Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

Tennessee Code Title 70. Wildlife Resources § 70-2-204

Current as of January 02, 2024 | Updated by FindLaw Staff

(a)(1)(A) The owners and tenants of farmlands, and their spouses and children, have the right to engage in the sport of hunting and fishing, subject to all laws or regulations concerning wildlife, upon such lands and waters on the land of which they or their spouses or parents are the bona fide owners or tenants, with the permission of the landowner, during the season when it is lawful to do so, without procuring a hunting and sport fishing license.

(B) The grandchildren and great-grandchildren under sixteen (16) years of age of the owners of farmlands have the right to engage in the sport of hunting and fishing, subject to all laws or regulations concerning wildlife, upon such lands and waters on the land of which their grandparent or great-grandparent or grandparents or great-grandparents are the bona fide owners, with the permission of the landowner, during the season when it is lawful to do so, without procuring a hunting and sport fishing license.

(C) The spouses of the children of the owners of farmlands have the right to engage in the sport of hunting and fishing, subject to all laws or regulations concerning wildlife, upon such lands and waters on the land of which their mother-in-law or father-in-law is the bona fide owner, with the permission of the landowner, during the season when it is lawful to do so, without procuring a hunting and sport fishing license.

(D) Tenants and their spouses and their dependent children must be bona fide residents of this state and must actually reside on the land.

(E) Owners and their spouses, children, spouses of children, qualified grandchildren, and qualified great-grandchildren must be bona fide residents of this state.

(F) Land may qualify as farmland only if it is owned by no more than one (1) individual or a family; provided, that, if land is owned jointly or in common by persons who are first cousins related by blood, then such cousins and their children may hunt small game and fish on such land under this subsection (a).

(2) “Family” means any combination of kinship within the third degree, including any spouse who has an interest in the property.

(3) “Tenant” means an individual who receives compensation, such as free rent or money, for acting either in the place of or at the direction of the landowner in tending to the requirements needed to care for the farmland. The primary purpose of the tenancy shall be agricultural in nature.

(b) Each person claiming a license exemption under subsection (a) shall provide identification and shall submit a signed statement attesting to the exempt status described in the statement and a description of the land and the name of the land owner when requested by an officer of the wildlife agency or upon presenting any game to a check station. Such statement shall contain information sufficient to demonstrate that such person has complied with the requirements of subsection (a). The commission shall prepare a preprinted form for the submission of such statements for convenience of use. Submission of false information in a signed statement is a Class C misdemeanor.

(c) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.

Back to chapter list
Previous part of code Next part of code
Back to chapter list

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Tennessee Code Title 70. Wildlife Resources § 70-2-204 - last updated January 02, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/tn/title-70-wildlife-resources/tn-code-sect-70-2-204/

Read this complete Tennessee Code Title 70. Wildlife Resources § 70-2-204 on Westlaw

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature or via Westlaw before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Search all Tennessee Codes

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About the Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to find an attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

    More Options
    Copied to clipboard