Several states that touch or are near to Tennessee have adopted regulations regarding expanded weapon choices for various commonly denominated big game seasons such as archery, black powder (muzzleloader) and modern firearm seasons.  Tennessee has similarly designated seasons.  Further, over time, Tennessee has changed the weapons that were approved for use in each such season without necessarily renaming the seasons except for clarity.

 

While the existing regulations provide for a modern firearm season, the black power/muzzle loader season was intended to allow hunting with a weapon class that was distinct from traditional modern centerfire firearms.  TWRA is being asked to consider the proposition of expanding the classification of weapons that would legal for use on game, particularly big game, in Tennessee.  https://www.tn.gov/twra/article/hunting-equipment-methods

 

You have the opportunity now to consider and comment to TWRA upon a rule change to allow other weapon classes to be used during the muzzle loading seasons which weapons are in line with or have less capacity than modern muzzle loaders to harvest game.  These proposals include one or more of the following:

 

 

Each of these are weapons or weapons classes which either do not appear to be legal weapons in Tennessee at this time or which, if legal, can only be used during the modern firearms season(s).  Some believe that allowing these additional weapons to be used during the muzzle loader season would have a minor impact on the number of hunters or even the harvest rates but it could allow hunters in Tennessee to explore alternative weapon choices during a season when modern centerfire firearms are not in use.

If you are interested in this topic, please review the materials and comment to TWRA through its comment procedures.