Henderson County deer harvest: Tennessee, 2015-16 to 2025-26
Hunters checked in 1,653 deer in Henderson County outside its WMAs in the 2025-26 season: 834 antlered bucks, 93 antlerless males and 726 females (TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox). That is 3.2 deer per square mile of land, 35th of Tennessee's 95 counties by total. Deer from WMAs are counted on each WMA's page. The count was 18% below 2024-25 (2,007). 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.
Henderson CountyTWRA hunting landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer checked in off WMAs, 2025-26 | 1,653 (834 antlered bucks, 726 females) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.2, 51st of 95 |
| Average, 11 seasons | 1,803 deer a season |
| Highest season | 2,221 in 2022-23 |
| Antlered share, 2025-26 | 50% |
| Deer management unit | Unit 1: antlerless limit 3 a day in every season but the August hunt |
| TWRA region | Region 1 |
| Land area | 520 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 TWRA hunting areas, 25,887 acres |
| Towns | Lexington, Parker's Crossroads, Scotts Hill and Sardis |
How many deer are killed in Henderson County each season?
TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox shows Henderson County's deer for 11 seasons. The average was 1,803 a season; the most was 2,221 in 2022-23 and the fewest 1,361 in 2021-22. 2025-26 was 10% below 2015-16.
| Season | Deer checked in off WMAs | Males | Antlered | Females | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,653 | 927 | 834 | 726 | 3.2 |
| 2024-25 | 2,007 | 1,119 | 1,023 | 888 | 3.9 |
| 2023-24 | 1,859 | 1,089 | 970 | 770 | 3.6 |
| 2022-23 | 2,221 | 1,217 | 1,089 | 1,004 | 4.3 |
| 2021-22 | 1,361 | 830 | 740 | 531 | 2.6 |
| 2020-21 | 1,943 | 1,127 | 1,009 | 816 | 3.7 |
| 2019-20 | 1,670 | 970 | 866 | 700 | 3.2 |
| 2018-19 | 1,671 | 873 | 753 | 798 | 3.2 |
| 2017-18 | 1,661 | 932 | 729 | 3.2 | |
| 2016-17 | 1,958 | 1,055 | 903 | 3.8 | |
| 2015-16 | 1,834 | 908 | 926 | 3.5 |
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 520 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer seasons and limits in Henderson County for 2026-27?
Henderson 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 Henderson County?
| Area | Acres in Henderson County | Deer from the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Natchez Trace State Forest and WMA | 25,673 | 196 |
| Beech River WMA | 214 | 31 |
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 Henderson County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Unit | Deer off WMAs, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2015-16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henderson County | 1 | 1,653 | 3.2 | -10% |
| Carroll County | 1 | 2,538 | 4.2 | -22% |
| Chester County | 1 | 972 | 3.4 | -15% |
| Decatur County | 1 | 1,245 | 3.7 | -14% |
| Hardin County | 1 | 1,851 | 3.2 | -39% |
| Madison County | 1 | 2,010 | 3.6 | -33% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Henderson County, Tennessee last season?
Hunters checked in 1,653 deer in Henderson County outside its WMAs in the 2025-26 season: 834 antlered bucks, 93 antlerless males and 726 females, by TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox. The Toolbox counts deer from WMAs apart, by WMA.
What is the antlerless limit in Henderson County?
Henderson 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 Henderson County?
Yes. TWRA's map puts Natchez Trace State Forest and WMA (25,673 acres in the county) and Beech River WMA (214 acres in the county) in Henderson County.
Has the deer harvest in Henderson County gone up or down?
From 1,834 in 2015-16 to 1,653 in 2025-26, 10% lower. The high in that span was 2,221 (2022-23) and the low 1,361 (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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