Tennessee Deer Hunting 2012

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TN DEER SEASON 2024-2025
By Steve McCadams

BOW SEASON BEGINS

Bow hunters across Tennessee have been anxiously awaiting the opening of the statewide archery season. Their wait is over as season opens Saturday.
What do bow hunters and fishermen have in common right now? Both are yearning for cooler days and neither would object to a little rainfall.
Meanwhile, deer numbers seem to look pretty good across Henry County and surrounding counties. Sportsmen seem to unofficially agree the numbers are good and this summer observations of does accompanied by twin fawns seem to be up.
Wise are the bow hunters who have been tuning up and practicing their aim as season approaches. Each year there’s always a few hunters who take to the woods and crawl up in their stands without logging enough practice time with their equipment.
Fine tuning all the variables in bow hunting cannot be overemphasized say experienced hunters who know the ramifications of neglect. Best to do a lot of shooting at a range or field with a full bodied decoy to help hone your skills and correct the errors on range distance.
It’s boils down to a lot of common sense but it’s always a good idea to have your bow tuned up by a professional before you pull that string on the first hunting trip of fall.
For detailed dates of archery season across Tennessee refer to page 67 in the TWRA Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Guide.

HENRY COUNTY 3RD IN DEER HARVEST
2023-2024

Tennessee’s statewide deer harvest exceeded 150,000 deer this year! Total numbers have increased and trickled in on Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s website since the final two days of the special Young Sportsman’s Deer hunt brought the official season to an end.
Although unofficial, it appears hunters harvested over 150, 174 deer among the state’s 95 counties.
Here in Henry County hunters accounted for 3,426 this year, which ranked third in the state. It was indeed a pretty good year overall for area hunters.
Taking the top spot this year in Tennessee was Giles County. Deer hunters there chalked up 3,837 this season. Sumner was second with a total harvest of 3,484.
This year there were eight counties that harvest over 3,000 deer. Members of the elite list were Giles, Sumner, Henry Maury, Franklin, Montgomery, Lawrence and Lincoln.
Locally, neighboring counties did quite well. Benton had 1,456, followed by Carroll 2,942, Stewart 2,207, and Weakley 2,819.
Also up this year was the total number of deer taken to the Henry County Deputies for the Hungry Program. This year 177 deer were taken to HCSD compared to 99 last year. The meat is processed by inmates and distributed each year to needy families throughout the county.

STATEWIDE DEER HARVEST EXCEEDS 159,000…HENRY COUNTY TOTALS 3,213

Last Sunday saw the Volunteer State’s deer season draw to a close. After the final day of the second Young Sportsman’s Deer Hunt last weekend the curtail fell for deer hunters in the 2022-2023 season that began way back on September 24.

It appears some nine counties across the state had deer harvest total that exceeded the 3,000 mark. And, there were almost ten as neighboring Carroll wound up with 2,999!

Leading the statewide harvest among the state’s 95 counties was Giles. Hunters there checked in a whopping 4,275 deer this year.

Meanwhile, counties with harvest figures exceeding 3,000 were Henry (3,213), Franklin (3,217), Giles (4,275), Lawrence (3,914), Lincoln (3,074), Maury (3,555), Montgomery (3,849), Sumner (3,542) and Wayne (3,205).

The unofficial statewide harvest stood at 159,919 this season.

YOUNG SPORTSMAN DEER HUNT BRINGS SEASON’S END 21-2022

Deer season is about over in Tennessee unless you’re a youngster. Kids falling in the age bracket of 6-16 years of age get another crack at a special weekend youth hunt Saturday and Sunday.

This is the finale for Volunteer State deer hunters who started the season off way back on the last Saturday of September when archery season kicked things off.

The last five days hunters had an opportunity to hunt private lands only and that expires today. Last Sunday saw the curtain fall on the regular gun, muzzleloader and archery season.

At midweek Henry County hunters had checked in a total of 2,219 deer. No doubt that number will swell after this weekend’s Young Sportsmen Deer Hunt.

