Tennessee waterfowl laws

Official sources used on this page (all checked Oct 22, 2026)

• [TN-1] TWRA 2026-27 Tennessee Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Guide (PDF): https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/twra/documents/guide/TWRA-TN-Hunting-Guide.pdf checked Oct 22, 2026
• [TN-2] TWRA Waterfowl and Migratory Birds page: https://www.tn.gov/twra/hunting/migratory-birds.html checked Oct 22, 2026
• [TN-3] TWRA Public Land Duck Hunting: https://www.tn.gov/twra/hunting/migratory-birds/public-land-duck-hunting.html checked Oct 22, 2026
• [AR-3] AGFC Code H1.03, Tennessee–Arkansas Reciprocal License Agreement (PDF): https://agfc-omnibus.s3.amazonaws.com/eregs/regulation_pdfs/large/agfc_regulation_H1.03_large.pdf checked Oct 22, 2026
• [FED-1] 50 CFR Part 20 (eCFR, current through Oct 20, 2026): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-20 checked Oct 22, 2026
• [FED-2] USFWS Federal Duck Stamp: https://www.fws.gov/program/federal-duck-stamp checked Oct 22, 2026

Page numbers below are the guide's printed page numbers.

1. What you need to carry (licenses, stamps, permits)

Residents 16–64

• Hunting license: a Combo Hunt/Fish license ($33) plus the Waterfowl Supplemental ($37). [TN-1 p.8] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • The Annual Sportsman license ($165) covers the supplementals instead. [TN-1 p.8] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Seniors 65+: Senior Sportsman ($49) or the Annual Senior Citizen Hunt/Fish/Trap ($4). [TN-1 p.8] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit: $1, or no fee for Lifetime and Sportsman license holders. It expires June 30 each year. [TN-1 p.10, 52] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Not required for: landowners hunting their own land, residents under 13, and military personnel on leave with papers. [TN-1 p.10, 52] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Federal Duck Stamp: age 16 and up. TWRA lists it at $30.50 through its license system. [TN-1 p.10] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Under the Duck Stamp Modernization Act of 2023, an E-Stamp now counts for the whole season. [TN-1 p.10, 59] checked Oct 22, 2026
• WMA permit: needed on WMAs marked "WF". [TN-1 p.11, 82] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Options: WMA Small Game and Waterfowl, $61 annual; or 1-Day Small Game and Waterfowl, $12. [TN-1 p.11, 82] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Not needed by: Sportsman and Lifetime license holders, and youth hunting small game and waterfowl with an adult who has a permit. [TN-1 p.11, 82] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Reelfoot Lake Preservation Permit: $3 for 1 day, $10 for 3 days, $16 a year. [TN-1 p.11] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Required for all Reelfoot users except those under 16 and residents 65+. [TN-1 p.11] checked Oct 22, 2026

Youth

• Age 12 and under: no license needed. [TN-1 p.8] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Ages 13–15: Junior Hunt/Fish/Trap, $9. [TN-1 p.8] checked Oct 22, 2026

Nonresidents

• Ages 13–15: Annual Junior Hunt/Fish (no big game), $10. [TN-1 p.9–10] checked Oct 22, 2026
• 16 and up: 7-Day Hunt Small Game/Waterfowl ($61) or Annual Hunt Small Game/Waterfowl ($110). [TN-1 p.9–10] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Also needed: the Migratory Bird Permit and the Federal Duck Stamp. [TN-1 p.10] checked Oct 22, 2026
• On "WF" WMAs, nonresidents must buy an Annual or 1-Day WMA Small Game and Waterfowl Permit as well. [TN-1 p.82] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Nonresidents born in Tennessee can apply for Native Tennessean licenses at resident prices. [TN-1 p.7] checked Oct 22, 2026

Light Goose Conservation Season (Feb 15–Mar 31, 2027) [TN-1 p.56] [TN-2] checked Oct 22, 2026

• Requires a free Light Goose permit. [TN-1 p.56] [TN-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• A hunting license from any state counts. [TN-1 p.56] [TN-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• No state or federal duck stamp is needed. [TN-1 p.56] [TN-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• A post-season survey is required. [TN-1 p.56] [TN-2] checked Oct 22, 2026

HIP: TWRA's guide doesn't use the term "HIP." Its required step for migratory birds is the Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit. Whether that permit is how Tennessee meets the federal HIP rule (50 CFR 20.20) is Not confirmed (check the official source) [TN-1 p.10] [FED-1 §20.20] checked Oct 22, 2026

