Tennessee wildlife officials create night hunting season for bobcats, coyotes

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Tennessee wildlife officials officially created a night hunting season for coyotes and bobcats while meeting in Johnson City.

The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission held its two-day April meeting in Johnson City and voted to create the season with certain limitations.

A news release from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) states the night hunting will only be allowed on private land and will require both a hunting license and written permission from the landowner to partake in.

The season will officially open the day after deer season ends and will run through the second Sunday in March. The season will pick back up the first Saturday in June and run through the second Sunday in August.

According to the TWRA, the hunting will be limited to 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise.

Hunters will have limits for bobcats. Only one bobcat per night may be harvested. However, the TWRA said there is no limit on coyotes.

The commission also determined no dogs can be used during the night hunting, and only shotguns may be used. Hunters may use night vision and thermal imaging, as well as lights as long as they are not attached to a vehicle or shone from a public road. The use of calls imitating coyotes or wounded prey is also allowed.

The commission discussed several other topics during the April meeting, including a promising report on the success of anglers and trout fishing in Northeast Tennessee.

Turkey regulations in West Tennessee and statewide chronic wasting disease numbers in deer were also discussed. The commission approved new hunting unit maps for both.

The TWRA provided a recap of the meeting, which can be read below:

April 2024 TFWC Recap by Murry Lee on Scribd

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