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WMA · East Tennessee
Whites Mill Refuge
Blount County: 53 acres of wildlife management area under the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
Photo: Brian Stansberry (CC BY 3.0)
Getting to Whites Mill Refuge
Parking, trailheads and gates near Whites Mill Refuge
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 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.
Whites Mill Refuge at a glance
A 53-acre wetland in Blount County. Waterfowl and snipe hunting is youth/adult only, Saturdays only, from staked positions.
Species open on Whites Mill Refuge include waterfowl. Blount County holds the bulk of the area and falls in deer Unit 6.
For the area map, hunt dates and permit rules, see the official Whites Mill Refuge page.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Whites Mill Refuge
Hunting seasons for Whites Mill Refuge
Each card below covers one listed species or one rule that applies to this county.
Waterfowl
Under statewide rules the 2026-27 seasons fall between Sep 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027. This area’s own dates may be narrower than that.
How many deer in Unit 6
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. No more than 1 antlered deer a day, or 2 a season, anywhere in the state.
Orange or pink rule
Big game hunters wear 500 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink on the upper body and head, except during archery-only and turkey hunts.
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.
Seasons open around Whites Mill Refuge
Bear hunting here falls under zone BHZ2. Blount County is open to licensed baiting on private land.
- 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.
Public land around Whites Mill Refuge
Whites Mill Refuge is the orange point; its position is an approximate center from TWRA mapping. Other public hunting areas within roughly 70 miles appear in gold. Towns closest to the area: Maryville (6 mi), Townsend (8 mi), Knoxville (17 mi).
Tellico Lake WMA
In Monroe County and Loudon County, roughly 18 miles off as the crow flies. 8,000 acres in all.
Oak Ridge WMA
In Anderson County and Roane County, roughly 26 miles off as the crow flies. 37,000 acres in all.
Local services for a hunt on Whites Mill Refuge
Businesses in Blount County and the neighboring counties.
Distances are straight-line estimates. Hours change by season, so call ahead. Full services directory.
Deer checked in around Whites Mill Refuge
County totals, not numbers from this area alone. Statewide, Blount County is #78 of 95 for deer checked in.
| County | Deer 2023-24 | Deer 2024-25 | Deer 2025-26 | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blount County | 851 | 988 | 1,001 | #78 of 95 |
Total reported deer harvest by county, WMA harvest included, from TWRA Hunter’s Toolbox reports. Seasons run July 1 to June 30.
Common questions on Whites Mill Refuge
Which part of Tennessee is Whites Mill Refuge in?
Blount County, in the East Tennessee region used by TWRA. The official area page has maps and access points: TWRA listing.
What can I hunt on Whites Mill Refuge?
Its listing covers waterfowl. Dates come from the area listing and may be shorter than statewide.
Which deer unit is Whites Mill Refuge in?
Blount County, and so this area, is in Unit 6. 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.
Does CWD affect hunting on Whites Mill Refuge?
No CWD county rules apply in Blount County for 2026-27; it is outside the zone.
Which licenses cover Whites Mill Refuge?
For ages 16 to 64, carry a WMA permit or annual sportsman license along with the right hunting licenses. Some areas, and federal refuges, have permits of their own.
Do any hunts on Whites Mill Refuge need a quota permit?
None appear in the current guide for this area. Recheck the listing each season.
What acreage does Whites Mill Refuge have?
Its listed size is about 53 acres.
What other public land is near Whites Mill Refuge?
The closest listed areas are Foothills WMA (about 13 miles), Fort Loudoun WMA (about 14 miles) and Forks of the River WMA (about 15 miles).
When must I check in a deer or turkey?
Check in big game by midnight on the day of harvest through the TWRA On The Go app, online or at a check station, and before the animal leaves the state.
Who processes deer near Whites Mill Refuge?
The nearest listed processors are Broken Wing Meat Processing and Rick Hill Taxidermy & Processing. Most keep seasonal hours, so check by phone.
Whites Mill Refuge trip planning
Confirm the 2026-27 dates and any area rules in the TWRA guide and the Whites Mill Refuge listing ahead of your hunt.