2023 Tennessee Code › Title 70 - WILDLIFE RESOURCES (§§ 70-1-101 — 70-9-107) › Chapter 4 - MISCELLANEOUS REGULATIONS (§§ 70-4-101 — 70-4-504) › Part 1 - HUNTING AND FISHING (§§ 70-4-101 — 70-4-134) › Section 70-4-112 - Hunting and chasing raccoons regulated - Training season - Violations - Penalties

(a)
(1)
It is lawful for any person to chase raccoons with dogs at any season of the year, but no raccoon shall be killed or taken except during open season for killing or taking of raccoons, as may be prescribed by the fish and wildlife commission or other body possessing the power to regulate open and closed seasons for game. No person chasing raccoons with dogs shall use or carry any firearms, axes or climbing instruments except during such open season as may be proclaimed as set forth in this subdivision (a)(1); except that, a person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing a handgun may carry a handgun as defined in §
39-11-106
, so long as the handgun is not used for the taking of game. No raccoon shall be shot at any time in the year either from a boat or any type of motor vehicle.
(2)
(A)
Notwithstanding this section, this part or any public or private act to the contrary, in Morgan County and in counties that are located entirely east of U.S. Highway 27, the commission shall establish a minimum training season of not less than six (6) months each year, within which period raccoon dogs may be trained. Such raccoon dog training season shall not commence earlier than June 1 of each year. Such six-month period need not be consecutive. Within such training season, a person chasing raccoons with dogs shall not use or carry any firearms, axes, or climbing instruments except during such open season as may be proclaimed pursuant to this section; except that, a person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing a handgun may carry a handgun, as defined in §
39-11-106
, so long as the handgun is not used for the taking of game. No raccoon shall be killed or taken except during such open season. No raccoon shall be shot at any time in the year either from a boat or any type of motor vehicle. The commission shall establish a minimum raccoon hunting season of not less than six (6) weeks each year, which season shall not commence sooner than November 1 of each year. Such six-week period need not be consecutive. The commission has the authority to extend the training season or hunting season, or both, to such additional periods of time as it deems justified based on the raccoon population in the area involved in any section or sections of the state.
(B)
To the extent that this subdivision (a)(2) conflicts with §
70-4-122
, any public act or any private act, this subdivision (a)(2) controls and shall supersede such laws.
(b)
Any person violating this section commits a Class C misdemeanor, and, in addition to the penalties prescribed by §
40-35-111
for Class C misdemeanors, is prohibited from hunting, chasing, or trapping for a period of not less than one (1) year.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 218, s 7, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 218, s 3, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 218, s 2, eff. 7/1/2023.
Acts 1953, ch. 198, § 1 (Williams, § 5178.70a); modified; Acts 1965, ch. 318, § 1; Private Acts of 1967, ch. 25, § 1; Acts 1973, ch. 174, §§ 1, 3; 1974, ch. 411, § 1; 1974, ch. 481, § 21; 1980, ch. 555, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 51-420; Acts 1983, ch. 465, §§ 1, 2; 1984, ch. 564, § 1; 1989, ch. 591, § 113; 2012 , ch. 644, § 1; 2012 , ch. 993, § 13.