Read from Wildlife Resources Agency on September 27, 2026.
Seasons and limits change, and corrections are issued mid-season. Confirm with Wildlife Resources Agency before you hunt.
Open the official Tennessee regulationsHunting Tennessee this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
Tennessee is part of the Mississippi Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from September 1 through February 28, 2027, with 39 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Wildlife Resources Agency within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Season dates, bag limits, shooting hours, and other regulatory information are provided for convenience only, may be inaccurate or out of date, and do not constitute legal advice. You are solely responsible for verifying current regulations with your state or provincial wildlife agency before every hunt.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3Tennessee statewide waterfowl zone | Nov 28 – Nov 29 First Split | 6 4 mallards (no more than 2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 2 black ducks, 3 pintails, 1 mottled duck. Scaup: 1 scaup Nov. 28–29. | 18 |
| Dec 5 – Jan 31 Second Split | 6 4 mallards (no more than 2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 2 black ducks, 3 pintails, 1 mottled duck. Scaup: 1 scaup Dec. 5–17, then 2 scaup Dec. 18–Jan. 31. | 18 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard Statewide · no more than 2 hens · Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | 4 | 12 |
| Mallard Statewide · no more than 2 hens · Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | TN: possession 1x daily on opening day, 2x on the second day (opening weekend Nov 28-29) | 4 | – |
| Wood Duck Statewide · Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | 3 | 9 |
| Wood Duck Statewide · Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | TN: possession 1x daily on opening day, 2x on the second day (opening weekend Nov 28-29) | 3 | – |
| Canvasback Statewide · Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | 2 | 6 |
| Canvasback Statewide · Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | TN: possession 1x daily on opening day, 2x on the second day (opening weekend Nov 28-29) | 2 | – |
| Redhead Statewide · Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | 2 | 6 |
| Redhead Statewide · Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | TN: possession 1x daily on opening day, 2x on the second day (opening weekend Nov 28-29) | 2 | – |
| Black Duck Statewide · Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | 2 | 6 |
| Black Duck Statewide · Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | TN: possession 1x daily on opening day, 2x on the second day (opening weekend Nov 28-29) | 2 | – |
| Pintail (Northern) Statewide · Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | 3 | 9 |
| Pintail (Northern) Statewide · Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | TN: possession 1x daily on opening day, 2x on the second day (opening weekend Nov 28-29) | 3 | – |
| Mottled Duck Statewide · Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | 1 | 3 |
| Mottled Duck Statewide · Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | TN: possession 1x daily on opening day, 2x on the second day (opening weekend Nov 28-29) | 1 | – |
| Hooded Merganser Statewide · within the separate merganser bag of 5, not the 6-duck bag; Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | 2 | 6 |
| Hooded Merganser Statewide · within the separate merganser bag of 5, not the 6-duck bag; Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | TN: possession 1x daily on opening day, 2x on the second day (opening weekend Nov 28-29) | 2 | – |
| Greater Scaup Statewide · combined with Lesser Scaup; Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | 1 | 3 |
| Greater Scaup Statewide · from Dec 18 · combined with Lesser Scaup; Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | 2 | 6 |
| Greater Scaup Statewide · combined with Lesser Scaup; Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | TN: possession 1x daily on opening day, 2x on the second day (opening weekend Nov 28-29) | 1 | – |
| Lesser Scaup Statewide · combined with Greater Scaup; Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup Statewide · from Dec 18 · combined with Greater Scaup; Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Statewide · combined with Greater Scaup; Possession is 3x daily EXCEPT opening day (1x) and second day (2x) of the season | TN: possession 1x daily on opening day, 2x on the second day (opening weekend Nov 28-29) | 1 | – |
14 mallards (no more than 2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 2 black ducks, 3 pintails, 1 mottled duck. Scaup: 1 scaup Nov. 28–29.
2Possession limit is 3x daily bag except opening day (1x) and second day (2x).
