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Middle Tennessee
Hunting Near Nashville, TN
Public hunting land within driving distance of Nashville, with the 2026-27 season dates that apply and the processors and shops closest to town.
Photo: bgautrea (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Nashville public land by distance
At about 14 miles, Long Hunter State Park is the first public area you reach from Nashville. Inside 30 miles there are roughly 45,564 public acres across 10 areas. For the most room, Cheatham WMA has 20,810 acres about 17 miles out. Mileage is measured from the middle of Nashville in a straight line.
| Area | Distance | Type | Acres | Species | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Hunter State Park | 14 mi | State Park | n/a | deer | Davidson, Rutherford |
| Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade State Natural Area | 15 mi | State Natural Area | 185 | deer; turkey; small game | Rutherford |
| Cheatham WMA | 17 mi | WMA | 20,810 | deer; turkey; small game | Cheatham |
| Fate Sanders Barrens State Natural Area | 19 mi | State Natural Area | 230 | deer; turkey; small game | Rutherford |
| Percy Priest WMA | 19 mi | WMA | 10,768 | deer; turkey; waterfowl; dove; small game | Rutherford, Davidson |
| Cheatham Lake WMA | 20 mi | WMA | 5,152 | deer; turkey; waterfowl; dove; small game | Cheatham, Dickson |
| Cedars of Lebanon State Natural Area | 23 mi | State Natural Area | 2,690 | deer; turkey; small game | Wilson |
| Haley-Jaqueth WMA | 27 mi | WMA | 200 | deer; turkey; dove | Williamson |
| Cedar Hill Swamp WMA | 28 mi | WMA | 200 | deer; turkey; small game | Robertson |
| Cedars of Lebanon State Forest | 28 mi | State Forest | 5,329 | deer; turkey; small game | Wilson |
| Shelton Ferry WMA | 32 mi | WMA | 628 | deer; turkey; small game | Montgomery |
| Old Hickory Lake Lock 5 Refuge | 32 mi | WMA | 900 | deer; turkey; small game | Wilson, Trousdale |
| Shady Park PHA | 32 mi | Public area | n/a | deer; turkey; small game | Robertson |
| Old Hickory WMA | 38 mi | WMA | 6,000 | deer; turkey; waterfowl; dove; small game | Wilson, Trousdale |
near Nashville: gear to bring
Four picks from the deer rifle hunting checklist, with links to current prices.
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Short drives from Nashville
Start with these four, then check each one’s page for dates and rules.
2026-27 seasons for Nashville hunters
Nashville deer bag
Davidson County falls under Unit 2. Units 1 to 3 allow 3 antlerless deer a day through Young Sportsman, archery, muzzleloader, straight-wall and gun seasons. The August velvet hunt allows no does.
Davidson County CWD rules
CWD rules do not cover this county, so licensed baiting on private land is allowed.
Licenses and hunter ed
Residents 16 to 64 can cover every hunt with the $165 Annual Sportsman license, which includes WMA permits. Hunter education is required for anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1969.
Statewide dates from the 2026-27 TWRA guide, checked October 12, 2026.
Davidson County near Nashville season check
There is no open bear season in Davidson County. Private land baiting is allowed in Davidson County with 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
- Feral hogYear-round
TWRA 2026-27 guide, checked October 12, 2026.
Nashville legal light by day
Deer and small game hours run a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset.
Calculated for Nashville in Central time.
Where to process a deer near Nashville
Sorted by county, starting with Davidson.
Shooting ranges near Nashville
The three closest listed ranges, straight-line miles from town.
Open to the public. Listed for pistol.
Open to the public. Listed for skeet / trap / 5-stand / sporting clays / shotgun.
Open to the public. Listed for pistol and rifle.
Nashville: quick answers
What is the deer harvest near Nashville?
TWRA counted 1,408 deer from Davidson County in 2025-26.
Do WMAs near Nashville need a permit?
For ages 16 to 64, yes. Annual Sportsman holders already have it.
How much public land is around Nashville?
Within 30 miles: 10. Within 75 miles: 14.
Which public hunting area is nearest Nashville?
About 14 miles to Long Hunter State Park.
What are the doe limits near Nashville?
Unit 2. Doe limits in Tennessee are set by unit.
Nashville is in what county?
County rules for Davidson County apply. Davidson County hunting has more on the county.
Can I take a turkey in the fall near Nashville?
Yes. Fall archery and the Oct 17 to 30 shotgun season are open in Davidson County, 1 male turkey for the fall.
When does gun season start near Nashville?
Gun season is Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, after archery opens Sep 26, 2026.
What deer processors are close to Nashville?
Flowers' Deer Processing, C & F Meat Co. and Brown's Deer Processing are listed nearby.
Before you hunt near Nashville
Hunting from a nearby town? Hunting near Springfield, Hunting near Gallatin, Hunting near Lebanon.
Other photos on this page: Kaldari (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (CC BY 2.0); (stephan) (CC BY-SA 2.0); Wesley Fryer (CC BY 2.0).