Following confirmation of Chronic Wasting Disease present in deer in Tennessee in late 2018, goals were established to keep CWD from spreading, to keep the number of diseased deer in the affected area to a minimum, and to reduce CWD rates. Specific regulations have been established to achieve science-based and data-driven goals.
The newly established CWD Unit hunting regulations aim to increase the deer harvest by empowering hunters to harvest more while targeting high-risk deer and allowing the agency to sample more deer to better understand the disease.
Data collected to date indicate bucks are twice as likely as does to have CWD. Older bucks are three times more likely to have CWD than younger bucks. Other research proves bucks have a much larger home range so the likelihood of bucks transporting CWD to new areas is higher. The harvest of bucks will help the most with accomplishing these goals; however, the harvest of does is also important since they also can spread the disease.
Earn-A-Buck regulation changes made to Unit CWD counties:
Tennessee’s antlered deer bag limit (2) did not change; therefore, it still applies to hunters hunting Unit CWD as well as the rest of the state.
Only hunters hunting in Unit CWD counties may earn additional bucks. Unit CWD hunters may earn up to two bucks for harvest, in addition to the statewide antler deer bag limit of two.
Earned bucks are received by harvesting two Unit CWD antlerless deer, checking them in, submitting them for CWD testing, and being notified by TWRA. Earn-A-Buck will increase the number of deer (does and bucks) harvested and the numbers of deer tested for CWD.
Replacement Bucks regulation changes:
Unit CWD hunters will receive a replacement buck if they harvest a CWD-positive buck and the lab result is confirmed by TWRA. There is no limit on the number of replacement bucks.
Replacement bucks will encourage hunters to continue hunting and harvesting and be an added incentive for hunters to have their deer tested for CWD.
The 3-day August hunt now allows the use of muzzleloaders, in addition to archery, and applies to most public lands (Presidents Island in Shelby County is excluded).
Muzzleloader season will begin on October 28 in Unit CWD; gun season begins November 9 in Unit CWD.
Antlered harvest allowed during the January 5-day private lands hunt (traditionally antlerless only). Mandatory physical check stations on 2-3 and Nov. 9-10 for Unit CWD counties except Hardeman and Fayette.
The CWD hunting regulations only apply to CWD positive counties of Fayette, Hardeman and Madison and CWD high-risk counties of Chester, Haywood, McNairy, Shelby and Tipton. Carcass export and wildlife feeding restrictions remain in place for Unit CWD.
For more information on CWD click here.