March 21, 2026
The bows and crossbows market in Tennessee serves a broad range of buyers. Tennessee offers a thriving market for archery enthusiasts, from recreational target shooters to dedicated bowhunters. Businesses selling archery equipment in the state must register through the Tennessee Taxpayer Access Point (TNTAP) at tntap.tn.gov and pay the $15 business registration fee to their county or city clerk. Retailers collecting sales tax on bows, crossbows, arrows, and accessories are subject to Tennessee’s 7% state sales tax rate. These licensing and tax requirements apply uniformly to archery pro shops, sporting goods retailers, and any other business selling archery equipment. The state’s regulatory environment is straightforward for small business owners, and TNTAP provides a centralized platform for managing most state tax obligations, including sales and use tax registration.
Tennessee classifies crossbows as archery equipment rather than firearms, a distinction that shapes both retail access and hunting season eligibility across the state. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) governs archery hunting regulations in the state. Under TWRA rules, legal archery equipment for hunting includes longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, and crossbows. Crossbows are classified as archery equipment under state hunting regulations, not as firearms, which aligns with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) position that crossbows are not regulated as firearms under federal law because they do not use explosive propellants. This distinction matters to both retailers and buyers, since crossbows may be purchased and possessed without the federal background check requirements that apply to firearms. Tennessee hunters may use crossbows during any season that permits archery equipment, including archery-only seasons.
Federal regulations govern key aspects of the bows & crossbows market nationwide, including Tennessee. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) oversees product safety standards for archery equipment sold in the United States, and retailers are responsible for carrying products that meet applicable federal standards. For hunting purposes, TWRA requires that arrows and bolts used for big game must be equipped with sharpened broadheads. The agency prohibits explosive arrowheads and any pod-type device for holding drugs or chemicals on arrows. Night vision scopes and devices that project artificial light toward game are also prohibited during archery hunting seasons. Ensuring that equipment complies with both TWRA hunting regulations and CPSC product safety requirements before purchasing helps avoid regulatory issues. Effective July 1, 2025, TWRA increased hunting license fees by an average of 28 percent, and the agency restructured supplemental licenses from weapon-type to species-type licenses, meaning hunters now purchase a deer, turkey, or bear license rather than a separate archery license.
Draw weight, axle-to-axle length, and season eligibility under TWRA rules are the core specifications Tennessee archery buyers evaluate before purchasing bows and crossbows. Tennessee’s bows and crossbows retail market spans urban centers and rural communities alike. Tennessee’s archery retail market spans urban centers like Nashville and Memphis as well as rural communities, reflecting the broad appeal of bowhunting and target archery across the state. TWRA reports that archery equipment, including crossbows, is permitted during archery, muzzleloader, and gun seasons, giving Tennessee’s archery season one of the longest total hunting periods in the Southeast. The Tennessee archery deer season typically opens with an early velvet archery hunt in late August, followed by regular archery seasons running through November. Hunters must report all big game harvests through the TWRA mobile app or online portal within 24 hours. Retailers across Tennessee report consistent demand for compound bows, crossbows, and related accessories throughout the fall hunting season. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) hunting regulations at tn.gov/twra specify legal draw weight minimums and season dates, and Tennessee archery pro shops provide professional fittings and draw length measurements that ensure proper equipment sizing.
Top Bows & Crossbows Providers in Tennessee
Nashville North Archery
- Address: 1203 Old Hydes Ferry Pike, Ashland City, TN 37015
- Phone: (931) 603-1680
- Website: https://nashvillenortharchery.com
- Description: Nashville North Archery operates a full-service archery shop carrying major brands including Mathews, Hoyt, Bowtech, Ravin, TenPoint, and Excalibur. The shop serves bowhunters and target archers throughout the greater Nashville region with bow sales, professional fitting, and tuning services. Staff specialize in both compound bow and crossbow setups for deer and turkey hunting applications.
Music City Archery
- Address: 1113 Murfreesboro Road, Suite 205, Franklin, TN 37064
- Phone: (615) 566-5187
- Website: https://musiccityarchery.com
- Description: Music City Archery provides a full-service pro shop alongside an indoor archery range in Franklin, just south of Nashville. The shop carries compound bows, recurve bows, crossbows, and a range of arrows and accessories for hunters and recreational archers. Veteran-owned and operated, Music City Archery also offers group lessons, private instruction, and lane rentals.
