1968 holds several memories for me. One of those memories belongs to the opening day of the Tennessee Whitetail Deer season that year. My aunt had just married and the man that she had picked out was already a hero in a twelve-year-old boy's mind. My new uncle had already allowed me to tag along with him on fantastic journeys into the woodlands of North West Tennessee. We had one mission. We were looking for Deer sign. 

Tennessee had only a short deer season back in those days and a hunter could only take one antlered deer per season. I remember the excitement of seeing my Uncle pulling into our driveway with a small eight-point buck strapped to the hood of his Volkswagen Beetle. Not many folks had trucks back then so ones everyday driver had to double as a hunting vehicle once deer season opened. 

My uncle had taken his trophy just a few minutes after sunrise that opening morning and said that the sad part was the realization that his hunting season was now over for the year with the tagging of his buck. 

Since only one deer per hunter per season was the limit, my uncle turned to hunting small game for the rest of the fall and guess who got to tag along. I looked up to my uncle who, at the time, was the greatest deer hunter I knew. 

Much has changed in Tennessee since that time in my childhood and the Whitetail Deer population has exploded to the degree that a hunter may now take both Bucks and Does in his or her quest to fill the freezer with venison. A very lengthy season with liberal limits helps to control the statewide deer herd as well as protect the animals from overcrowding in certain high population areas in our state. Hunters are a strategic and much-needed tool in the health of Tennessee’s deer herd. 

The Tennessee State Deer season starts in mid-August with the new velvet season and runs on and off through portions of January. 

Archery season, Black Powder season, and Rifle season are just a few of the opportunities available for the Tennessee Deer Hunter now and quota hunts allow for hunters to spend even more time in the woods while expanding those hunting opportunities. 

Tennessee is also blessed with thousands of acres of public ground which is open to hunters during open season dates. State Wildlife Areas called WMA’s, The Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, and Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area are just a few places that allow hunters access to great places to hunt in our state. 

Permits for hunting on these types of land carry special regulations and hunters should read and know the rules and regulations prior to going to hunt in any of the above-mentioned lands. 

All in all, the hunters in the State of Tennessee are blessed with an abundance of Whitetail Deer and opportunities to hunt.

The restocking and restoring programs that have been conducted by our state’s wildlife organization called the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency have been very successful over the past fifty years. Also, thank you to the hunters themselves, the future looks bright for years to come for our Tennessee Whitetail Deer population and the hunters who pursue the state's big game. 

Here are some tips for you: 

Plant food plots, nut bearing trees such as oak trees and even a few fruit trees never hurt hunting properties. 

Utilize trail cameras to enjoy watching your herd size grow and as a tool to know what deer are on your property. 

Even small properties can be managed for deer. 

Learn proper care of venison from the field to the freezer and beyond because cooking venison is not the same as cooking beef. 

Great items for the deer hunter

Moultrie A-40 Pro Camera

www.moultriefeeders.com

Seth McGinns Can Cooker

CanCooker, Inc. 925 W. 6th Street Fremont, NE 68025

(877) 844-2772

Whitetail Institute food plot products

www.whitetailinstitute.com