Deer Regulations
White-tailed Deer Management Units (DMUs)
Unit 1
Unit 1 includes Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lauderdale, Lake, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Shelby, Tipton, and Weakley counties.
Unit 2
Unit 2 includes Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Giles, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Lawrence, Lincoln, Lewis, Marshall, Maury, Montgomery, Perry, Robertson, Stewart, Sumner, Wayne, and Williamson counties.
Unit 3
Unit 3 includes Bedford, Cannon, Clay, Coffee, DeKalb, Franklin, Jackson, Macon, Moore, Overton, Putnam, Rutherford, Smith, Trousdale, Van Buren, Warren, White, and Wilson counties.
Unit 4
Unit 4 includes Anderson, Bledsoe, Campbell, Claiborne, Cumberland, Fentress, Grainger, Grundy, Hancock, Morgan, Pickett, Scott, Sequatchie, and Union counties.
Unit 5
Unit 5 includes Bradley, Hamilton, Loudon, Knox, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Rhea, and Roane counties.
Unit 6
Unit 6 includes Blount, Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Monroe, Polk, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties.
Summer feeding of deer could be hurting turkeys.
Consider abstaining from summer wildlife feeding.
Wild turkey numbers have been in decline across the Southeast US. Research has confirmed that declining populations are primarily due to poor reproduction and recruitment, not overharvest. Supplemental feeding of wildlife, which has grown as a common practice in Tennessee and elsewhere, may be contributing to these declines. Wildlife managers are concerned that corn put out for deer, especially during the summer, is hurting turkey numbers. A fungus called Aspergillus flavus grows in feed exposed to hot, humid conditions. This fungus produces toxins, known as aflatoxins, that are highly toxic to game birds, especially turkey poults and quail. New research has shown that in the summer, aflatoxin levels in feed can reach deadly levels to wild turkeys after only a few days. Read the full report at: https://doi.org/10.7589/JWD-D-21-00052.
Besides the risk of aflatoxin poisoning, other consequences to wild turkeys from feeding wildlife may include:
- Boosting population numbers of small mammal nest predators;
- Concentrating nest predators near nesting sites and brooding cover which may lead to higher predation rates;
- Unnaturally concentrating game animals (e.g., deer and turkeys) which increases the chances of disease outbreaks and spread.
Please consider these potential unintended consequences as you make decisions about wildlife feeding, especially during the hot, humid summer months. Contact Regional offices with questions.
