§ 70-4-122 — Raccoon dog training

(a) (1) It is unlawful for any person or firm to train raccoon dogs by chasing raccoons in West Tennessee and the following counties: Carter, Claiborne, Greene, Johnson, Sullivan, and that part of DeKalb County lying south and west of state highway No. 96 and U.S. Highway No. 70, except during the thirty (30) days immediately preceding the opening of the season under general laws of the state for hunting raccoons; provided, that none of the provisions of this subsection (a) shall apply to Shelby County or the counties of McNairy, Fayette, Hardeman, Decatur, Dyer, Carroll, Henry, Weakley and Chester. (2) As used in this subsection (a), "West Tennessee" includes that portion of the state lying west of the Tennessee River where it enters the state from the states of Alabama and Mississippi and emerges into the state of Kentucky, but "West Tennessee" does not include Benton County, Gibson County, Madison County, Henderson County or Hardin County. This subsection (a) also applies to the following counties located in other parts of the state: Carter, Claiborne, Greene, Johnson, Morgan, Sullivan, Unicoi, and that part of DeKalb County lying south and west of state highway No. 96 and U.S. Highway No. 70. (b) (1) Cocke County. It is lawful in Cocke County to have a jump-out training season during the period each year from October 9 through November 1, and notwithstanding other provisions of this section, it is lawful to train raccoon dogs in Cocke County at any time of the year, except during the period each year from March 1 to May 15, so long as raccoons are not taken except during the open season. (2) Crockett County. It is lawful at any time of the year to train raccoon dogs in Crockett County so long as raccoons are not taken except during the open season. (3) Gibson County. It is lawful at any time of the year to train raccoon dogs in Gibson County, so long as raccoons are not taken except during the open season. (4) Grainger County. It is unlawful for any person or firm to train raccoon dogs by chasing raccoons in Grainger County, except during the period beginning October 1 through February 28, so long as raccoons are not taken except during the open season. (5) Hancock County. Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, it is lawful to train raccoon dogs in Hancock County at any time of the year, except during the period each year from March 1 to May 15, so long as raccoons are not taken except during the open season. (6) Hawkins County. It is unlawful for any person or firm to train raccoon dogs by chasing raccoons in Hawkins County except during the open season. (7) Haywood County. It is lawful at any time of the year to train raccoon dogs in Haywood County, so long as raccoons are not taken except during the open season. (8) Humphreys County. It is lawful at any time of the year to train raccoon dogs in Humphreys County, so long as raccoons are not taken except during the open season. (9) Jefferson County. It is lawful in Jefferson County to have a jump-out training season during the period each year from October 9 through November 1, and notwithstanding other provisions of this section, it is lawful to train raccoon dogs in Jefferson County at any time of the year, except during the period each year from March 1 to May 15, so long as raccoons are not taken except during the open season. (10) Lake County. (A) It is unlawful for any person or firm to train raccoon dogs by chasing raccoons in Lake County except during the open season. (B) This subdivision (b)(10) shall have no effect unless it is approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the county legislative body of Lake County. Its approval or nonapproval shall be proclaimed by the presiding officer of the Lake County legislative body and certified by such officer to the secretary of state. (11) Lauderdale County. It is lawful at any time of the year to train raccoon dogs in Lauderdale County, so long as raccoons are not taken except during the open season. (12) Morgan County. It is lawful to conduct sanctioned raccoon hunts in Morgan County during the closed season, so long as raccoons are not taken during such closed season. For the purposes of this subdivision (b)(12), "sanctioned raccoon hunts" means chasing raccoons for the purpose of treeing only. The sanctioned hunts shall require the approval of a recognized kennel club such as the AKC, UKC, NKC or PKC. (13) Obion County. Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, it is lawful to train raccoon dogs in Obion County at any time of the year, so long as raccoons are not taken except during the open season. (14) Tipton County. It is lawful at any time of the year to train raccoon dogs in Tipton County, so long as raccoons are not taken except during the open season. (15) Unicoi County. It is unlawful for any person or firm to train raccoon dogs by chasing raccoons in Unicoi County except during the seventy (70) days immediately prior to the season for hunting raccoons in such county. (16) Washington County. It is unlawful for any person or firm to train raccoon dogs by chasing raccoons in Washington County except during the open season. (c) A person who violates this section commits a Class C misdemeanor. Nothing in this section shall be construed as restricting the training of raccoon dogs where no element of chasing or hunting raccoons is involved.

Legislative History

Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 218, s 8, eff. 7/1/2023. Acts 1955, ch. 134, §§ 1, 2; 1957, ch. 387, § 1; 1959, ch. 96, § 1; 1959, ch. 179, § 1; 1959, ch. 183, § 1; 1959, ch. 288, § 1; 1961, ch. 249, § 1; 1961, ch. 261, § 1; 1963, ch. 122, § 1; 1963, ch. 131, § 1; 1963, ch. 138, § 1; 1963, ch. 182, § 1; 1963, ch. 210, § 1; 1963, ch. 350, § 1; 1963, ch. 375, § 1; 1965, ch. 21, § 1; 1965, ch. 51, § 1; 1965, ch. 315, § 1; 1965, ch. 318, § 1; 1967, ch. 39, § 1; 1967, ch. 74, § 1; 1967, ch. 75, § 1; 1967, ch. 76, § 1; 1967, ch. 128, § 1; 1967, ch. 299, § 1; 1967, ch. 351, § 1; Private Acts of 1967, ch. 25, § 1; Acts 1968, ch. 612, § 1; 1969, ch. 125, § 1; 1969, ch. 253, § 1; 1969, ch. 263, § 1; 1970, ch. 436, § 1; 1971, ch. 15, § 1; 1971, ch. 18, § 1; 1971, ch. 94, § 1; 1971, ch. 129, § 1; 1972, ch. 579, §§ 1, 2; 1973, ch. 51, § 1; 1973, ch. 58, § 1; 1973, ch. 306, § 1; 1973, ch. 351, § 1; impl. am. Acts 1974, ch. 481, § 18; 1974, ch. 636, § 1; 1975, ch. 240, § 1; 1976, ch. 663, § 1; 1976, ch. 714, § 1; 1977, ch. 167, § 1; 1977, ch. 494, § 1; 1978, ch. 665, §§ 1-3; 1978, ch. 916, § 1; Private Acts of 1978, ch. 265, §§ 1, 2; Acts 1979, ch. 30, § 1; 1979, ch. 48, § 1; 1979, ch. 75, §§ 1, 2; 1979, ch. 139, § 1; 1979, ch. 375, § 1; 1981, ch. 4, § 1; 1982, ch. 676, § 1; 1982, ch. 758, §§ 1-4; 1982, ch. 923, §§ 1-3; T.C.A., § 51-441; Acts 1983, ch. 309, § 1; 1985, ch. 422, §§ 1, 2; 1986, ch. 502, §§ 1, 2; 1986, ch. 781, §§ 1, 2; 1986, ch. 839, § 1; 1989, ch. 591, § 113; 1991, ch. 372, § 1; 1995, ch. 262, §§ 1, 2; 1998, ch. 611, § 1; 2012 , ch. 644, § 2.