Chattanooga, TN – According to the state officials, the 1st of two Tennessee young sportsman deer hunts for the 2024-25 season is set to take place on the weekend of October 26-27. The event offers youth aged 6-16 the chance to participate using gun, muzzleloader, or archery equipment.
According to regulations, young sportsmen must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult who is 21 or older. The adult must remain close enough to take immediate control of the hunting device and follow the same fluorescent orange clothing regulations required for legal hunters. A single adult may supervise multiple young hunters.
Youth between the ages of 6 and 9 do not need a license or hunter’s education certification. Those aged 10-12 must either meet hunter education requirements or hold an apprentice license. In addition to these requirements, youth aged 13-15 need a junior hunting license, while 16-year-olds must possess the appropriate adult licenses.
Tennessee’s archery season began on September 28, and its first segment ends on October 25, the day before the young sportsman hunt.
The second archery-only segment runs from October 28 through November 8. Muzzleloader and archery season begins on November 9, and the statewide gun/muzzleloader/archery season opens on November 23, the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency encourages all hunters to obtain the 2024-25 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide for additional information and guidelines.