34 mallards (no more than 2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 2 black ducks, 3 pintails, 1 mottled duck. Scaup: 1 scaup Dec. 5–17, then 2 scaup Dec. 18–Jan. 31.
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2Tennessee statewide waterfowl zone | Sep 12 – Sep 16 Wood Duck & Teal Early Season | 6 No more than 2 wood ducks in the daily bag of 6. | 18 |
1No more than 2 wood ducks in the daily bag of 6.
2Listed under 'Wood Duck & Teal' row in the Duck Seasons table.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4,5,6Tennessee statewide waterfowl zone | Sep 1 – Sep 20 Early Season | 5 Canada Goose: 5/day. Possession limit 3x daily bag except opening day (1x) and second day (2x). | 15 |
| Oct 10 – Oct 22 Regular Season First Split | 3 Canada Goose: 3/day. | 9 | |
| Nov 28 – Nov 29 Regular Season Split 2 | 3 Canada Goose only for this segment | 9 | |
| Dec 5 – Feb 14 Regular Season Split 3 | 3 Canada Goose only for this segment | 9 |
1Canada Goose: 5/day. Possession limit 3x daily bag except opening day (1x) and second day (2x).
2Canada Goose early season. White-fronted goose not listed for this segment.
3Canada Goose: 3/day.
4Regular Canada Goose season first segment. Possession limit: 3x daily bag except opening day (1x) and second day (2x).
5Canada Goose only for this segment
6Possession limit 3x daily bag, except opening day (1x) and second day (2x).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3Tennessee statewide waterfowl zone | Nov 28 – Nov 29 Split 1 | 3 White-Fronted Goose only Possession: 3 on opening day, 6 on the second day, 9 after. | 9 |
| Dec 5 – Feb 14 Split 2 | 3 White-Fronted Goose only | 9 |
1White-Fronted Goose only Possession: 3 on opening day, 6 on the second day, 9 after.
2Possession limit 3x daily bag, except opening day (1x) and second day (2x).
3White-Fronted Goose only
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2Tennessee statewide waterfowl zone | Sep 1 – Sep 20 Early Season | 1 | 3 |
| Oct 10 – Oct 22 Split 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| Nov 28 – Nov 29 Split 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Dec 5 – Feb 14 Split 3 | 1 | 3 |
1Possession limit 3x daily bag except opening day (1x) and second day (2x).
2Possession limit 3x daily bag, except opening day (1x) and second day (2x).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2Tennessee statewide waterfowl zone | Sep 1 – Sep 20 Early Season | 20 Standard federal regulations apply; unplugged shotguns and electronic calls NOT allowed | – |
| Oct 10 – Oct 22 Split 1 | 20 Standard federal regulations apply; unplugged shotguns and electronic calls NOT allowed | – | |
| Nov 28 – Nov 29 Split 2 | 20 Standard federal regulations apply; unplugged shotguns and electronic calls NOT allowed | – | |
| Dec 5 – Feb 14 Split 3 | 20 Standard federal regulations apply; unplugged shotguns and electronic calls NOT allowed | – |
1Standard federal regulations apply; unplugged shotguns and electronic calls NOT allowed
2No possession limit except opening day (daily bag) and second day (2x daily bag).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2Tennessee statewide waterfowl zone | Feb 15 – Mar 31 Light Goose Conservation Season | – Unplugged shotguns and electronic calls allowed. No daily bag limit and no possession limit. | – |
1Unplugged shotguns and electronic calls allowed. No daily bag limit and no possession limit.
2Blue, Snow & Ross's Geese only. Free Light Goose Conservation Season Permit required (GoOutdoorsTennessee.com). No Federal or state waterfowl stamps required. Post-season survey required.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4Tennessee statewide waterfowl zone | Sep 1 – Nov 9 Gallinule and Moorhen Early Season | 15 Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit required. | 45 |
| Nov 28 – Nov 29 First Split | 15 | 45 | |
| Dec 5 – Jan 31 Second Split | 15 | 45 |
1Concurrent with duck season first split. Coot limit 15/day as stated in the duck season table.
2Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit required.
3Listed as 'Gallinule and Moorhen' in the Migratory Bird Season Charts table. Possession limit is 3x daily bag per footnote.
4Concurrent with duck season second split. Coot limit 15/day as stated in the duck season table.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4Tennessee statewide waterfowl zone | Nov 28 – Nov 29 First Split | 5 Only 2 of which may be hooded mergansers | 15 |
| Dec 5 – Jan 31 Second Split | 5 Only 2 of the 5 may be hooded mergansers | 15 |
1Only 2 of which may be hooded mergansers
2Concurrent with duck season (first split); listed within Ducks, Coot & Mergansers table row
3Only 2 of the 5 may be hooded mergansers
4Concurrent with duck season second split. Mergansers have their own separate daily bag of 5.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2Tennessee statewide waterfowl zone | Dec 3 – Jan 31 | – Hunting only allowed by quota permit holders. Daily bag, season bag, and possession limit based on number of tags awarded to individual. Tags valid statewide including Southeast Crane Zone except during 3-day closure in that zone Jan. 15–17, 2027. | – |
| Southeast Crane Zone3,4,5South of I-40 and east of Highway 56 | Dec 3 – Jan 14 First Segment | – Hunting only allowed by quota permit holders. Daily bag, season bag, and possession limit based on number of tags awarded to individual. | – |
| Jan 18 – Jan 31 Second Segment | – Hunting only allowed by quota permit holders. Daily bag, season bag, and possession limit based on number of tags awarded to individual. | – |
1Hunting only allowed by quota permit holders. Daily bag, season bag, and possession limit based on number of tags awarded to individual. Tags valid statewide including Southeast Crane Zone except during 3-day closure in that zone Jan. 15–17, 2027.
2Statewide season; Southeast Crane Zone has a 3-day closure Jan. 15–17, 2027. Quota permit required. Each harvested crane must be accompanied by a completed kill tag.
3Hunting only allowed by quota permit holders. Daily bag, season bag, and possession limit based on number of tags awarded to individual.
4Southeast Crane Zone is south of Interstate 40 and east of Highway 56. Season split due to 3-day closure Jan. 15–17.
5Southeast Crane Zone is south of Interstate 40 and east of Highway 56. Resumes after Jan. 15–17 closure.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4Tennessee statewide waterfowl zone | Feb 6 – Feb 6 Youth Sportsman Waterfowl Hunting Season - Day 1 | 6 Ages 6-16; accompanied by licensed adult 18+. WMAs with special closing times are OPEN all day during youth season. Nontoxic shot + plugged gun required. Youth 6-15 with permitted adult exempt from WMA permit. | – |
| Feb 13 – Feb 13 Youth Sportsman Waterfowl Hunting Season - Day 2 | 6 Same as regular season daily bag limits. Youth hunters ages 6–16 only may harvest coot, gallinule, moorhen, ducks, mergansers, and geese. Non-hunting adults 21+ must accompany youth. | 18 |
1Ages 6-16; accompanied by licensed adult 18+. WMAs with special closing times are OPEN all day during youth season. Nontoxic shot + plugged gun required. Youth 6-15 with permitted adult exempt from WMA permit.
2Same as regular season daily bag limits. Youth ages 6–16 only; must be accompanied by non-hunting adult 21+. WMAs with special closing times open all day.
3Same as regular season daily bag limits. Youth hunters ages 6–16 only may harvest coot, gallinule, moorhen, ducks, mergansers, and geese. Non-hunting adults 21+ must accompany youth.