Meanwhile, the statewide harvest on deer stood at just over 127,000 as of midweek. Giles County has maintained its lead among the state’s 95 counties for several consecutive weeks as hunters there have checked in 3,332 this year.

Totals for neighboring counties showed Benton with 1,425; Carroll at 2,270; Stewart with 2,093; Weakley showing 1,869.

And so it is that a popular season fades away. Most deer hunters hate to see season end. They enjoy the anticipation of an early morning wake-up call and going through the motions of heading outdoors just before dawn’s final yawn.

Watching the fields and woods wake up on a frosty morning from the confines of a deer stand is special to many. Sometimes the quiet and cold mornings are shared with a youngster, family member or perhaps just a friend.

Waiting on that big buck to head into view is thrilling. Buck fever has been known to take over many sporting moments for both young and old.

Yet most deer hunters will tell you there’s a lot more to the deer season than just taking a shot with your rifle, muzzleloader or bow. It’s all the things that go with it that help comprise a joyful moment in the great outdoors.

Sometimes it’s a flock of turkeys yelping as they pass beneath the deer stand without any idea you were there. Seeing and watching the wildlife up close and personal adds another dimension to the hunt.

Perhaps an allusive coyote who keeps his distance while trying to figure out what’s up. He senses something is different but can’t quite figure it out. He plays the card of patience, using his wits and wisdom to attempt to make you move first and reveal your whereabouts.

Same as the wise old buck who listens closely to any irregular noise or glimpse of any unusual motion that ought not be there. He didn’t get that majestic rack by being stupid. The years in the wild have honed his senses.

If you’re lucky sometimes a covey of quail can stroll by and ruffle a leaf or two as they pilfer for food. Maybe a rabbit or two dancing at the edge of the thicket while all the time watching for a darting hawk or sly fox to pose a threat to his peaceful morning stroll.

A day in the deer stand is bonding with someone special who has the patience and experience to lead by example. Everything from gun safety to just understanding nature and passing it on in response to endless questions from a youngster with an inquiring mind.

There will be success stories of big bucks taken if the hunters pays his dues and logs the time and effort. It may take long hours of planting food plots, erecting stands long before season opens and then passing up shots waiting on bigger bucks to appear.

It’s a season that has many dimensions to it. That’s why sportsmen hate to see the curtain fall.

Who knows what next fall will bring? Or who will still be here. Will that big buck make it another year to sport an even bigger rack to go with his added wisdom.

Will Chronic Wasting Disease change the entire deer picture to the extent seasons will never be the same?

A lot of questions and concerns enter the minds of deer hunters as the season draws to a close.

Tomorrows aren’t guaranteed to anyone. Quiet times in the deer stand sometimes help tell a story without having to say anything at all.

RECENT MEETING CASTS DARK CLOUD FOR DEER HUNTERS

After last week’s meeting by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency at Henry County Fairgrounds hunters and wildlife enthusiasts are better informed about the ramifications of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in the state’s herd but most in the crowd now find themselves in a deer dilemma.

Many in attendance gained a batter understanding and perception of what this mysterious disease is about.

Said one hunter at the conclusion of the presentation: “we’re sick but the doctor can’t do anything for us!”

A crowd of some 125 people attended, soaking up information presented by Dan Grove, a veterinarian and wildlife health specialist working with both TWRA and UT Extension Service. Also presenting was Jeremy Dennison, CWD Field Coordinator with TWRA.

If those attending came to the event hoping to hear some good news of progress or cures from the front lines of the war on CWD they left disappointed. What they learned is that CWD is a formidable opponent to the future of deer hunting here in Tennessee and Henry County.

Grove provided a pictorial presentation supported by graphs and several years of data giving attendees some history of the disease that first surfaced in western states in the 1960’s but was first discovered in Tennessee in 2018.

In summary, Grove says:

(1) CWD is a significant threat to the state’s white-tail deer herd (2) TWRA has the goal of keeping CWD from spreading and keeping the number of diseased deer in areas to a minimum and reducing disease rates where possible.

