Hunting in Tennessee: 3 Animals to Hunt in the Spring

The spring months are a time of rebirth in the wilderness and woodlands. This time of vigorous activity and range shifts for wildlife offers dynamic opportunities for the sport hunters in Tennessee.

It also offers unique challenges for the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency whose responsibility it is to ensure that populations on wildlife management areas are explicitly controlled.

Here are three animals you can hunt in Tennessee in the spring.

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1. Turkey
The spring season for turkey in Tennessee runs from the beginning of April through mid-May. This is an open season statewide without the county-specific restrictions imposed during the fall season. The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) permits one bird per day per hunter, with a season limit of four. There is also a special two-day weekend hunt, restricted to participation by any licensed young sportsmen, which takes place in late March. The TWRA also offers quota hunt drawings for harvesting from specified wildlife management areas.

2. Squirrel
Running early May through mid June, the spring squirrel season allows for population culling after the species breeding season has ended, according to the TWRA. The daily bag limit per hunter is 10. Hunters are permitted to use dogs for chase and pursuit except on wildlife management areas that explicitly prohibit such activity.

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3. Coyote
This species, although native to North America, did not claim the eastern regions of the United States as its range until rather recently. The absence of an apex predator in the ecosystems – originally the red wolf in Tennessee – created a void that the coyote has been able to fill. Unfortunately, this predator also has a bit of a seedy reputation.

Though coyotes present limited issues for either domestic pets or the agriculture industry, the TWRA permits a year-round unlimited season on them. Statistical data from TWRA reports indicate that population control and management efforts have little effect on the predator’s presence in the region.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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Related Stories:

• Hunting in Tennessee: 3 Animals to Hunt in the Summer
• Hunting in Tennessee: 3 Animals to Hunt in the Fall