4Second of two youth waterfowl hunt days.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4Tennessee statewide waterfowl zone | Feb 7 – Feb 7 Veterans and Active Military Personnel - Day 1 | 6 Veterans and active-duty military. WMAs with special closing restrictions are OPEN all day during this season. Same nontoxic shot and plugged gun rules. Proof of service may be required. | – |
| Feb 14 – Feb 14 Veterans and Active Military Personnel - Day 2 | 6 Veterans and members of the Armed Forces on active duty (including National Guard and Reserves on active duty other than for training) may participate and harvest coot, gallinule, moorhen, ducks, mergansers, and geese. Only veterans or active military persons may hunt. | 18 |
1Veterans and active-duty military. WMAs with special closing restrictions are OPEN all day during this season. Same nontoxic shot and plugged gun rules. Proof of service may be required.
2Same as regular season daily bag limits. Veterans (as defined in 38 U.S.C. §101) and active duty military only may hunt; non-veterans may be present but not hunt.
3Veterans and members of the Armed Forces on active duty (including National Guard and Reserves on active duty other than for training) may participate and harvest coot, gallinule, moorhen, ducks, mergansers, and geese. Only veterans or active military persons may hunt.
4Second of two veterans/active military waterfowl hunt days.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11Tennessee statewide waterfowl zone | Sep 1 – Nov 9 Rails (Virginia and Sora) | 25 Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit required | 75 |
| Sep 1 – Sep 28 Mourning Dove | 15 Opens at noon on Sept. 1. Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit required. No limit on Eurasian collared doves; doves not readily identifiable as Eurasian collared count as mourning dove toward daily bag/possession limits. | 45 | |
| Sep 1 – Sep 7 Crow | – No day-of-week restriction noted for this segment | – | |
| Oct 10 – Nov 1 Mourning Dove | 15 Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit required. No limit on Eurasian collared doves. | 45 | |
| Nov 14 – Feb 28 Snipe | 8 | 24 | |
| Nov 14 – Dec 6 Woodcock | 3 | 9 | |
| Dec 8 – Jan 15 Mourning Dove | 15 Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit required. No limit on Eurasian collared doves. | 45 | |
| Jan 1 – Feb 28 Crow | – No day-of-week restriction noted for this segment | – | |
| Jan 10 – Jan 31 Woodcock | 3 | 9 |
Not yet confirmed against the official source. We have not matched every value here to Wildlife Resources Agency. Check the official regulations before you hunt.
1Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit required
2Possession limit is 3x daily bag except opening day (1x) and second day (2x)
3Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit required. Possession limit 3x daily bag.
4Opens at noon on Sept. 1. Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit required. No limit on Eurasian collared doves; doves not readily identifiable as Eurasian collared count as mourning dove toward daily bag/possession limits.
5First split; opens at noon on opening day only
6Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit required. No limit on Eurasian collared doves.
7Second split
8No day-of-week restriction noted for this segment
9No daily bag limit; no possession limit for crows. This segment not marked with *** (no Fri/Sat/Sun restriction).
10Third split
11No daily bag limit; no possession limit for crows. Not marked with *** so day restriction does not apply.
Spring 2027 turkey season
Checked October 16, 2026.
Official regulations
Tennessee Wildlife Resources AgencyZones, tags, bag limits and public-land rules.
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See the turkey hunting appOfficial regulations
Tennessee Wildlife Resources AgencyThe state sets the deer seasons, limits and tags. Check its current regulations before you go.
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See the deer hunting appOfficial regulations
Tennessee Wildlife Resources AgencyThe state sets the upland bird seasons, limits and tags. Check its current regulations before you go.
Log your upland bird hunts free in BlindBook.
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See the upland bird hunting appOfficial regulations
Restrictedper Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Tennessee Wildlife Resources AgencyThe state sets the feral hog seasons, limits and tags. Check its current regulations before you go.
Log your feral hog hunts free in BlindBook.
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See the feral hog hunting appSeason dates and bag limits are verified against official state wildlife agency publications and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Data shown is for the 2026-2027 season. This data was verified on September 27, 2026. Always confirm with the official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.