2. Hunter education

• Who needs it: everyone, resident or nonresident, born on or after Jan 1, 1969. Other states' cards are accepted. [TN-1 p.7] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Under age 10: no card needed, but the child must be with an adult 21 or older who can take immediate control of the gun. [TN-1 p.7] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Apprentice Hunter Education Permit ($11): lets you hunt for 1 year without the course, with a qualified adult 21 or older. [TN-1 p.10] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Boater education: Tennessee residents born after Jan 1, 1989 need the TWRA boating card, unless an adult 18+ who can take control is aboard. That adult also needs the card if born after Jan 1, 1989. [TN-1 p.7] checked Oct 22, 2026

3. 2026-27 season dates (statewide)

Youth days

• A non-hunting adult 21 or older must go along and stay able to take control of the gun. [TN-1 p.55] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Adults may not hunt ducks. Adults who aren't with a youth may still hunt geese. [TN-1 p.55] checked Oct 22, 2026
• 16-year-olds still need the Federal Duck Stamp. [TN-1 p.55] checked Oct 22, 2026
• WMAs with early closing times stay open all day on youth days. [TN-1 p.55] checked Oct 22, 2026

Veteran and military days

• Open to veterans as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101, and to active-duty members, including Guard and Reserve on active duty (not training). [TN-1 p.55] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Others may come along but may not hunt. [TN-1 p.55] checked Oct 22, 2026

WMA quota hunt windows [TN-1 p.55] [TN-2] checked Oct 22, 2026

• Wheelchair-blind applications are due by noon on the fourth Friday of October, which is Oct 23, 2026. [TN-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• On the TWRA web page, the Mid-period hunt days read "Dec. 22, 2026 & Jan. 11, 2027." The printed guide table shows the range as Dec 22–Jan 11, which fits between the Early and Late periods. We read the web wording as a typo for a date range. [TN-1 p.55] [TN-2] checked Oct 22, 2026

4. Daily bag and possession limits

Ducks: 6 a day. That can include no more than: [TN-1 p.55] [TN-2] checked Oct 22, 2026

• 4 mallards (no more than 2 hens) [TN-1 p.55] [TN-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• 3 wood ducks [TN-1 p.55] [TN-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• 3 pintails [TN-1 p.55] [TN-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• 2 canvasbacks [TN-1 p.55] [TN-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• 2 redheads [TN-1 p.55] [TN-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• 2 black ducks [TN-1 p.55] [TN-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• 1 mottled duck [TN-1 p.55] [TN-2] checked Oct 22, 2026

Scaup: 1 a day Nov 28–29 and Dec 5–17; 2 a day Dec 18–Jan 31. [TN-1 p.55] checked Oct 22, 2026

• ⚠ The web page says "Nov. 28–30" for the 1-scaup period [TN-2]. The season is closed Nov 30, so the guide's "Nov 28–29" is the correct reading. [TN-1 p.55] checked Oct 22, 2026

September wood duck and teal season: 6 a day, no more than 2 wood ducks. [TN-1 p.55] checked Oct 22, 2026

Other daily limits [TN-1 p.55–56] checked Oct 22, 2026

• Mergansers: 5 (no more than 2 hooded) [TN-1 p.55–56] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Coots: 15 [TN-1 p.55–56] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Canada goose: 5 (Sept 1–20) or 3 (all later segments) [TN-1 p.55–56] checked Oct 22, 2026
• White-fronted goose: 3 [TN-1 p.55–56] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Brant: 1 [TN-1 p.55–56] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Snow, blue, Ross's: 20 [TN-1 p.55–56] checked Oct 22, 2026

Possession limit: 3 times the daily limit. The exceptions are opening day (1 times) and the second day (2 times). [TN-1 p.55–56, 60] checked Oct 22, 2026

• Light geese have no possession limit, except on opening day and the second day. [TN-1 p.55–56, 60] checked Oct 22, 2026

Youth and veteran days: same limits as the regular season. [TN-1 p.55] checked Oct 22, 2026

5. Shooting hours

• Migratory birds: from 30 minutes before legal sunrise until official sunset. [TN-1 p.52] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Light Goose Conservation Season: from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. [TN-1 p.56] checked Oct 22, 2026
• WMA early closings: some WMAs have special closing times. Times for each area: Not confirmed (check the official source) [TN-1 p.55, 82] [TN-3] checked Oct 22, 2026

