From the soy fields of West Tennessee to the oak ridges of the Cumberland Plateau and the hollows of the Smokies, Tennessee deer season 2025 is a way of life. But this year, hunters face a fast-growing challenge: feral hogs.

Hogs root through crops, destroy food plots, and displace deer. Worse, Tennessee’s management strategy creates unique hurdles for hunters: open hog hunting on public lands is discouraged because it scatters sounders and makes them harder to remove. That means hunters and landowners must work smarter — and often partner with whole-sounder trapping systems to win back their woods.

FAQs for Tennessee Deer Season 2025 Hunters

Can you hunt hogs in Tennessee during deer season?
On most public lands, no. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) prohibits general hog hunting except under specific permits. On private lands, hogs can be taken year-round with landowner permission. TWRA Feral Hog FAQ

Why does TWRA limit hog hunting?
Because random hog hunting makes the problem worse. Shooting a few hogs causes sounders to scatter, reproduce, and expand into new areas. TWRA uses coordinated trapping to remove entire groups.

Do hogs really affect deer herds in Tennessee?
Yes. Hunters across Middle and East Tennessee report deer avoiding feeders and oak flats taken over by hogs. Hogs also damage turkey nesting areas and root crops like corn and soybeans.

What’s the best trap for Tennessee’s mixed terrain?

• Boar Blanket → Perfect for wooded hills, uneven ground, and single-operator setups.
  
• HogEye Systems → Effective on large farms with reliable cell service.
  
• Steel Cage/Corral Traps → Better for Delta farmland, but hard to move in hills.
  

Do I still need a license for hogs?
Yes. Even nuisance animals require a valid license if taken by firearm or bow during deer season.

Tennessee Deer Season 2025 Dates

(Confirm with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Region	Season Type	2025 Dates	Notes
Archery	Sept 27 – Oct 24	All units
Muzzleloader	Nov 8 – 21	All units
Rifle (Gun)	Nov 22 – Jan 4	Extended in select counties
Youth Hunts	Oct 25 – 26; Jan 10 – 11	Two youth-only weekends

Bag limit: two antlered bucks per season; antlerless limits vary by county.

Regional Impacts of Feral Hogs

West Tennessee (Delta & Ag Land)

Soybean and corn farmers lose millions annually to hog rooting. Deer hunters here report hogs dominating feeders and pushing deer out of bottomlands.

Middle Tennessee (Hardwoods & Farms)

The Cumberland Plateau is prime whitetail country — but hogs uproot oak flats and raid food plots, reducing deer movement in historically high-harvest zones.

East Tennessee (Appalachians & Smokies)

In the Smoky Mountain foothills, hogs compete with deer and black bears for acorns. Rooting along ridges also contributes to erosion and habitat degradation.

Tennessee Deer Season 2025 & Hog Hunting Regulations

Deer

• Archery, muzzleloader, and gun seasons by statewide unit.
  
• Bag limits: two bucks per year; antlerless quotas by county.
  

Hogs

• Private land: Year-round hunting allowed with landowner permission.
  
• Public land: Restricted. Removal only under TWRA-sanctioned efforts. TWRA Hog Control Program
  
• Trapping: Encouraged over opportunistic hunting, especially whole-sounder removal.
  

Season Prep: Strategies for Balancing Deer & Hogs

• Trap hogs early (late summer) to reduce pressure before rut.
  
• Keep traps away from deer stands to prevent disturbance.
  
• Use bait lines to draw full sounders into traps instead of scattering them.
  

Gear That Works in Tennessee

• Boar Blanket Hog Trap → Adaptable to Tennessee’s mixed terrain, easy for one-person use.
  
• HogEye Camera Systems → Useful on large farms with signal access.
  
• Steel Cages → Practical in flat farmland but nearly impossible in the Plateau or Smokies.
  

Compare setups in Cage vs Net Hog Traps.

Impacts on Landowners & Hunters

Economic Damage

TWRA and USDA estimate feral hogs cause millions in agricultural losses annually across the Delta and Plateau. Fencing and replanting costs compound those losses.

Deer Hunter Experience

• Deer sightings drop in hog-heavy counties like Hardeman and Fentress.
  
• Hogs raid food plots at night, leaving hunters empty-handed come dawn.
  
• In East Tennessee, deer are forced into higher, thinner habitats when hogs dominate acorn flats.
  

See results in the Boar Blanket Case Study and review costs in Feral Hog Trapping Costs.

Conclusion: Why Hog Control is Critical in 2025

In Tennessee, deer season success increasingly depends on feral hog control. With TWRA discouraging open hog hunting on public lands, landowners and hunters must rely on proven strategies:

• Cages for Delta farmland.
  
• HogEye for big, connected properties.
  
• Boar Blanket for most hunters — mobile, silent, and designed for whole-sounder capture in rough terrain.
  

Don’t let hogs ruin your deer season. Get control before the rut begins.

See trapping strategy in How Whole Sounder Trapping Works.