While many Tennessee hunters may prefer to hike through the woods before dawn, climb up a deer stand and wait for hours to take a shot as an unsuspecting deer wanders past, some can now opt to hunt from the convenience and comfort of their front porch. That’s the option now available in Hendersonville, where residents can hunt right in their own backyards through a unique partnership between the city and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Problems with deer overpopulation in Sumner County, resulting in damage to crops and car accidents, have led to the unique hunting opportunity.

As deer season begins, so does Hendersonville’s opportunity to manage the city’s deer problem, which occurs at somewhere between two and four times the state average.

Nashville’s NewsChannel 5 reports that Jerald Barrett, chairman of Hendersonville’s Deer Control Committee, encourages urban hunting. 

“In reality, people do it from their back porch.” Barrett told Channel 5. “So the goal is, is to keep that interaction positive for both the people and for the deer, the best that we can.”

The TWRA states that with a hunting license and completion of a hunting safety course, individuals can hunt deer on their property from an elevated position. Barrett says that because responsibility falls on the person who fires a bow or a gun, safety is paramount.

“Legally, per state regulations, firearms are allowed; we strongly recommend bow only,” Barrett pointed out.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) states that hunters require permission to take deer from their neighbor’s property.

“There is a strong possibility that even with a good placement of an arrow, that deer can travel onto the neighbor’s property,” Barrett said.

Many people don’t hunt and still need help, so the committee started a Deer Hunter Directory.

“So the idea behind the directory is, we’ve had a tremendous number of homeowners that said, hey, I need someone to hunt my property. And so we’ve also had a lot of hunters that say, we really want to hunt people’s property,” Barrett said. “People can put their information online on the website for the directory.”

Hunters from anywhere can put their name in the directory.

“They can, you know, vet the hunter. Of course, the hunter can show and demonstrate that they have a correct Tennessee hunting license,” Barrett said.

Barrett says the free service effectively controls deer diseases, deer-related crashes, and deer aggression.

Any deer can be donated to Hunters for the Hungry, an organization that gives deer meat to people in need of food.

“Porch hunting” isn’t allowed everywhere in Tennessee. The TWRA regulates deer hunting in urban and suburban areas by requiring adherence to statewide hunting laws, including obtaining landowner permission on private property, possessing a valid hunting license, and following bag limits and legal hunting methods. While the agency does not provide deer removal services, it issues depredation permits for significant property damage and facilitates connections between landowners and hunters for population management.

Before taking aim from your porch or living room, hunters should contact the local TWRA office to verify specific local ordinances and regulations. Violations can result in hefty fines and even jail time. Traditional archery season in Tennessee runs September 27 – October 24, 2025.

Steve Gill is editor and Publisher of TriStar Daily.