Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Black Bear Hunting Seasons and Regulations
The limit on bear for any person participating in statewide or Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) hunts or both shall not exceed one bear per calendar year.
Cubs or female bears with cubs at side may not be taken at any time. A cub is defined as a bear weighing 75 lbs or less.
All bears must be checked out at an official bear checking station designated by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). Bears may be whole or field dressed but must weigh 75 pounds or greater when checked in.
The reproductive (sex) organs must remain attached to each bear harvested until the bear has been officially checked out at an official bear checking station.
70-4-201. Possession of or traffic in protected wildlife illegal - Exception - Penalty
a) It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation, any restaurant, club, or hotel in this state to barter, sell, transfer or offer for sale, or to purchase, or offer to purchase, any of the wildlife except as provided within this title or in rules and regulations promulgated by the commission.
(b) Each unlawful sale, purchase, offer for sale or purchase, transfer, or possession with the intent to sell, barter or transfer for any consideration of a wild animal or wild bird, wild fowl or game fish, or part thereof, is a separate offense.
(c) Any person hiring another to kill or capture wildlife and receiving the wildlife is deemed to be buying the wildlife and is subject to the penalties of this title. Officers of the wildlife resources agency or persons specially employed or designated by the executive director or by the United States fish and wildlife service may capture, buy, sell, or offer to capture, buy or sell wild birds or wild animals, or parts thereof, for the sole purpose of obtaining evidence of violation of this title. The carcass of a lawful possession limit of opossum, raccoon or beaver may be bought, sold or shipped for sale during the open hunting or trapping season.
d) A violation of this section is a Class A misdemeanor; except that any violation of this section involving wildlife valued at five hundred ($500) dollars or more is a Class E felony.
1660-1-17-.01 GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR COMMERCIAL USE
(1) Definitions
(a) Native wildlife is defined as those species which occur naturally in the wild within the geographic boundaries of Tennessee, and whose presence is the result of those species ' natural biology, or approved stocking by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission.
(b) Non-native wildlife is defined as those species not classified as native.
(2) Endangered and Threaten Species. The commercial use of any State or Federally endangered species is prohibited. The commercial use of State and Federally threaten species and those species deemed in need of management are permitted only when such species are legally taken for the purpose of sale in the State or origin as provided in T.C.A. 70-8-109.
(3) Finished Products and Parts, Other Than Meat, That May be Bought and Sold.
(a) Finished products and parts of non-native species legally obtained in the State of origin. No parts of black bear (Ursus americanus) taken in Tennessee may be bought or sold. Individuals may obtain legally possessed bear parts from other States, which allow the sale of such parts through mail order purchases or direct purchases which take place outside the boundaries of Tennessee. Any individual possessing parts of bear provided for in this exception must maintain records of legal purchase. No bear parts, including meat, possessed under this exception may be resold within the boundaries of Tennessee.
Prohibited Acts
Hunting private property without landowners permission.
Hunting prohibited over a site where bait has been placed to feed or attract wildlife unless the bait has been removed at least 10 days prior to hunting.
It is illegal to hunt, shoot at, chase, or kill any wild animal, wild bird, or wildfowl from a public road right-of-way, or from any motorized vehicle, or to shoot any firearms across or from any public road or vehicle.
Bear Dog Training Season
Cocke, Greene, and Sevier - private land and Cherokee WMA in these counties Open Sep. 4-17. No bears may be taken. No weapons may be possessed. Daylight hours only.
Blount, Carter, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, Washington, - private land only in these counties - Open Sep. 4-17. No bears may be taken. No weapons may be possessed. Daylight hours only.
Bear Reserves
Wild boar hunting with dogs and bear hunting are not permitted in bear reserves unless a special exception is provided by proclamation. Feral hog season is closed during bear season.
2007 Bear Hunting Seasons |
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Dogs Permitted (G/M/A) |
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County |
Sep. 24-Sep. 30 |
Oct. 8- Oct. 9 |
Oct. 20-Oct. 21 |
Nov. 12-Nov. 15 |
Nov. 29-Dec.12 |
Blount |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
Carter |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
Cocke (north of I-40 |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
Cocke (south of I-40) |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
Greene |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
Johnson |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
Monroe |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
Polk (north of Hwy. 64) |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
Sevier |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
Sullivan |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
Unicoi |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
Washington |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
No Dogs Permitted |
|||||
x |
Oct. 13-26 (Archery Only) |
Nov. 22-25 (G/M/A) |
|||
Blount |
x |
x |
|||
Carter |
x |
x |
|||
Cocke |
x |
x |
|||
Cocke (south of I-40) |
x |
x |
|||
Greene |
x |
x |
|||
Johnson |
x |
x |
|||
Monroe |
x |
x |
|||
Polk (north of Hwy. 64) |
x |
x |
|||
Sevier |
x |
x |
|||
Sullivan |
x |
x |
|||
Unicoi |
x |
x |
|||
Washington |
x |
x |
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