Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) announces that Tennessee’s 2022 spring turkey hunting season is set to open in most areas of the state on Saturday, April 2nd.
In an effort to help the turkey population in specific areas, the season starts April 16th in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) unit (consisting of Dyer County, Lake County, Lauderdale County, Shelby County, and Tipton County) and in Giles County, Lawrence County, Lincoln County, and Wayne County in Middle Tennessee. The Young Sportsman Hunt is April 9th-10th in these counties. The season concludes May 15th in all areas of the state.
This will be the third spring turkey season to “Tag Before You Drag” where hunters tag their big game animal in the field prior to moving. Hunters can use the TWRA on the Go app to simply E-tag and report their harvest in the field in one easy step, with or without cell phone service, prior to moving.
If you do not have a phone, attach one of the temporary transportations tags that printed at the bottom of your license this year and you have until midnight on the same day of the harvest (or before leaving the state) to check in your harvest online at GoOutdoorsTennessee.com or at one of several manned check stations. Temporary transportation tags can also be obtained by logging in at GoOutdoorsTennessee.com.
One bearded turkey is allowed per day, not to exceed the spring season limit of three bearded turkeys (two birds in the MAV unit).
A hunting and fishing combination (Type 001), plus a supplemental big game license, or a sportsman license is required. To purchase a license online, go to www.gooutdoorstennessee.com
More information on the 2022 spring turkey season can be found in the 2021-22 Tennessee Hunting & Trapping Guide. The guide is online at www.tnwildlife.org and available at TWRA offices and license agents.
Hunting hours are 30 minutes prior to legal sunrise until legal sunset (times found based on your location in the TWRA On the Go app).
Legal hunting equipment includes shotguns using ammunition loaded with No. 4 shot or smaller, longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, and crossbows.
Firearms and archery equipment may have sighting devices, except those devices utilizing an artificial light capable of locating wildlife.
