Chester County deer harvest: Tennessee, 2015-16 to 2025-26
Hunters checked in 972 deer in Chester County outside its WMAs in the 2025-26 season: 528 antlered bucks, 38 antlerless males and 406 females (TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox). That is 3.4 deer per square mile of land, 71st of Tennessee's 95 counties by total. Deer from WMAs are counted on each WMA's page. The count was 15% below 2024-25 (1,149). The county is in deer management Unit 1.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox to the 2025-26 season. Seasons and limits: TWRA's 2026-27 guide.
Chester CountyTWRA hunting landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer checked in off WMAs, 2025-26 | 972 (528 antlered bucks, 406 females) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.4, 46th of 95 |
| Average, 11 seasons | 1,072 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,305 in 2022-23 |
| Antlered share, 2025-26 | 54% |
| Deer management unit | Unit 1: antlerless limit 3 a day in every season but the August hunt |
| TWRA region | Region 1 |
| Land area | 285.7 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 TWRA hunting areas, 7,106 acres |
| Towns | Henderson and Enville |
How many deer are killed in Chester County each season?
TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox shows Chester County's deer for 11 seasons. The average was 1,072 a season; the most was 1,305 in 2022-23 and the fewest 860 in 2019-20. 2025-26 was 15% below 2015-16.
| Season | Deer checked in off WMAs | Males | Antlered | Females | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 972 | 566 | 528 | 406 | 3.4 |
| 2024-25 | 1,149 | 615 | 569 | 534 | 4 |
| 2023-24 | 1,127 | 658 | 608 | 467 | 3.9 |
| 2022-23 | 1,305 | 689 | 624 | 615 | 4.6 |
| 2021-22 | 885 | 513 | 463 | 372 | 3.1 |
| 2020-21 | 1,226 | 702 | 624 | 524 | 4.3 |
| 2019-20 | 860 | 503 | 462 | 357 | 3 |
| 2018-19 | 993 | 545 | 481 | 448 | 3.5 |
| 2017-18 | 929 | 492 | 437 | 3.3 | |
| 2016-17 | 1,206 | 612 | 594 | 4.2 | |
| 2015-16 | 1,138 | 556 | 582 | 4 |
Source: TWRA Hunter's Toolbox, Deer Harvests by County / WMA, read October 2026: deer hunters reported at check-in. The Toolbox's county counts leave out deer taken on WMAs, which it reports by WMA. Before 2018-19 the Toolbox counts every male as antlerless, so only the male total is shown. Per square mile uses the county's 285.7 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer seasons and limits in Chester County for 2026-27?
Chester County is in deer management Unit 1. The antlered limit is two for the season, one a day, statewide.
| Season | Dates | Antlerless limit, Unit 1 |
|---|---|---|
| August (archery only; private land and select Unit 1 WMAs) | Aug. 28 to 30, 2026 | No antlerless harvest |
| Young Sportsman (gun, muzzleloader, archery; ages 6 to 16) | Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, 2026; Jan. 9 to 10, 2027 | 3 a day |
| Archery | Sept. 26 to Oct. 30 and Nov. 2 to 6, 2026 | 3 a day |
| Muzzleloader and archery | Nov. 7 to 20, 2026 | 3 a day |
| Straight-walled single-shot rifles, private land only | Nov. 14 to 20, 2026 | 3 a day |
| Gun, muzzleloader and archery | Nov. 21, 2026 to Jan. 3, 2027 | 3 a day |
Source: TWRA 2026-27 Tennessee Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Guide, page 67; county units: TWRA deer management unit counties. WMAs set their own hunts: see each area's page.
Where is the public hunting land in Chester County?
| Area | Acres in Chester County | Deer from the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Chickasaw State Forest and WMA | 5,465 | 46 |
| Tull Bottom WMA | 1,641 | 7 |
Acres measured by FilledTag on TWRA hunting lands layer (HuntingAllowed), U.S. Forest Service national forest ownership and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries.
How does Chester County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Unit | Deer off WMAs, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2015-16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester County | 1 | 972 | 3.4 | -15% |
| Hardeman County | 1 | 1,914 | 2.9 | -54% |
| Hardin County | 1 | 1,851 | 3.2 | -39% |
| Henderson County | 1 | 1,653 | 3.2 | -10% |
| Madison County | 1 | 2,010 | 3.6 | -33% |
| McNairy County | 1 | 1,951 | 3.5 | -18% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Chester County, Tennessee last season?
Hunters checked in 972 deer in Chester County outside its WMAs in the 2025-26 season: 528 antlered bucks, 38 antlerless males and 406 females, by TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox. The Toolbox counts deer from WMAs apart, by WMA.
What is the antlerless limit in Chester County?
Chester County is in deer management Unit 1 for 2026-27. The antlerless limit there is 3 a day in every season but the August hunt. The antlered limit is two statewide, one a day (TWRA 2026-27 guide, page 67).
Is there public hunting land in Chester County?
Yes. TWRA's map puts Chickasaw State Forest and WMA (5,465 acres in the county) and Tull Bottom WMA (1,641 acres in the county) in Chester County.
Has the deer harvest in Chester County gone up or down?
From 1,138 in 2015-16 to 972 in 2025-26, 15% lower. The high in that span was 1,305 (2022-23) and the low 860 (2019-20).
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Where these numbers come from
- Deer harvest: TWRA Hunter's Toolbox, Deer Harvests by County / WMA.
- Deer units, seasons and limits: TWRA 2026-27 Tennessee Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Guide, pages 66 to 67; TWRA deer management unit counties.
- Public land: TWRA hunting lands layer (HuntingAllowed); U.S. Forest Service national forest ownership; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries. County land area: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries. Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer.
FilledTag is not part of Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Numbers are copied from TWRA and the Census Bureau or measured from public maps; nothing here is estimated by FilledTag.
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