Small Game Hunting and Trapping

2023-24 Hunting Guide
Squirrel Hunting with Dogs, It’s An Itzy Bitzy Squirrelly Kinda Show

Small Game and Furbearer Hunting Season Dates & Regulations


youth-squirrel-001

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.

 Season Dates 

SPECIES

OPENING DATE

CLOSING DATE

DAILY BAG

Squirrel

Aug. 23, 2025

March 15, 2026

10

Spring Squirrel 2026

May 9, 2026

June 14, 2026

10

Rabbit

Nov. 1, 2025

Feb. 28, 2026

5

Grouse

Oct. 11, 2025

Feb. 28, 2026

3

Quail*

Nov. 1, 2025

Feb. 28, 2026

6

Beaver

year-round

 

None

Coyote

year-round

 

None

Coyote Night Season

Sunset June 7, 2025

Sunset Jan. 17, 2026

Sunset Jun. 6, 2026

Sunrise Aug. 10, 2025

Sunset Mar. 8, 2026

Aug. 9, 2026

None

Groundhog

year-round

 

None

Striped Skunk

year-round

 

None

Armadillo

year-round

 

None

Fox

Nov. 21, 2025

Feb. 28, 2026

None

Mink

Nov. 21, 2025

Feb. 28, 2026

None

Muskrat

Nov. 21, 2025

Feb. 28, 2026

None

Otter**

Nov. 21, 2025

Feb. 28, 2026

None

Least Weasel

Nov. 21, 2025

Feb. 28, 2026

None

Raccoon Private Lands Only

Sunset July 1, 2025

Sunrise Sept. 19, 2026

2

Raccoon Taking Season

Sunset Sept. 19, 2025

Sunrise Mar. 15, 2026

4

Opossum Private Lands Only

Sunset July 1, 2025

Sunrise Sept. 19, 2026

2

Opossum Taking Season

Sunset Sept. 19, 2025

Sunrise Mar. 15, 2026

4

Bobcat *** Private Lands Only****

Sept. 27, 2025

Nov. 20, 2026

1

Bobcat*** Statewide

Nov. 21, 2025

Feb. 28, 2026

1

Bobcat*** Night Only

Sunset June 7, 2025

Sunset Jan. 17, 2026

Sunset Jun. 6, 2026

Sunrise Aug. 10, 2025

Sunset Mar. 8, 2026

Aug. 9, 2026

1x night

Bullfrog

year-round

Except state lakes*****

20

* Quail season is November 1, 2025 – January 15, 2026 on wildlife management areas unless otherwise noted.

** 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.

**** Bobcats may be harvested with firearms, muzzleloader, or archery during deer season including during the young sportsman deer hunts. Weapons should match the open deer season weapon.

***** Bullfrog season is June 1–30 on TWRA-managed lakes. Firearms are prohibited, but airguns are permitted. No WMA permit is required.

Trapping Season Dates & 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. 21, 2025

Feb. 28, 2026

None

Mink

Nov. 21, 2025

Feb. 28, 2026

None

Muskrat

Nov. 21, 2025

Feb. 28, 2026

None

Otter*

Nov. 21, 2025

Feb. 28, 2026

None

Least Weasel

Nov. 21, 2025

Feb. 28, 2026

None

Bobcat**

Nov. 21, 2025

Feb. 28, 2026

Day - 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.

Dog Training


couple-hunting

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.

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.