(3) Biologists want to increase the harvest in affected counties while the agency increases its sampling as it attempts to better understand the disease (4) bucks are twice more likely than does to have CWD and older bucks are three times more likely to have it than younger ones (5) CWD isn’t known to affect cattle, horses, sheep or goats (6) Long term effects on the state’s herd are unknown (7) CWD is 100 percent fatal…once deer have it they are unable to breed and die within 18 months. In the early stages cosmetic signs are thin hair, drooling, walking in circles and allowing humans to approach them.

(8) It has never been known to infect humans (9) It’s a prion type disease brought on by abnormal, pathogenic agents that throw off the balance of proteins especially in the brain of deer, lymphatic system, etc… (10) CWD management is not a one-man band. It is a partnership between TWRA, partners, hunters, landowners, and you. Your engagement and support is needed. Please, harvest more deer in Unit CWD. Abide by carcass transportation and feeding restrictions in CWD-positive and high-risk counties.

Meanwhile, there’s a lot of uncertainty among the ranks of hunters as to the future of deer hunting not only here in Henry County but across the state.

There’s some unknowns as to how to address and stop CWD. There are some knowns too and that information is quite disturbing.

Henry County has been one of the top counties in the state as to harvest numbers for decades. From leases to hunters by landowners and farmers to the tourism generated by legions of hunters who travel here for the excellent deer hunting opportunities; there’s insecurity as to what lies ahead.

Same goes for the sporting goods industry both locally and statewide. Meanwhile, hunters can help their own cause by following TWRA guidelines.

For additional information and more details of CWD the agency has established a website: CWDinTennessee.com that will provide specifics of transportation and the overall scenario of the situation at hand.

Stay tuned as the future has a lot of chapters ahead that haven’t been written on this saga. An uncertain future awaits deer hunting wherever this ugly disease shows up!

DEER HARVEST UPDATE
2020-2021

Volunteer State deer hunters have really been racking up this past week. The statewide harvest stood at 102,724 at midweek, crossing the 100,000 mark on Monday on the data base of Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Still the leader among the state’s 95 counties is Montgomery at 2,417. However, Giles County is hot on their heels with 2,394.

Locally, Henry County hunters have checked in 1,960. For the first time this season all five area counties have now harvested over the four digit mark as Benton has 1,125, Carroll 1,936, Weakley 1,605 and Stewart 1,857.

Area hunters have taken some huge bucks these last two weeks too. Several trophy bucks have been taken both in Henry County and the surrounding area.

The regular gun/muzzleloader/archery season runs through January 3. Then, a Private Lands Only hunt will be held
Jan 4-8.

STATE DEER HARVEST ECLIPSES 134,000
2019-2020 Season

Tennessee deer hunters harvested just over 134,000 deer this year according to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s data base. Season ended last Sunday at the culmination of the two-day Young Sportsmen’s Deer Hunt.

A breakdown of the counties unofficially shows Giles taking the top spot as hunters there checked in 1,721 this year.

Henry County hunters had another good year checking in 1,372 deer and ranked seventh among the state’s 95 counties.

The tally for the season was 134.090 according to the agency’s website.

CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE TESTING SUCCESSFUL

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency announced its initial chronic wasting disease (CWD) response efforts were successful in the Agency sampling more than 2,700 deer for the disease in the CWD Management Zone with the assistance of hunters.

“Thanks to the cooperation of hunters and efforts by Agency staff, we exceeded our sampling goals for the CWD Management Zone,” said Chuck Yoest, CWD Coordinator. “The information gathered from these efforts is critical to developing a successful long-term CWD management plan.”

The CWD Management Zone, established in December, has grown to include eight southwest Tennessee counties. The counties are Chester, Fayette, Hardeman, Haywood, Madison, McNairy, Shelby, and Tipton. Tipton County was just added this week upon confirmation of a CWD positive deer harvested near its border in the adjacent Fayette County.

Statewide, TWRA was able to obtain samples from almost 5,400 deer during the 2018-19 deer hunting seasons. All CWD positives found were harvested in Fayette, Hardeman, and Madison counties.

