Tennessee elk hunting: quota permits, hunt zones and seasons

Tennessee's elk hunt is by quota permit only. For 2026, TWRA issued 19 permits: one archery and one gun hunt in each Elk Hunt Zone (Zones 2 and 6 count as one hunt, and Zone 1 has archery only), one youth permit good in any open zone, and one permit raffled by a conservation group. The ten Elk Hunt Zones cover 117,168 acres of North Cumberland WMA, measured on TWRA's zone map.

Data updated October 2026. Seasons, permits and rules: TWRA's 2026-27 guide, page 70, and its elk quota hunt page. Zone acres: measured on TWRA's elk hunt zone map.

When is Tennessee elk season?

Elk taken by quota permit holders must be checked in at the North Cumberland WMA office the day they are taken. Radio-tracking equipment is not allowed, and only permitted hunters and their helpers may call elk in the zones during the hunts.

Source: TWRA 2026-27 Tennessee Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Guide, page 70; TWRA elk and youth elk quota hunts.

How do you apply for a Tennessee elk permit?

Applications for the 2027 hunts run February 3 to 24, 2027. Applicants must be 16 or older (youth hunt: residents 13 to 16), may pick up to four hunt choices, may not apply in parties, and anyone drawn may not apply again for ten years. No more than 25% of permits go to nonresidents. There are no priority points.

TWRA has not published applicant counts for its elk drawing, so this page shows no drawing results. The 2026 drawing results were listed as coming soon on its quota hunt page when read in October 2026.

Source: TWRA elk and youth elk quota hunts.

What are Tennessee's elk hunt zones?

Elk Hunt Zones lie on North Cumberland WMA; permit holders may also hunt private land in Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Morgan and Scott counties with the owner's permission. All other public land is closed to elk hunting.

The 2027 raffle permit's hunt is in Zone 1, October 2 to 8, 2027. Zones and names: TWRA elk hunt zones; TWRA 2026-27 Tennessee Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Guide, page 70. Acres measured by FilledTag on the zone map and the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries.

Can deer hunters take an elk in Tennessee?

A legal deer hunter may take one elk a year, either sex, incidental to deer hunting on land open to deer hunting, except in Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Morgan and Scott counties, Big South Fork, Scott State Forest and the Obed corridor. It must be reported the same day by calling 1-800-831-1174.

Source: TWRA 2026-27 Tennessee Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Guide, page 70.

What else is hunted on North Cumberland WMA?

The elk zones lie on North Cumberland WMA, 201,251 acres in Campbell, Scott, Claiborne, Anderson and Morgan counties. Hunters checked in 419 deer from it in 2025-26 (TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox). Its page lists the area's deer, bear and turkey rules.

Questions hunters ask

When is Tennessee elk season in 2026?

The 2026 quota hunts: archery September 26 to October 2, gun, muzzleloader and archery October 3 to 9, and the Young Sportsman hunt October 10 to 16, 2026. For 2027: archery September 25 to October 1, gun October 2 to 8 and youth October 9 to 15 (TWRA 2026-27 guide, page 70).

How many elk tags does Tennessee give?

Nineteen quota permits for 2027, as in 2026: 9 archery-only, 9 gun, muzzleloader and archery, and 1 Young Sportsman, with one of the 19 raffled by a conservation group (TWRA 2026-27 guide, page 70).

When do you apply for a Tennessee elk tag?

February 3 to 24, 2027, for the 2027 hunts, online, through the On The Go app, at a license agent or a regional office. There are no priority points, and anyone drawn waits ten years to apply again.

Can nonresidents hunt elk in Tennessee?

Yes. Nonresidents may apply for the elk quota hunt, but no more than 25% of successful applicants may be nonresidents. The youth elk hunt is for residents only.

Where can you hunt elk in Tennessee?

Elk Hunt Zones lie on North Cumberland WMA; permit holders may also hunt private land in Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Morgan and Scott counties with the owner's permission. All other public land is closed to elk hunting.

Sources: TWRA 2026-27 Tennessee Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Guide, page 70; TWRA elk and youth elk quota hunts; TWRA elk hunt zones. FilledTag is not part of Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

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