Franklin County deer harvest: Tennessee, 2015-16 to 2025-26
Hunters checked in 2,551 deer in Franklin County outside its WMAs in the 2025-26 season: 1,441 antlered bucks, 91 antlerless males and 1,019 females (TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox). That is 4.6 deer per square mile of land, 10th of Tennessee's 95 counties by total. Deer from WMAs are counted on each WMA's page. The count was 15% below 2024-25 (2,994). The county is in deer management Unit 3.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox to the 2025-26 season. Seasons and limits: TWRA's 2026-27 guide.
Franklin CountyTWRA hunting landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer checked in off WMAs, 2025-26 | 2,551 (1,441 antlered bucks, 1,019 females) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.6, 22nd of 95 |
| Average, 11 seasons | 2,689 deer a season |
| Highest season | 3,397 in 2015-16 |
| Antlered share, 2025-26 | 56% |
| Deer management unit | Unit 3: antlerless limit 3 a day in every season but the August hunt |
| TWRA region | Region 2 |
| Land area | 550.6 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 4 TWRA hunting areas, 30,018 acres |
| Towns | Winchester, Estill Springs, Decherd, Cowan and Huntland |
How many deer are killed in Franklin County each season?
TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox shows Franklin County's deer for 11 seasons. The average was 2,689 a season; the most was 3,397 in 2015-16 and the fewest 2,193 in 2021-22. 2025-26 was 25% below 2015-16.
| Season | Deer checked in off WMAs | Males | Antlered | Females | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,551 | 1,532 | 1,441 | 1,019 | 4.6 |
| 2024-25 | 2,994 | 1,758 | 1,648 | 1,236 | 5.4 |
| 2023-24 | 2,631 | 1,526 | 1,398 | 1,105 | 4.8 |
| 2022-23 | 2,739 | 1,579 | 1,449 | 1,159 | 5 |
| 2021-22 | 2,193 | 1,311 | 1,207 | 882 | 4 |
| 2020-21 | 2,796 | 1,631 | 1,500 | 1,165 | 5.1 |
| 2019-20 | 2,556 | 1,491 | 1,373 | 1,065 | 4.6 |
| 2018-19 | 2,460 | 1,361 | 1,071 | 1,099 | 4.5 |
| 2017-18 | 2,576 | 1,429 | 1,147 | 4.7 | |
| 2016-17 | 2,683 | 1,377 | 1,306 | 4.9 | |
| 2015-16 | 3,397 | 1,622 | 1,775 | 6.2 |
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 550.6 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer seasons and limits in Franklin County for 2026-27?
Franklin County is in deer management Unit 3. The antlered limit is two for the season, one a day, statewide.
| Season | Dates | Antlerless limit, Unit 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Franklin County?
| Area | Acres in Franklin County | Deer from the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Hollow Mountain WMA | 16,336 | 103 |
| AEDC WMA and Woods Reservoir Refuge | 10,880 | 406 |
| Owl Hollow Mill WMA | 2,348 | 154 |
| Mingo Swamp WMA | 454 | 34 |
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 Franklin County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Unit | Deer off WMAs, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2015-16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 3 | 2,551 | 4.6 | -25% |
| Coffee County | 3 | 1,460 | 3.4 | 5% |
| Grundy County | 4 | 1,383 | 3.8 | 45% |
| Lincoln County | 2 | 2,746 | 4.8 | -26% |
| Marion County | 5 | 1,449 | 2.9 | 3% |
| Moore County | 3 | 721 | 5.6 | -27% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Franklin County, Tennessee last season?
Hunters checked in 2,551 deer in Franklin County outside its WMAs in the 2025-26 season: 1,441 antlered bucks, 91 antlerless males and 1,019 females, by TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox. The Toolbox counts deer from WMAs apart, by WMA.
What is the antlerless limit in Franklin County?
Franklin County is in deer management Unit 3 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 Franklin County?
Yes. TWRA's map puts Bear Hollow Mountain WMA (16,336 acres in the county), AEDC WMA and Woods Reservoir Refuge (10,880 acres in the county), Owl Hollow Mill WMA (2,348 acres in the county) and Mingo Swamp WMA (454 acres in the county) in Franklin County.
Has the deer harvest in Franklin County gone up or down?
From 3,397 in 2015-16 to 2,551 in 2025-26, 25% lower. The high in that span was 3,397 (2015-16) and the low 2,193 (2021-22).
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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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