Saturday marks the opening day of Tennessee’s spring turkey hunting season, which runs through May 11. The statewide bag limit is one bearded turkey per day, not to exceed four per season.
All Tennessee counties are open to wild turkey hunting including Wildlife Management Area’s and refuges unless specifically prohibited.
Legal hunting equipment includes shotguns using ammunition loaded with No. 4 shot or smaller and there is no restriction for the number of rounds in the magazine. Other permissible equipment includes longbows, recurve bows, compound bows and other bows drawn or held by a mechanical device.
Firearms and archery equipment may be equipped with sighting devices except those devices utilizing an artificial light capable of locating wildlife. Night vision scopes are illegal. The hunting hours are 30 minutes before legal sunrise to legal sunset (unless otherwise listed).
Prohibited acts include hunting with the aid of bait, use or possession of electronic calls, use of live decoys, and the possession of rifles or handguns.
A licensed turkey hunter, who has filled his or her bag limit or does not possess a valid permit for a quota hunt, may accompany another turkey hunter who has a valid permit and assist them in calling, but may not possess a firearm or bow.
Information on the spring turkey hunting season is available in the 2013 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide. It is available at all license agents, TWRA regional offices in Jackson, Nashville, Crossville, and Morristown or on the TWRA website at www.tnwildlife.org.