areas, and those are separate, limited-entry hunts.
Application windows and procedures change year to year, so follow the TWRA bear page and the Go Outdoors Tennessee system for the current application period. Both hunt types carry the same one-bear limit.
Nonresident Bear Hunting in Tennessee
Nonresidents can hunt bears in Tennessee under the same zones, dates and bag limit that apply to residents. Nothing in TWRA’s bear regulations creates a separate nonresident season.
The difference is the license. Nonresidents buy nonresident hunting privileges, and the cost is higher. Confirm the exact license package with TWRA before you travel, because bear hunting on public land is also limited by the closures listed earlier.
Bear Bag Limit and Harvest Quota in Tennessee
The bear limit is one bear, either sex, per license year. That limit is statewide and applies across every season, zone and method.
It also follows you onto WMAs. TWRA states that a bear taken on South Cherokee WMA counts toward the statewide bag limit. Cubs and females with cubs are protected.
Baiting Rules for Bear Hunting in Tennessee
Baiting rules for bear are strict, and they differ from the newer rules for deer on private land. If you plan to hunt over any food source, read the baiting section of the TWRA general hunting regulations first.
A safe working rule is to treat any feed, salt, or attractant as a potential violation until you have confirmed the rule for your exact land type and season. TWRA officers enforce baiting rules, and ignorance of a bait site on a lease is not a defense.
Hunting Bears with Hounds in Tennessee
Hound hunting is allowed only in specific zones and on specific dates. TWRA labels the other hunts as still hunting only, with no hounds allowed.
The zone-by-zone hound dates for 2026 as reproduced from TWRA tables include:
- BHZ 1: Oct. 3-5, Nov. 9-16 and Nov. 30-Dec. 16.
- BHZ 2: Oct. 10-11, Nov. 2-6 and Nov. 30-Dec. 15.
- BHZ 3: Oct. 3-18, Nov. 2-6 and Nov. 30-Dec. 13.
Aggregator tables disagree on a few hound dates, particularly for Zones 2 and 4, so rely on the TWRA table itself. TWRA also lets licensed bear hunters take wild hogs during a proclaimed bear dog hunt.
Dog training is a separate season. Zones 1 and 2 are open Aug. 22 to Sept. 27, 2026, and Zone 3 is open Sept. 9 to 18, 2026. Training is daylight only, and bear reserves are closed to it.
Legal Weapons and Methods for Bear Hunting in Tennessee
TWRA points bear hunters to its general hunting regulations for legal equipment. The practical split is by season: archery equipment only during the archery season, and gun, muzzleloader or archery during the still-hunt and hound hunts.
Hounds are a method, not a weapon, and they are legal only in the dog-permitted hunts listed above. Using dogs outside those dates is a violation, and so is carrying firearms with non-pointing breeds during daylight outside bear season.
Legal Bears and Protected Bears in Tennessee
Black bears are the only bear species in Tennessee. Either sex is legal, but cubs and females accompanied by cubs are protected.
Before you shoot, make sure the animal is alone and clearly an independent bear. If you see cubs nearby, the sow is off limits even if she looks like a trophy.
Youth and Special Bear Hunts in Tennessee
The Young Sportsman bear hunt runs Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, 2026. It is open to youths 6 to 16 using gun, muzzleloader or archery, in BHZ 1-4 and on private land in BHZ 5. Other sources list Zones 4 and 5 as private land only, so confirm your zone’s land restriction with TWRA.
The special hunts to know are the Restricted Bear Reserve Hunt and the Bear Party-Dog Hunts. Youths in these hunts follow every rule that applies to permitted adults.
Where to Hunt Bear in Tennessee: Public and Private Land
Public land options are narrower than most hunters expect. Bear reserves, state parks, national parks and Mt. Roosevelt WMA are closed to bear hunting unless TWRA says otherwise.
Some WMAs do open for bear. South Cherokee WMA, for example, has archery, gun with dogs and party-dog hunts. Bear reserves there are closed to all big game hunting when the dog-permitted bear season is open. Several hunts, including the Restricted Bear Reserve Hunt and all of BHZ 5, are private land only, so landowner permission is your ticket in.
Best Time to Hunt Bear in Tennessee
Archery season gives you the longest runway, from late September through October 23, when bears are feeding hard. Acorns matter in Tennessee. Acorns are a significant late-season food source for black bears in the state.
Pressure is lowest during the archery season and highest on the short November gun windows. If you run hounds, the first October and early November segments give you the most open days in Zones 2 and 3.
Bear Hunting Hours, Sunday Hunting and Blaze Orange in Tennessee
Dog training is limited to daylight hours, and hunting hours for the open seasons follow TWRA’s general big game rules. Check the legal shooting-hour tables in the TWRA regulations rather than assuming deer hours apply.
Sunday hunting and hunter orange requirements for gun seasons are set in TWRA’s general regulations. Wear hunter orange during any gun or muzzleloader hunt as a matter of safety, and confirm the legal minimum with TWRA for your hunt.
Tagging, Check-In and Reporting a Bear in Tennessee
Every bear must be reported. Tennessee uses check-in rather than a pre-issued tag, and you complete it through the TWRA app, the Go Outdoors Tennessee website or the phone system. Hunters report through the TWRA mobile app, online at GoOutdoorsTennessee.com, or by calling 1-800-TAG-TWRA.
Keep your confirmation number. TWRA personnel can ask to see it until final processing.
- Check in your bear on the day of harvest using your preferred method.
- Save the confirmation number.
- Pull a tooth and follow the TWRA tooth submission instructions.
- Submit the tooth by February 15 after the harvest. TWRA requires a tooth from each bear by that date.
Bear Hunting Season in Tennessee 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
When does bear season open in Tennessee in 2026?
The Restricted Bear Reserve Hunt opens Sept. 19 on private lands, and the archery-only season opens Sept. 26 in all zones.
How many bears can you kill in Tennessee?
You can take one bear, either sex, per license year, statewide.
Can you use hounds to hunt bear in Tennessee?
Yes, but only in zones and on dates TWRA proclaims for dog hunts. Other seasons are still hunting only.
Is there a spring bear season in Tennessee?
No. Spring dates apply only to bear dog training, during which no bear may be taken.
Do you have to submit a tooth?
Yes. A tooth from every harvested bear must reach TWRA by February 15 after the harvest.
What other Tennessee seasons can you plan around?
If you hunt more than bears, see the guides for Tennessee turkey season, dove season, goose season, rabbit season and quail season. If you cross the border, the Kentucky deer season guide covers the rules next door.