Small Game Hunting and Trapping

Squirrel Hunting with Dogs, It’s An Itzy Bitzy Squirrelly Kinda Show

Small Game Hunting Regulations

All hunting seasons are closed unless opened by specific Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission proclamations.

Possession limit is twice the daily bag limit, except for migratory game birds and except on opening day.

Dogs allowed for hunting all small game species, except on specific WMAs where indicated.

Small Game Season Dates

SPECIES	OPENING DATE	CLOSING DATE	DAILY BAG
Squirrel	Aug. 26, 2023	March 15, 2024	10
Spring Squirrel	May 11, 2024	June 9, 2024	10
Rabbit	Nov. 4, 2023	Feb. 29, 2024	5
Grouse	Oct. 14, 2023	Feb. 29, 2024	3
Quail*****	Nov. 4, 2023	Feb. 29, 2024	6
Beaver	year-round		None
Coyote	year-round		None
Groundhog	year-round		None
Striped Skunk	year-round		None
Armadillo	year-round		None
Fox	Nov. 17, 2023	Feb. 29, 2024	None
Mink	Nov. 17, 2023	Feb. 29, 2024	None
Muskrat	Nov. 17, 2023	Feb. 29, 2024	None
Otter*	Nov. 17, 2023	Feb. 29, 2024	None
Spotted Skunk	Nov. 17, 2023	Feb. 29, 2024	None
Weasel	Nov. 17, 2023	Feb. 29, 2024	None
Raccoon Private Lands Only	July 1, 2023, Sunset	Sept. 15, 2023, Sunrise	2
Raccoon Taking Season	Sept. 15, 2023, Sunset	March 15, 2024	4
Opossum Private Lands Only	July 1, 2023, Sunset	Sept. 15, 2023, Sunrise	2
Opossum Taking Season	Sept. 15, 2023, Sunset	March 15, 2024	4
Bobcat Private Lands Only **	Sept. 23, 2023	Nov. 16, 2023	1
Bobcat**	Nov. 17, 2023	Feb. 29, 2024	1
Bullfrog	year-round	Except for state lakes***	20
* All river otters harvested must be tagged with Tennessee U. S. CITES tags. Contact your regional TWRA office for instructions. Bobcat pelts must be tagged with Tennessee U.S. CITES tags before being exported from the U. S. Contact your regional TWRA office for instructions. * Bullfrog season is June 1-30 on TWRA managed lakes. Firearms are prohibited, but airguns are permitted. No WMA permit is required. **Bobcats may be harvested with firearms, muzzleloader, or archery during deer season including during the young sportsman deer hunts. See Season Summary *** Quail season is November 4–January 15 on wildlife management areas unless otherwise noted.

Raccoon and Opossum Hunting

Opossums can be taken during the raccoon hunting season. The night is defined as one 24-hour period beginning at sunset.

Private Land Season - Open sunset July 1 through sunrise Sept. 15, 2023. Bag limit is 2 per person per night. WMAs and all other public lands are closed during this period. Closed in Scott, Morgan, Roane, Rhea, Hamilton counties and all other Tennessee counties east of those counties.

Hunter Education Licensing

Trapping Regulations

When trapping on another's property, the trapper must carry on his or her person written permission from the landowner, and make a written report to the owner of any domestic animal caught and pay damages for those animals.

Furbearer species in Tennessee include:

Beaver, Coyote, Groundhog, Bobcat*, Fox**, Mink, Muskrat, Opossum, Otter***, Raccoon, Spotted Skunk, Striped Skunk, and Weasel.

*Bobcat pelts must be tagged with Tennessee U.S. CITES tags in order to be exported from the U.S. Contact your TWRA regional office for instructions.

**Exceptions to the statewide fox season are:

Benton - unlawful to take or kill red foxes

Dyer, Lauderdale, Smith, and Wilson - open year-round to hunting and trapping red and gray foxes

***All river otters harvested must be tagged by a harvester with Tennessee US CITES tags. Contact your TWRA regional office for instructions.

Trapping Season Dates

SPECIES	OPENING DATE	CLOSING DATE	DAILY BAG
Beaver	year-round		None
Coyote	year-round		None
Groundhog	year-round		None
Opossum	year-round		None
Striped Skunk	year-round		None
Raccoon	year-round		None
Fox	Nov. 17, 2023	Feb. 29, 2024	None
Mink	Nov. 17, 2023	Feb. 29, 2024	None
Muskrat	Nov. 17, 2023	Feb. 29, 2024	None
Otter*	Nov. 17, 2023	Feb. 29, 2024	None
Spotted Skunk	Nov. 17, 2023	Feb. 29, 2024	None
Weasel	Nov. 17, 2023	Feb. 29, 2024	None
Bobcat**	Nov. 17, 2023	Feb. 29, 2024	None
* All river otters harvested must be tagged with Tennessee U. S. CITES tags. Contact your regional TWRA office for instructions. Bobcat pelts must be tagged with Tennessee U.S. CITES tags before being exported from the U. S. Contact your regional TWRA office for instructions. * Bullfrog season is June 1-30 on TWRA managed lakes. Firearms are prohibited, but airguns are permitted. No WMA permit is required. **Bobcats may be harvested with firearms, muzzleloader, or archery during deer season including during the young sportsman deer hunts. See Season Summary *** Quail season is November 4–January 15 on wildlife management areas unless otherwise noted.

Hunter Education Licensing

Dog Training

General

Training of bird dogs and squirrel dogs is permitted year-round on private lands, during daylight hours only.
Training of rabbit dogs is permitted year-round on private lands day and night.
The chasing of foxes with hounds is permitted year-round, day and night.
A hunting license is required while training dogs except when a person is competing in recognized field trials.
When training on a WMA, a small game permit is required.
Refer to specific WMA listings for WMA dog training seasons.
See bear regulations for bear dog training.
The taking of animals during dog training is prohibited.

Raccoon Dog Training

Year-round except where regulated by Private Acts.

The following counties are regulated by Private Acts: DeKalb County is open for year-round training except in the portion lying south and west of State Hwy. 96 and U. S. Hwy. 70 where the training season will open 30 days prior to the hunting season. Refer to specific WMA listings for WMA raccoon dog training seasons. The taking of animals during dog training is prohibited.