Bear season: Everything you need to know

It's officially bear hunting season.

Bear hunting is legal in certain parts of Virginia. Details on the rules in that state are posted

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Bear hunting is also legal in several East Tennessee counties:

- Zone 1: Carter, Cocke (North of I-40), Greene, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, & Washington.

- Zone 2: Blount, Cocke (South of I-40), Jefferson (East of Hwy 411), Sevier

- Zone 3: McMinn (East of Hwy 411), Monroe, Polk (East of Hwy 411 & North of Hwy 64)

- Zone 4: Cumberland (North of I-40), Fentress, Morgan, Pickett (East of Hwy 111), & Scott (West of Hwy 27)

Transitional Zone : Bradley, Hamblen, Hamilton (East of TN River), Hancock, Hawkins, Grainger, Jefferson (west of Hwy 411), Knox, Loudon, McMinn (West of Hwy 411), & Polk (West of Hwy 411)

Tennessee is also home to multiple bear reserves. You can find a list of restricted hunting zones

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It's also important to be sure to stay within the date restrictions assigned to each area. You can find full details on that

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