ATTENTION HENRY AND WEAKLEY COUNTY DEER HUNTERS
TWRA is receiving a lot of questions regarding deer hunting in Henry and Weakley Counties. Here are some answers to your frequently asked questions regarding deer hunting in the two counties.
1. What deer Unit is Henry and Weakley County?
Henry and Weakley counties follow the UNIT L deer regulations. So, this means that Muzzleloader opens on November 6, and Gun season opens on November 20.
*Please note that just because the county is high risk or positive does not make the county automatically in Unit CWD.
2. Why are Weakley and Henry counties not in Unit CWD?
The Henry County positive deer was discovered after the statewide deer season had begun, and hunting guides were distributed across the state. Unit CWD deer regulations are designed to increase harvest, and we do not have enough data on a prevalence rate in Henry County to determine if we need to increase harvest in that area.
3. What are the transportation rules regarding deer and taking a deer to a processor?
For Henry County- Refer to the pictures above. The map is referring to “unapproved parts”. Henry County is a CWD-positive county. A deer can NOT leave the county or state unless it meets the following requirements:
*Antlers (including ones attached to a clean skull plate)
*Deboned meat / Cleaned skulls and skull plates
*Hides & Tanned products / Finished taxidermy
*Teeth (Free of meat and tissues)
So, what does this mean?
Cape and antlers attached to clean skull plate, deboned meat, etc can be transported anywhere in TN or any state.
Can I take a deer from Henry County back to East TN, Kentucky, or Dyer County to get processed? No, you can not take a deer out of Henry County. You will need to debone the meat before taking it out of the county or have the deer processed in Henry County.
Can I take a deer to a taxidermist in another county or state? Yes, if you take a clean skull plate attached to the antlers. You can NOT take the head and cape out of the county to another taxidermist, or you may leave the deer head and cape with a taxidermist in Henry County.
For Weakley County- Refer to the pictures above. You can take a deer to Henry county for processing or to a taxidermist. You may take a deer to a blue-colored county touching Weakley County. You can NOT take a deer out of state or into a yellow county boarding Weakley.
4. Can I earn a buck in Weakley and Henry County?
No. Weakley and Henry County are in Unit L. Earn a Buck does not apply to Unit L.
5. Can I get a replacement buck?
Yes. If you harvest a CWD-positive deer, you will receive a replacement buck.
6. Can I still hunt over a salt lick?
No, Weakley County is a high-risk county, and Henry County is CWD positive. Therefore, the placement of grain, salt products, minerals, and other consumable natural and manufactured products is prohibited.
7. Where can I get a deer tested?
TWRA will be hosting check stations in both counties on November 6 and 20. Locations will be available at a later date. You may also drop off deer heads to be sampled in TWRA drop-off freezers. To find a freezer location near you, visit https://www.tn.gov/…/cwd/cwd-testing-and-results.html
8. Can I eat a deer from Henry or Weakley County?
The Center for Disease Control recommends you get your deer tested. If the animal test positive for CWD, do not eat the meat from that deer.
9. Am I eligible for a processing voucher?
If you harvest a CWD positive deer, a voucher, if redeemed worth $75, will be given towards the processing cost of their next deer at participating processors.
10. Who pays for the testing of deer?
TWRA pays for the deer to be tested for CWD.