Small Game Hunting and Trapping

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

The 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. 

General Hunting Regulations apply.

Opossum can be taken during the raccoon hunting season. For purposes of determination of bag limit, night is defined as one 24-hour period commencing at sunset.

Private Land Season - Open sunset July 1, 2025 through sunrise Sept. 19, 2025. 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.

 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.

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.
• Before any person may train dogs or participate in a sanctioned field trial on a Wildlife Management Area or Refuge, they must possess a WMA Permit.  Persons under sixteen (16) years of age hunting small game or waterfowl are excluded.  
• 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.