6. Guns and shot

• Gun: a shotgun no larger than 10 gauge, plugged to hold 3 shells total. [TN-1 p.52, 59–60] [FED-1 §20.21] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Unplugged guns are allowed only during the Light Goose Conservation Season. [TN-1 p.52, 59–60] [FED-1 §20.21] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Shot: waterfowl may only be hunted with non-toxic shot, size T or smaller. [TN-1 p.50, 60] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • You can't even have lead shells or loose lead shot on you while hunting waterfowl, cranes, coots, gallinules, Virginia rails or soras. [TN-1 p.50, 60] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • All federally approved non-toxic shot types are legal. [TN-1 p.50, 60] checked Oct 22, 2026

7. Banned methods

• Electronic calls and live decoys: both banned for waterfowl. E-calls are allowed only during the Light Goose Conservation Season. [TN-1 p.51, 52, 59] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Baiting: no hunting over bait. An area stays baited for 10 days after the bait is removed. [TN-1 p.59] [FED-1 §20.21(i)] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • ⚠ Contradiction: TWRA's federal summary says "it is not necessary for the hunter to know an area is baited to be in violation" [TN-1 p.59]. The current federal rule says you are in violation if you "know or reasonably should know" the area is baited [FED-1 §20.21(i)]. The federal text controls, and TWRA's sentence looks out of date. Either way, ask the landowner and check the field before you hunt. checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Tennessee adopts the federal baiting, firearm, bag, wanton-waste, tagging and method rules. [TN-1 p.52] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Motorized or spinning-wing decoys: no Tennessee or federal ban found in the sources checked. Not confirmed (check the official source) checked Oct 22, 2026
• Also banned:
  • Hunting from a moving motorboat or sailboat. [TN-1 p.59] [FED-1 §20.21] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Rallying or herding birds with a boat or vehicle. [TN-1 p.59] [FED-1 §20.21] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Sinkboxes. [FED-1 §20.21] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Hunting from a vehicle or aircraft. Paraplegics and leg amputees may hunt from a stationary vehicle. [TN-1 p.59] [FED-1 §20.21] checked Oct 22, 2026
• ⚠ Contradiction: TWRA's general rules say that on private land you may hunt from a motorized vehicle, including an ATV or golf cart, if it's stationary, even with the engine running [TN-1 p.52]. For migratory birds, federal law bans hunting from any motor vehicle except for paraplegics and leg amputees [FED-1 §20.21(d)], and TWRA's own migratory-bird summary repeats that ban [TN-1 p.59]. For ducks and geese, don't shoot from a vehicle. checked Oct 22, 2026

8. Boats and motors

• Shooting from a boat: legal only when the boat is not moving forward under motor or sail. Shooting from a vessel under power is not allowed. [TN-1 p.52, 59] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Retrieving birds: a boat under power may be used to pick up birds. Cripples may not be shot from it while it is under power. [FED-1 §20.21(e)] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Boater card: Tennessee residents born after Jan 1, 1989 need the TWRA boating card (details in section 2). [TN-1 p.7] checked Oct 22, 2026
• WMA motor or horsepower limits: Not confirmed (check the official source) [TN-3] checked Oct 22, 2026

9. WMA and public-land rules

Blind tiers (Barkley Unit I, Big Sandy/Gin Creek, Camden I and II, Cheatham Lake, Gooch Unit A, Haynes Bottom, Old Hickory I and II, Tigrett, AEDC/Woods Reservoir, West Sandy, Reelfoot) [TN-1 p.82] checked Oct 22, 2026

Party size [TN-1 p.82–83] checked Oct 22, 2026

• Up to 8 adults per site, with no cap on youth. [TN-1 p.82–83] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Youth 6–15 must be with an adult 18 or older. [TN-1 p.82–83] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Draw applications need at least 4 and at most 8 people. [TN-1 p.82–83] checked Oct 22, 2026

"Blind hopping" [TN-1 p.82] checked Oct 22, 2026

• A Tier 1 permittee who isn't in the blind by legal shooting time loses the blind for that day to the first party there. [TN-1 p.82] checked Oct 22, 2026
• This doesn't apply to Tier 2 blinds. [TN-1 p.82] checked Oct 22, 2026

Temporary blinds on draw areas: they must be at least 200 yards from any Tier 1, 2 or 4 site and removed daily. [TN-1 p.83] checked Oct 22, 2026

Registered permanent blinds [TN-1 p.83] checked Oct 22, 2026

• Reelfoot blinds are registered Feb 18–July 31 and need a Reelfoot Duck Blind Permit. [TN-1 p.83] checked Oct 22, 2026
• West Sandy (Springville Bottoms) blinds have their own registration rules. [TN-1 p.83] checked Oct 22, 2026