It will take until later in February for all the results from the samples to be received by the TWRA. Once the results are received and analyzed, final development of the long-term CWD management plan will be completed.

DEER HARVEST/CWD UPDATE

The statewide deer harvest stood at 145,711 this week and while the regular season ended January 13, 2019 with the last Youth Deer Hunt there’s still change underway as season has been extended in Fayette and Hardeman counties due to the discovery of deer that tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease.

Season has been extended in those counties until January 31. So, that will alter the statewide harvest somewhat by the end of the month.

Henry County appears to be in third place for the statewide harvest this year as hunters here checked in a total of 3,377.

Leading the state was Giles County where hunters checked in 3,638. Wayne County placed second with 3,528.

An update on the status of chronic wasting disease (CWD) was presented during the first meeting of the

wildlife commission of 2019 which concluded recently at the Duck Unlimited national headquarters in Memphis.

Chuck Yoest, CWD coordinator for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, made a presentation on the agency’s chronic wasting disease response. Yoest informed the commission the agency has sampled more than 4,800 deer this season in Tennessee. Also, he shared that 62 samples from Hardeman and Fayette counties have been confirmed CWD positive.

The agency anticipates more positive CWD results from these areas since it is placing a heavy emphasis on sampling there according to its response plan. Yoest also said that public meeting held in Bolivar earlier in January in regard to CWD, had an attendance of about 400.

WILDLIFE COMMISSION RESPONDS TO CWD THREAT

The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission has made regulatory changes in response to the confirmation of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer in Fayette and Hardeman counties. The changes came at a special called meeting of the TFWC on Thursday (Dec. 20) at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency headquarters.

The commission voted to establish a CWD management zone which currently includes Fayette, Hardeman, and McNairy counties. The commission took action to create deer carcass exportation restrictions and a restriction on feeding wildlife within the high risk area of the CWD management zone, exceptions apply. The high risk area of the CWD management zone includes counties within a 10-mile radius of the location of a confirmed CWD positive deer.

Another regulation change for the CWD management zone is the creation of a new deer hunting season. An archery/muzzleloader/gun deer season was established there for Jan. 7-31, 2019. The bag limit for the season is one antlered deer and unlimited for antlerless deer. All wildlife management areas and other public land on which deer hunting activities are permitted within the three counties will be open during this newly-established season.

On or after Dec. 29, 2018, all hunters harvesting deer on weekends (Saturday-Sunday) are required to check the deer in at a physical check station. The TWRA will publish the locations of these stations on its website (www.tnwildlife.org).

The TWRA is continuing its efforts of targeted sampling for CWD outside of the CWD management zone. Emphasis will be placed on those counties surrounding the CWD management zone.

With the positive confirmation, Tennessee became the 26th state to have documented CWD. There have also been three Canadian provinces to have CWD.

The TWRA enacted the CWD Response Plan last week following the preliminary positive detection. The response involves a coordinated effort between TWRA, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, and other partners.

Although CWD has no known risk to the health of humans or livestock, it is a contagious and deadly neurological disorder that affects members of the deer family. It is transmitted through animal-to-animal contact, animal contact with a contaminated environment, and with contaminated feed or water sources. It is the most significant threat to the deer population nationwide, as it is 100 percent fatal to deer and elk. Wildlife agencies across the country are working to inform the public about CWD, its deadly results and possible impacts to economies.

More information about CWD, including cervid import restrictions and videos that explain how to properly dress an animal before transporting it, can be found on TWRA’s website at www.tnwildlife.org. (https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/twra/hunting/cwd.html/)
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HENRY COUNTY SECOND STATEWIDE 2017-18 HARVEST DOWN FROM LAST YEAR

Tennessee’s deer season officially ended Sunday afternoon when the curtain fell on the second and final youth hunt. It’s over now for the Volunteer State until the archery season returns on the traditional fourth Saturday in September to kick things off next fall.

Henry County hunters had another good year, ranking second in the statewide total harvest among the state’s 95 counties. The unofficial total harvest from Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency shows hunters here checked in 3,691 deer this season. Last year’s total was a bit higher at 3,839.