The Archery Den
- Address: 4404 Franklin South Court, Franklin, TN 37064
- Phone: (615) 567-6243
- Website: https://thearcheryden.com
- Description: The Archery Den has earned recognition as the top Mathews dealer in Tennessee for ten consecutive years and stocks a wide selection of compound bows, crossbows, and hunting accessories. The shop is conveniently located off Interstate 65 in Franklin and serves bowhunters from throughout Middle Tennessee. Staff provide professional bow fitting, arrow building, and equipment tuning services.
The Harvest Archery Pro Shop
- Address: 1264 Market Street, Dayton, TN 37321
- Phone: (423) 715-1386
- Website: https://harvestarchery.com
- Description: The Harvest Archery Pro Shop has served East Tennessee’s archery community since 2013, with a focus on personalized service and equipment expertise. The shop offers an indoor archery range alongside retail sales of compound bows, recurve bows, crossbows, and related hunting gear. Owner Doc Crowe brings more than 15 years of experience in archery equipment manufacturing to every customer interaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a special license to hunt with a crossbow in Tennessee?
Tennessee does not require a separate crossbow license. Under the TWRA’s updated license structure effective July 1, 2025, hunters purchase species-specific supplemental licenses rather than weapon-type licenses. A standard deer supplemental license covers hunting with archery equipment, including crossbows, during any open archery season. Full details on licensing requirements are available at https://www.tn.gov/twra/license-sales.html
Who should I contact at TWRA to ask about archery hunting regulations?
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency handles all hunting regulation inquiries. You can reach TWRA by calling (615) 781-6500 during regular business hours. Staff can answer questions about equipment requirements, season dates, bag limits, and crossbow use during specific seasons.
Is it legal to hunt with a crossbow during Tennessee’s archery-only deer season?
Yes. Under Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) § 70-4-107, TWRA has authority to set hunting equipment regulations, and the agency has ruled that crossbows are legal archery equipment during all archery seasons. No special disability permit is required for crossbow use during archery-only seasons in Tennessee, which distinguishes the state from some others that restrict crossbows to hunters with documented physical limitations.
What organization oversees bowhunter safety education in Tennessee?
The National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBHEF) provides curricula that Tennessee recognizes for bowhunter education. While Tennessee does not currently mandate bowhunter education as a prerequisite for a hunting license, completing an NBHEF-approved course is recommended and may be required if you plan to hunt in other states that have a bowhunter education requirement.
Where can I find Tennessee’s current archery season dates for deer?
TWRA publishes updated season dates, bag limits, and equipment regulations each year on its official website. The current hunting regulations summary, including archery and crossbow season dates, is available at https://www.tn.gov/twra/hunting/tennessee-hunting-seasons-summary.html
What is the TWRA phone number to report a harvested deer?
Tennessee hunters must report all big game harvests within 24 hours using the GoOutdoorsTennessee.com portal, the TWRA mobile app, or by telephone. To report a deer harvest by phone, call (800) 824-8972.
What are the return and warranty policies for bows and crossbows purchased in Tennessee?
Bows and crossbows purchased in Tennessee are generally returnable within 14 to 30 days if they are unfired, unstrung or in original string condition, and in original packaging with all accessories included. Once a bow or crossbow has been fired, dry-fired, or had its draw weight or length adjusted by a pro shop technician, most retailers consider it used and will not accept a return, though exchanges for manufacturing defects may still be honored. Manufacturer warranties on compound bows and crossbows typically cover limb defects, cam failures, and riser cracks for one to five years or the lifetime of the original owner depending on the brand, with premium brands like Mathews, Hoyt, and TenPoint offering comprehensive limited lifetime warranties on structural components. String and cable warranties are generally limited to 90 days, and accessories such as scopes, quivers, and arrows are warranted separately. Dry-fire damage, which occurs when the bow is released without an arrow, voids virtually all manufacturer warranties. Tennessee buyers should have a qualified archery technician inspect the bow upon purchase and register the product with the manufacturer.