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East Tennessee
Hunting Near Knoxville, TN
How far Knoxville hunters drive to public land, which 2026-27 rules apply in Knox County, and who processes deer close by.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (CC BY 2.0)
Public hunting areas around Knoxville
Fort Loudoun WMA is the nearest public area, roughly 3 miles from Knoxville. That 30 mile ring holds 10 listed areas and around 76,740 acres. Biggest of the bunch: North Cumberland WMA, 205,000 acres, around 31 miles. Distances are straight-line miles from the center of Knoxville; road miles run longer.
| Area | Distance | Type | Acres | Species | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Loudoun WMA | 3 mi | WMA | 492 | waterfowl | Knox |
| Forks of the River WMA | 6 mi | WMA | 648 | deer / turkey / dove / small game / bear | Knox |
| Whites Mill Refuge | 17 mi | WMA | 53 | waterfowl | Blount |
| Oak Ridge WMA | 17 mi | WMA | 37,000 | deer / turkey / waterfowl / coyote | Anderson, Roane |
| Cove Creek WMA | 21 mi | WMA | 2,450 | deer / turkey / small game / bear | Campbell |
| Chuck Swan State Forest & WMA | 25 mi | WMA | 24,705 | deer / turkey / waterfowl / dove / small game | Union, Campbell |
| Foothills WMA | 27 mi | WMA | 10,000 | deer / turkey / small game / bear / hogs | Blount |
| Kyker Bottoms Refuge | 27 mi | WMA | 525 | deer / turkey / small game / hogs | Blount |
| Buffalo Springs WMA | 27 mi | WMA | 342 | deer / turkey / dove / small game / bear | Grainger |
| Henderson Island Refuge | 29 mi | WMA | 525 | deer / turkey / small game / bear | Jefferson |
| Tellico Lake WMA | 30 mi | WMA | 8,000 | deer / turkey / dove / small game / bear | Monroe, Loudon |
| North Cumberland WMA | 31 mi | WMA | 205,000 | deer / turkey / small game / bear / elk | Campbell, Scott |
| Paint Rock Refuge | 32 mi | WMA | 1,600 | deer / turkey / small game | Roane |
| Watts Bar WMA | 33 mi | WMA | 3,880 | deer / turkey / waterfowl / small game | Roane, Rhea |
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Knoxville
Nearest WMAs and refuges to Knoxville
Each area page has its own map, season dates and special rules.
Seasons and rules around Knoxville
Deer limits for Knoxville hunters
Unit for Knox County: Unit 5. A hunter can take 4 antlerless deer in archery, then 2 each in the youth, muzzleloader and straight-wall, and gun seasons. Moving to another county in the unit gives no extra tags.
Is Knox County in the CWD zone
Outside the CWD zone. Private land baiting is legal with the bait license.
License and permits
One license, the $165 Annual Sportsman, handles all hunting for residents aged 16 to 64, WMA permits included. Hunters born Jan. 1, 1969 or later must pass hunter education.
Statewide dates from the 2026-27 TWRA guide, checked October 28, 2026.
Open seasons for Knox County near Knoxville
For bear, Knox County counts as zone Transitional. Deer baiting on private land in Knox 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.
Knoxville shooting hours this week
Legal light for most game opens half an hour before sunrise and ends half an hour after sunset.
Calculated for Knoxville in Eastern time.
Hunting services around Knoxville
Closest county first: Knox, then the ring around it.
Ranges close to Knoxville
The nearest is John Sevier Hunter Education Center, about 10 miles away.
Open to the public, with pistol, rifle, archery, plus shotgun.
Open to the public, with pistol and rifle.
Open to the public, with pistol.
Questions about hunting near Knoxville
What are the 2026-27 deer dates for Knoxville?
Sep 26, 2026 for bows and Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 for guns, same as statewide.
What unit sets deer limits around Knoxville?
Knox County is in Unit 5 for 2026-27. Units set the antlerless limits.
Where can I take a deer to be processed near Knoxville?
Nearby listings include Broken Wing Meat Processing, Adam's Taxidermy & Processing and Coldwater Farms.
What are the fall turkey rules near Knoxville?
It is open, with a one male limit, by archery or in the Oct 17 to 30 shotgun window.
How many deer came out of Knox County last season?
Knox County checked 1,669 deer in 2025-26, ranking 42nd.
Do I need a WMA permit?
Yes, for hunters 16 to 64 on TWRA wildlife management areas, unless you hold an Annual Sportsman license, which includes it.
Is there much public hunting near Knoxville?
The list shows 10 areas in a 30 mile radius and 14 out to 75 miles.
What is the nearest WMA to Knoxville?
Head to Fort Loudoun WMA, around 3 miles out.
Which county rules apply in Knoxville?
Knoxville is in Knox County. Knox County hunting lists the deer harvest and local rules.
Getting ready to hunt near Knoxville
Nearby towns: Hunting near Clinton, Hunting near Maryville, Hunting near Sevierville.
Other photos on this page: Warren LeMay from Cincinnati, OH, United States (CC0); simonov (CC BY-SA 2.0); (stephan) (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0).