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WMA · East Tennessee
Lick Creek Bottoms WMA
1,400 acres of wildlife management area in Greene County. Managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
Photo: MateoTimateo (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Getting to Lick Creek Bottoms WMA
Hunting Lick Creek Bottoms WMA
Old fields, moist-soil units, wetlands and thickets along Lick Creek in western Greene County, including the Joachim Bible Refuge. Nontoxic shot is required for small game and dove; late-season waterfowl days are assigned by in-person drawings.
Hunters come to Lick Creek Bottoms WMA for deer, turkey, dove and small game. Part of the hunting here is by quota, with permits drawn through TWRA ahead of time. Deer rules follow Unit 6 because the area is mainly in Greene County.
Maps, dates and permit requirements are on the official area page.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Lick Creek Bottoms WMA
2026-27 seasons on Lick Creek Bottoms WMA
What can be hunted here under the current guide, and the county rules that come with it.
Deer
Statewide season dates for 2026-27: Aug 28, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027. The area listing can cut that window down.
Turkey
Statewide season dates for 2026-27: Sep 26, 2026 to May 16, 2027. The area listing can cut that window down.
Dove
Statewide season dates for 2026-27: Sep 1, 2026 to Jul 11, 2027. The area listing can cut that window down.
Small game
Statewide season dates for 2026-27: Aug 22, 2026 to Jun 13, 2027. That includes squirrel, rabbit and other small game the area permits. The area listing can cut that window down.
Unit 6 deer limits
Young Sportsman days carry a combined antlerless limit of 2, archery 4, the muzzleloader and straight-wall week 2, and gun 2. None are allowed in the August hunt, and the limit applies across the unit rather than per county. Two antlered deer per season is the statewide cap, with 1 allowed per day.
Hunter orange
Wear at least 500 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink above the waist and on the head when hunting big game; archery-only and turkey hunts are exempt.
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.
Lick Creek Bottoms WMA season check
For bear, Greene County counts as zone BHZ1. Deer baiting on private land in Greene County needs the bait 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.
Nearby hunting land and the Lick Creek Bottoms WMA map
The orange marker is Lick Creek Bottoms WMA (approximate center from the TWRA hunting map). Each gold marker is another public hunting area inside a 70 mile radius. Nearby towns by straight-line distance: Morristown (13 mi), Greeneville (14 mi), Newport (15 mi).
Rankin WMA
Cocke County and Hamblen County, about 10 miles from here in a straight line. Listed at 1,975 acres.
Henderson Island Refuge
Jefferson County, about 23 miles from here in a straight line. Listed at 525 acres.
Martha Sundquist State Forest
Cocke County, about 25 miles from here in a straight line. Listed at 2,001 acres.
Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF
Unicoi County and Cocke County, about 26 miles from here in a straight line.
Hunting services near Lick Creek Bottoms WMA
These are in Greene County or an adjoining county.
Distances are straight-line estimates. Hours change by season, so call ahead. Full services directory.
Deer harvest in the counties around Lick Creek Bottoms WMA
Figures cover entire counties; area-only harvest is not broken out. The ranking puts Greene County #24 out of 95 for deer harvest.
| County | Deer 2023-24 | Deer 2024-25 | Deer 2025-26 | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greene County | 1,557 | 1,760 | 2,031 | #24 of 95 |
Total reported deer harvest by county, WMA harvest included, from TWRA Hunter’s Toolbox reports. Seasons run July 1 to June 30.
What hunters ask about Lick Creek Bottoms WMA
Which species can be hunted on Lick Creek Bottoms WMA?
You can hunt deer, turkey, dove and small game, on the dates the area listing gives rather than the statewide calendar.
Where exactly is Lick Creek Bottoms WMA?
TWRA places Lick Creek Bottoms WMA in its East region; the ground is in Greene County. For access points and a map, use the area listing.
Do I need a WMA permit to hunt Lick Creek Bottoms WMA?
Hunters 16 to 64 need a WMA permit or an annual sportsman license to hunt TWRA wildlife management areas, on top of the right hunting licenses. Federal refuges and some areas add their own permits.
How many acres is Lick Creek Bottoms WMA?
Lick Creek Bottoms WMA covers about 1,400 acres, the figure on the managing agency's page.
Which antlerless unit applies on Lick Creek Bottoms WMA?
Greene County is in deer Unit 6. 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.
Are hunts on Lick Creek Bottoms WMA drawn by quota?
Yes, certain hunts are by quota, with permits drawn through TWRA ahead of the season.
What is the deadline to check in big game?
Big game must be checked in the same day, by midnight, through TWRA On The Go, online or at a station, and before leaving the state.
Is Lick Creek Bottoms WMA in a CWD county?
Greene County is not on the CWD-positive list or in the CWD Management Zone for 2026-27.
Where do I take a deer from Lick Creek Bottoms WMA for processing?
Nearby processors on our list: Snapp Ferry Packing, Jordy and Sons Custom Meats and Bulls Gap Custom Meats. Call to confirm they are taking deer, as many run seasonally.
Are there other WMAs near Lick Creek Bottoms WMA?
On the map, the closest are Mullins Island PHA (about 6 miles), Rankin WMA (about 10 miles) and Nolichucky WMA (about 14 miles).
Before you hunt Lick Creek Bottoms WMA
Read the 2026-27 TWRA guide and the Lick Creek Bottoms WMA listing before each trip; dates and limits change yearly.