Ridgeline Raven
Tennessee

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Tennessee County Finder

Answer six questions and get Tennessee counties ranked by habitat fit, 2026–27 season dates, public land and TWRA checked harvest.

How the Tennessee finder works

TWRA tallies every checked deer, turkey and bear in its Hunter's Toolbox. This tool scores all 95 counties for the species you pick using deer harvest from 2021–22 to 2025–26 (excluding WMA checks), spring and fall turkey from 2021–2026, bear from 2021–2025, USGS land-cover and elevation data, and the share of public land such as WMAs and the Cherokee National Forest.

Season fit uses the 2026–27 Tennessee Hunting Guide: archery, muzzleloader and gun deer, young sportsman hunts, fall turkey (closed in 11 counties), spring turkey, the bear hunt zones' still-hunting and dog seasons, and the North Cumberland elk hunts.

Species covered

  • White-tailed deer
  • Elk
  • Black bear
  • Wild turkey

Upland birds (ranked by county)

  • Forest grouse
  • Quail

Waterfowl and migratory birds (ranked by county)

  • Ducks
  • Canada and dark geese
  • Snow and Ross's geese
  • Mourning dove
  • Sandhill crane
  • American woodcock

About every species on the species page →

Data sources

  • TWRA Hunter's Toolbox harvest reports by county (deer excludes WMA harvest)
  • 2026–27 Tennessee Hunting, Fishing & Trapping Guide
  • USGS PAD-US 3.0 (Fee); NPS parks and monuments excluded
  • USGS NLCD 2021 Land Cover (250 m resample)
  • USGS 3DEP elevation service

Tennessee hunting FAQ

When is Tennessee's 2026 deer gun season?

Nov. 21, 2026 to Jan. 3, 2027 statewide. Archery runs Sept. 26–Oct. 30 and Nov. 2–6, and muzzleloader Nov. 7–20.

Which Tennessee counties have the most deer?

Giles, Sumner, Lawrence, Montgomery and Henry counties lead TWRA's checked harvest. Pick white-tailed deer to rank every county.

Can I hunt bears with dogs in Tennessee?

Yes, in Bear Hunt Zones 1–5 during the dog seasons, which differ by zone. The Transitional Zone has still hunting only. Choose Hounds as your method to rank the counties with dog seasons.

Tennessee harvest leaders

The counties with the highest average reported harvest for each species. High totals often reflect large areas and many hunters; the tool above also weighs harvest per square mile, hunter success, habitat and access.

White-tailed deer (2021–2025 average)

  1. Giles County: 3,870 per year
  2. Sumner County: 3,330 per year
  3. Lawrence County: 3,234 per year
  4. Montgomery County: 3,110 per year
  5. Henry County: 3,089 per year

Black bear (2021–2025 average)

  1. Sevier County: 80 per year
  2. Cocke County: 54 per year
  3. Blount County: 24 per year
  4. Fentress County: 23 per year
  5. Carter County: 22 per year

Wild turkey (2022–2026 average)

  1. Maury County: 984 per year
  2. Greene County: 786 per year
  3. Dickson County: 763 per year
  4. Hickman County: 636 per year
  5. Robertson County: 633 per year

Ducks (USFWS 10-year average)

  1. Dyer County: 34,367 per year
  2. Stewart County: 22,816 per year
  3. Gibson County: 21,480 per year
  4. Obion County: 17,702 per year
  5. Shelby County: 16,370 per year

Canada and dark geese (USFWS 10-year average)

  1. Lake County: 2,906 per year
  2. Shelby County: 2,554 per year
  3. Stewart County: 2,472 per year
  4. Blount County: 1,724 per year
  5. Lauderdale County: 1,680 per year