Tennessee Archery Deer Season Opens Sept. 26 Near Middleton
The Tennessee archery deer season opens this Saturday, Sept. 26, and bowhunters around Middleton and the rest of Hardeman County will be among the first in the region to get into the woods this fall. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) announced that the state’s archery-only white-tailed deer season and its fall turkey season both open the same morning.
For hunters who live along the Mississippi-Tennessee line in Walnut, Falkner and northern Tippah County, the Tennessee opener comes several days ahead of Mississippi’s own archery season, which traditionally begins in early October. Anyone planning to cross the state line to hunt should make sure they hold the correct Tennessee licenses and permits before heading out.
Tennessee archery deer season dates for 2026
According to TWRA, the early archery deer season is split into two parts this year:
- Sept. 26 through Oct. 30 – archery-only deer hunting statewide
- Nov. 2 through Nov. 6 – an additional archery segment that follows the Young Sportsman weekend
The break between the two segments makes room for the youth hunt, which gives young hunters their own weekend in the field.
Fall turkey season also opens Saturday
Turkey hunters get their chance on the same date. TWRA lists the following fall turkey seasons:
- Archery: Sept. 26 through Oct. 30, and Nov. 2 through Nov. 6
- Shotgun/archery: Oct. 17 through Oct. 30
Fall turkey season is open in every Tennessee county except Crockett, Dyer, Giles, Haywood, Lake, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lincoln, Shelby, Tipton and Wayne. Hardeman County, home to Middleton, is not on the closed list, so fall turkey hunting is allowed there under the statewide rules.
Licenses, rules and landowner permission
TWRA reminds hunters that they must carry the appropriate licenses and permits and that specific regulations apply. The agency points hunters to the 2026-27 Tennessee Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Guide, which spells out bag limits, unit rules and area-specific regulations.
The guide is available three ways:
- Wherever Tennessee hunting and fishing licenses are sold
- Online at tnwildlife.org
- Through the TWRA On the Go mobile app
More than 100 wildlife management areas and refuges across Tennessee open at various times for hunting, and each has its own rules listed in the guide. Private land is also open to hunting, but TWRA stresses that hunters must get permission from the landowner before going onto private property.
Tips for a safe start to the season
With hot, dry weather lingering across the Mid-South this month, early-season hunters should plan for heat, carry plenty of water and let someone know where they will be hunting. Hunters using tree stands should wear a full-body safety harness and use a haul line to lift bows and gear rather than climbing with them.
Early season is also a good time to check trail cameras, confirm property boundaries and review any changes in the new regulations guide before the busier gun seasons arrive later in the fall.
For more community news from the Middleton area, see our story on the Middleton fall festival season at Porters Creek and the latest Hardeman County Sheriff’s monthly report.
Source: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