Odds are the total for both Henry County and statewide would be been a bit higher had severe weather and blizzard conditions not descended during the last weekend of the youth hunt and at the end of the antlerless week which allow five days on private lands.

Statewide Volunteer State deer hunters checked in 143,881 this season. That’s also down compared to last year’s total of 157,801.

Leading the state this year was Fayette County where hunters harvested 4,028 to command the top spot.

Neighboring counties that make the top 15 ranking were Carroll which placed seventh with 3,058. Stewart County ranked 11^th with 2,745 followed by Weakley in 15^th place with 2,536.

Just why the local and statewide harvest was down has hunters voicing opinions. Some say they just saw less deer this year around this area. Several veteran hunters reported fewer deer sightings while others say they saw plenty but took fewer small bucks in hopes of managing their acreage for bigger deer in the future.

Others feel there are just less deer in the county and region. A few feel the liberal doe limited enacted several years ago may have diminished the herd, a scenario that may well have been the object of the overall management plan by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Factors like blue-tongue in some middle and east Tennessee counties could well have hurt the deer numbers for hunters in some places.

Weather is always a factor too and the last week or so wasn’t friendly to most hunters nor was the first full week of January at the end of the regular gun season when frigid temperatures likely curtailed hunting activity for some.

Still, it was a pretty good season overall for most. Practically every deer hunter was able to put some meat in the freezer even if they didn’t bag that trophy buck of their dreams this year.

It will be interesting to hear from Henry County deer hunters as to their overall take on the season just passed. How about it? Do you think the buck limit or doe limits need adjusting? Season dates need changing?

If you have an idea TWRA is seeking comments up until February 15 so now is the time to formulate your thoughts and sent them to the agency.

Comments may be submitted by mail to: 2018-19 Hunting Season Comments, TWRA, Wildlife and Forestry Division, P.O. Box 40747, Nashville, TN 37204 or emailed TWRA.HuntingComments@tn.gov.

HENRY COUNTY THIRD STATEWIDE IN DEER HARVEST 2016-17

Tennessee’s deer season ended last Sunday when the last of two special youth hunts saw the curtain fall. Overall it was a pretty successful season for local hunters and those statewide as well.

Unofficial total from Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency stood at 157,227 for the year. Locally, hunters in Henry County checked in 3,823 since the archery season opened back on the fourth Saturday in September.

Henry County’s total ranked third in the statewide harvest among the state’s ninety-five counties.

Top county for the year in Tennessee was Fayette where hunters harvested 4,233 deer. Second place went to Giles County as hunters there checked in 3,925.

One of the highlights of the season was a buck harvested in Sumner County during the a muzzleloader season, has completed a step toward becoming a world record for a non-typical deer rack.

Boone and Crockett officials spent several hours on January 9 scoring the 47-point buck tabbed the “Tennessee Tucker Buck” as the Nashville headquarters of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The buck was harvested by 26-year old Gallatin resident Stephen Tucker.

The deer rack scored 312 3/8 in the Boone and Crockett tabulation. The tabulation was held after 60 days had passed since the original “wet” score indicated that the buck was a potential world record. As it stands, the score will break previous mark of 307 5/8.

Here’s hoping you had a good season even if you didn’t take a trophy buck!

HENRY SECOND IN STATEWIDE DEER HARVEST 2015-2016

The Volunteer State’s deer season came to an end last Sunday with the culmination of the final weekend youth deer hunt where kids ages 6-16 had the last shot.

According to unofficial figures from Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency the statewide deer harvest stands at 167,240 for the 2015-2016 season total.

Henry County deer hunters had another good year and were leading the state’s 95 counties for a few weeks in the latter part of the season but lost the top spot ranking to Giles County by only 116. Hunters here checked in 4,616 but Giles was tops with 4,732.

Neighboring counties had the following totals for the year: Benton 2,228; Carroll 3,334; Stewart 3,043; Weakley 2,956.

Steve McCadams is a professional hunting and fishing guide here in the Paris Landing area. He has also contributed many outdoor oriented articles to various national publications.

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