Tennessee Duck Season 2026–27
Updated October 27, 2026, with official 2026–27 season dates.
Tennessee’s 2026–27 duck season opens Saturday, November 28, 2026, for a two-day Thanksgiving weekend split (Nov. 28–29). It reopens December 5, 2026 and runs through January 31, 2027. Youth hunts are February 6 and 13, and veteran and active military hunts are February 7 and 14. Dates come from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) migratory bird page.
Chasing deer in Tennessee this season too? See our Tennessee Deer Season 2026–27 guide for archery, gun and doe dates.
Tennessee Duck Season 2026–27 at a Glance
| Season | Dates |
|---|---|
| Early wood duck and teal | Sept. 12–16, 2026 |
| Ducks, coots and mergansers, first split | Nov. 28–29, 2026 |
| Ducks, coots and mergansers, second split | Dec. 5, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027 |
| Youth waterfowl days (ages 6–16) | Feb. 6 and 13, 2027 |
| Veteran and active military days | Feb. 7 and 14, 2027 |
Tennessee Duck Zones
Tennessee duck dates are statewide. WMAs and refuges often have their own hunting days and closing times, so check the TWRA public land duck hunting page for the area you plan to hunt.
Tennessee Duck Bag Limits
The daily bag is 6 ducks, with these limits from TWRA:
| Species | Daily limit |
|---|---|
| Mallards | 4 (no more than 2 hens) |
| Wood ducks | 3 |
| Canvasbacks | 2 |
| Redheads | 2 |
| Black ducks | 2 |
| Pintails | 3 |
| Mottled ducks | 1 |
| Scaup | 1 Nov. 28–30 and Dec. 5–17; 2 Dec. 18 – Jan. 31 |
| Mergansers | 5 (no more than 2 hooded) |
| Coots | 15 |
| Early wood duck and teal season | 6, no more than 2 wood ducks |
Possession limit: three times the daily bag, except on opening day (1 daily bag) and the second day of the season (2 daily bags). If you hunt both days of the Thanksgiving weekend, you can’t have more than two limits in the freezer by Sunday night.
Youth, Veteran and Military Days
Youth days (Feb. 6 and 13): only hunters 6–16 can take ducks, mergansers, coots, gallinules and geese. A 16-year-old needs a Federal Duck Stamp. A non-hunting adult 21 or older has to go along and stay close enough to take control of the gun, and one adult can take several youth. WMAs with special closing times stay open all day on youth days.
Veteran and active military days (Feb. 7 and 14): veterans and active-duty service members, including National Guard and Reserves on active duty, can hunt the same species with regular-season limits. Others can be present but can’t hunt, according to TWRA.
Licenses, Stamps and HIP
Hunters 16 and older need a Tennessee hunting license that covers small game and waterfowl, HIP certification and a Federal Duck Stamp. Many WMAs and refuges also require area permits or draw applications. Check the TWRA public land duck page before you go.
Where and When to Hunt Ducks in Tennessee
Tennessee has some of the best public duck hunting in the South:
- Reelfoot Lake: cypress, stump fields and old blinds in the northwest corner, with mallards, gadwall and divers.
- Kentucky Lake and the Tennessee River (Camden, Big Sandy and Duck River areas): big water, a mix of puddle ducks and divers.
- Old Hickory, Cheatham and Chickamauga: Middle and East Tennessee reservoirs with blind draws and wheelchair-accessible blinds.
TWRA lists wheelchair-accessible blind sites at Camden, Cheatham Lake, North Chickamauga Creek, Old Hickory, Reelfoot and West Sandy on its migratory bird page.
Planning Around Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is Nov. 26, 2026. See what else is open that week in our Thanksgiving hunting guide, and sharpen up before opening day with 5 pro tips from a wingshooting expert.
Tennessee Duck Season FAQ
When does duck season open in Tennessee in 2026?
Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, for two days, then again Dec. 5.
When does Tennessee duck season end?
Jan. 31, 2027. Youth and veteran days follow on Feb. 6, 7, 13 and 14.
What is the duck possession limit in Tennessee on opening day?
One daily bag on opening day and two on the second day. After that, it is three times the daily bag.
How many scaup can you shoot in Tennessee?
One per day Nov. 28–30 and Dec. 5–17, and two per day Dec. 18 – Jan. 31.
Gear Up for the Season
Every Hunt One More® design is built around faith, service and time in the field. Layer up in The Lord Is My Guide® tees and hoodies for those cold mornings in the blind, and put a Hunt One More decal on the truck or the boat before opening day.
Trust the process. Trust the hunt. And when the birds are still working, hunt one more.
Duck Season Dates in Other States
Hunting more than one state this winter? Here are our other 2026–27 duck season guides.
- Southeast Duck Season Dates 2026–27: All 10 States (coming Nov. 14)
- Alabama Duck Season 2026–27
- Arkansas Duck Season 2026–27
- Florida Duck Season 2026–27
- Georgia Duck Season 2026–27
- Louisiana Duck Season 2026–27
- Mississippi Duck Season 2026–27
- North Carolina Duck Season 2026–27
- South Carolina Duck Season 2026–27
- Virginia Duck Season 2026–27
Keep Reading on Camp Talk
- Tennessee Deer Season 2026–27
- Florida Duck Season 2026–27
- Alabama Duck Season 2026–27
- Mississippi Duck Season 2026–27
- 5 Pro Tips From A Wingshooting Expert
- Thanksgiving Hunting 2026: What’s Open
Season dates and bag limits come from TWRA. This guide is for planning only. Always confirm current regulations, license requirements and bag limits with TWRA before you hunt.
More from Camp Talk: Southeast duck season dates 2026–27