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WMA · East Tennessee
Henderson Island Refuge
A 525-acre wildlife management area in Jefferson County. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) manages it.
Photo: Brian Stansberry (CC BY 3.0)
Getting to Henderson Island Refuge
Parking, trailheads and gates near Henderson Island Refuge
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Hunting on Henderson Island Refuge
Refuge on Douglas Reservoir near Dandridge. Closed to all use Nov. 15 through February; small game is youth/adult only with nontoxic shot.
The area listing names 4 kinds of game: deer, turkey, small game and bear. Most of it lies in Jefferson County, part of deer Unit 6.
Before going, open the agency page for this area, which lists dates, permits and the map.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Henderson Island Refuge
What is open on Henderson Island Refuge in 2026-27
Species open on this ground, their statewide windows, and the local deer and county rules.
Deer
The 2026-27 statewide window is Aug 28, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027. The area itself may run a shorter season.
Turkey
The 2026-27 statewide window is Sep 26, 2026 to May 16, 2027. The area itself may run a shorter season.
Small game
The 2026-27 statewide window is Aug 22, 2026 to Jun 13, 2027. Applies to squirrel, rabbit and any other small game this area opens. The area itself may run a shorter season.
Bear
The 2026-27 statewide window is Sep 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027. The bear hunting zone sets the rules, and some areas are closed to bear. The area itself may run a shorter season.
Unit 6 bag limits
Archery hunters may take 4 antlerless deer, the muzzleloader and straight-wall week allows 2, gun season 2, and Young Sportsman 2 across its four days. The August hunt allows none, and changing counties inside the unit does not add more. Statewide, hunters may take 2 antlered deer a season and 1 a day.
Bear hunting, BHZ2
Jefferson County falls in BHZ2: Blount, Cocke (south of I-40), Jefferson (east of Hwy 411), Sevier.
Blaze orange
The law calls for 500 square inches of blaze orange or fluorescent pink, worn on the upper body and head, for big game. Turkey and archery-only hunts are the exceptions.
Statewide dates and limits from the 2026-27 TWRA hunting guide, checked October 28, 2026. Each WMA has its own dates and rules in the guide; the area listing wins where it differs.
Open seasons for Henderson Island Refuge
Zone BHZ2 and Transitional bear dates apply in Jefferson County. Jefferson County allows deer bait on private land with a Deer Bait Privilege License.
- Deer
- Turkey
- Ducks
- Waterfowl
- Canada goose
- White-fronted goose
- Brant
- Light geese
- Dove
- Woodcock
- Snipe
- Rails (virginia, sora)
- Gallinule and moorhen
- Crow
- Squirrel
- Rabbit
- Quail
- Grouse
- RaccoonYear-round
- Opossum
- CoyoteYear-round
- Bobcat
- Bear
- Feral hogYear-round
TWRA 2026-27 guide, checked October 28, 2026.
Henderson Island Refuge on the map
Orange marks Henderson Island Refuge, set at the rough center taken from the TWRA hunting map. Public hunting areas within about 70 miles are marked in gold. Closest towns: Sevierville (11 mi), Newport (13 mi), Morristown (16 mi).
Rankin WMA
About 12 miles away (straight line) in Cocke County and Hamblen County. Covers 1,975 acres.
Martha Sundquist State Forest
About 26 miles away (straight line) in Cocke County. Covers 2,001 acres.
Businesses that serve Henderson Island Refuge hunters
Each one is in Jefferson County or a county next to it.
Distances are straight-line estimates. Hours change by season, so call ahead. Full services directory.
How many deer come out of the Henderson Island Refuge area
Read these as county numbers, since the area’s own harvest is not reported separately. By reported deer harvest, Jefferson County places #63 among 95 counties.
| County | Deer 2023-24 | Deer 2024-25 | Deer 2025-26 | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 1,070 | 1,128 | 1,255 | #63 of 95 |
Total reported deer harvest by county, WMA harvest included, from TWRA Hunter’s Toolbox reports. Seasons run July 1 to June 30.
Questions about Henderson Island Refuge
How large is Henderson Island Refuge?
The agency lists it at roughly 525 acres.
What county is Henderson Island Refuge in?
It lies in Jefferson County, which TWRA counts as East Tennessee. See the official listing for maps and entry points.
What animals can you hunt on Henderson Island Refuge?
Deer, turkey, small game and bear are listed. Follow the area's own dates, which may be narrower than statewide.
How many deer can I take on Henderson Island Refuge?
Unit 6, because the area is mainly in Jefferson County. Gun season allows 2 antlerless deer, muzzleloader and straight-wall week 2, archery 4 and the four Young Sportsman days 2 combined. No antlerless deer may be taken in the August hunt, and hunting a second county in the unit does not add to the total.
What permit do I need for Henderson Island Refuge?
Anyone 16 through 64 hunting a TWRA wildlife management area needs a WMA permit (or an annual sportsman license) in addition to the hunting licenses. Federal refuges and certain areas set extra permits.
Which public areas are closest to Henderson Island Refuge?
Try Rankin WMA (about 12 miles), Buffalo Springs WMA (about 17 miles) and Mullins Island PHA (about 18 miles).
Are there quota hunts on Henderson Island Refuge?
No quota hunts are listed for this area in the current guide. Check the area listing each year, since that can change.
Where do I check in a deer or turkey?
Deer and turkey are checked in by midnight of the day of harvest, before they leave the state, by app (TWRA On The Go), online or at a check station.
Is Henderson Island Refuge in the CWD zone?
Not for 2026-27: Jefferson County is outside the CWD Management Zone and not CWD-positive.
Where can I drop off a deer near Henderson Island Refuge?
Close options include Sellars Meat Cutting, Carter Custom Meats and Mantooth's Custom Meat Cutting. Many open only during deer season, so call first.
Get ready for Henderson Island Refuge
Before you hunt, compare the 2026-27 TWRA guide with the Henderson Island Refuge listing. Both change from season to season.