Leftover drawings are held in person (Nov 9, Dec 7 and Jan 4, 6 p.m. local, per TWRA). [TN-3] checked Oct 22, 2026

General WMA rules [TN-1 p.81–82] checked Oct 22, 2026

• No personal property, such as stands, left more than 24 hours without the manager's OK. [TN-1 p.81–82] checked Oct 22, 2026
• No nails or wire in trees. [TN-1 p.81–82] checked Oct 22, 2026

National wildlife refuges (such as Reelfoot NWR) may have stricter rules. Check each refuge's hunt brochure. [TN-1 p.59] checked Oct 22, 2026

10. Wanton waste, tagging and transport

• Wanton waste: retrieve every bird you can and keep it with you in the field. Kill wounded birds right away and count them. [TN-1 p.59] [FED-1 §20.25] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Tagging: birds left anywhere or with anyone must be tagged with your signature, address, number of birds by species and date killed. No one may receive untagged birds that belong to someone else. [TN-1 p.59] [FED-1 §20.36] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Transport: keep the head or one fully feathered wing attached until the birds are home or at a processor. [TN-1 p.59] [FED-1 §20.43] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Shipping: packages must be marked with the sender, the recipient and the count by species. [TN-1 p.59] [FED-1 §20.44] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Dual violation: breaking a state migratory bird rule is also a federal violation. [TN-1 p.59] checked Oct 22, 2026

11. Reciprocity on the Mississippi River (Tennessee–Arkansas)

Where your license works [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026

• Either state's license is good for waterfowl on:
  • the flowing Mississippi River [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • sloughs, bayous and old river runs you can reach by boat from the river [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • the old chutes on the state line [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Excluded: [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • WMAs of either state [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • the Wolf, Loosahatchie, Hatchie, Forked Deer and Obion rivers [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026

How it works [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026

• It works only while both states' seasons are open. [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
• You follow the rules of the state you're actually hunting in. Official wording (H1.03 §C): licensees "shall abide by the laws, rules and regulations and proclamations of the state in which they are hunting." https://agfc-omnibus.s3.amazonaws.com/eregs/regulation_pdfs/large/agfc_regulation_H1.03_large.pdf (checked Oct 22, 2026) [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
• If you're licensed in only one state, you can't hunt the other state's tributaries, bayous or backwaters except as the agreement allows, and you can't hunt from or attach anything to private property in either state without the landowner's permission (H1.03 §E). [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
• The state line is the line on USGS quad maps. [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Nonresident licenses from either state get the same privileges as resident ones. [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026

2026-27 duck days open in both TN and AR (worked out from the two official season pages): Nov 28–29, Dec 10–23 and Dec 26, 2026–Jan 31, 2027. [TN-2] + AGFC https://www.agfc.com/hunting/waterfowl/waterfowl-dates-rules-regulations/ checked Oct 22, 2026

Other notes

• The TWRA guide's reciprocity page prints only the fishing terms of the Arkansas agreement. The waterfowl terms are taken from the AGFC copy of the agreement (dated in its code book "As of March 14, 2024"). [TN-1 p.18] [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Tennessee–Mississippi: the only agreement covers fishing on Pickwick Lake. There's no waterfowl reciprocity. [TN-1 p.18] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Tennessee–Kentucky reciprocal waters in the guide are fishing only. [TN-1 p.18] checked Oct 22, 2026

12. Penalties

• Not confirmed (check the official source) No waterfowl-specific penalty amounts appear in the TWRA pages checked. checked Oct 22, 2026

FAQ

• When does Tennessee duck season open in 2026? Nov 28, 2026. It runs Nov 28–29, then Dec 5, 2026–Jan 31, 2027. [TN-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Do I need a Migratory Bird Permit in Tennessee? Yes, both residents and nonresidents need one. It costs $1, or nothing with a Sportsman or Lifetime license. Landowners on their own land, residents under 13, and military on leave are exempt. [TN-1 p.10] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Can I use an electronic call for ducks in Tennessee? No. E-calls are allowed only in the Light Goose Conservation Season. [TN-1 p.51] checked Oct 22, 2026
• What is a Tier 4 blind? A marked spot on certain WMAs that's first come, first served, with no permit needed. Temporary blinds and decoys must come out each day. [TN-1 p.82] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Is my Tennessee license good on the Arkansas side of the Mississippi River? Yes, on the river and its boat-accessible waters (not WMAs or the excluded rivers), but only on days both states are open. Follow the rules of the state you're in. [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026

This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. The official regulations are the final word.

See something wrong or out of date? Report a correction.