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WMA · West Tennessee
Buffalo Ridge Refuge
Wildlife management area covering 1,400 acres in Humphreys County, run by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
Photo: MateoTimateo (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Getting to Buffalo Ridge Refuge
Parking, trailheads and gates near Buffalo Ridge Refuge
- Parking areaParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 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.
About Buffalo Ridge Refuge
TWRA refuge off Cuba Landing Road, 1.2 miles from Hwy 13 at I-40 exit 143, in Humphreys County. Bag limit is two deer per hunt, only one antlered; ATVs may be used only on marked roads and trails to retrieve downed game at set hours. The TWRA hunting guide lists 1,400 acres under its Unit II heading.
Rules on the ground: Unit 2 is open only to hunters holding a Buffalo Ridge Refuge Unit 2 quota permit (7 hunters per hunt) on scheduled archery (Oct. 3-5), muzzleloader (Nov. 14-16) and gun (Dec. 5-7, 2026) deer hunts, with scouting the Saturday and Sunday before each hunt; Unit 1 is closed to all entry.
Game listed here: deer. Quota permits, drawn ahead of time by TWRA, are needed for some hunts here. The area is chiefly in Humphreys County, which TWRA places in deer Unit 2. Expect CWD carcass and bait limits: Humphreys County is a positive county.
Official Buffalo Ridge Refuge page has the area map, hunt dates and any permit rules.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Buffalo Ridge Refuge
Buffalo Ridge Refuge: 2026-27 dates and rules
Statewide dates for each listed species, plus the limits tied to Humphreys County.
Deer
Across the state, 2026-27 seasons open and close within Aug 28, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027. Check whether the area shortens it.
Deer limits for Unit 2
The daily antlerless bag is 3 in every season from Young Sportsman through gun, straight-wall rifle included. The August hunt allows no antlerless deer. The antlered bag is 1 a day and 2 for the season, statewide.
CWD rules for Humphreys County
Rules here: no whole carcass leaves the CWD Management Zone, no baiting, no feeding. In CWD-positive counties Earn-A-Buck applies as well.
Fluorescent orange
Unless the hunt is archery-only or for turkey, big game hunters must show 500 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink on the torso and head.
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.
Buffalo Ridge Refuge: what is in season
Humphreys County has no bear season. Chronic wasting disease rules apply in Humphreys County. Humphreys County bans baiting and feeding.
- 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 28, 2026.
Where Buffalo Ridge Refuge is, and what is nearby
The orange pin sits near the middle of Buffalo Ridge Refuge, based on the TWRA hunting map. Gold markers are other public hunting areas within about 70 miles. The nearest towns are Waverly (17 mi), Camden (21 mi), Centerville (22 mi).
Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge
Straight-line distance is about 9 miles; it is in Humphreys County and Henry County.
Happy Hollow WMA
Straight-line distance is about 9 miles; it is in Hickman County. Size: 1,800 acres.
Beaverdam Creek WMA
Straight-line distance is about 17 miles; it is in Hickman County and Lewis County. Size: 4,055 acres.
Harmon Creek WMA
Straight-line distance is about 21 miles; it is in Benton County. Size: 983 acres.
Deer processing and shops around Buffalo Ridge Refuge
Sorted by county: Humphreys County first, then its neighbors.
Distances are straight-line estimates. Hours change by season, so call ahead. Full services directory.
Field trials, hunts and contests in Buffalo Ridge Refuge
As of October 2026, 1 upcoming event.
Coming up
| Date | Event | Type | Where | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 13 to Nov 15, 2026 | Becoming an Outdoors Woman Deer Hunt | Mentored hunt | Waverly, Humphreys County | Event details |
County deer numbers for Buffalo Ridge Refuge
Each row is a full county total and includes land outside this area. Humphreys County sits at #32 of 95 in the state deer harvest ranking.
| County | Deer 2023-24 | Deer 2024-25 | Deer 2025-26 | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humphreys County | 1,924 | 2,628 | 1,851 | #32 of 95 |
Total reported deer harvest by county, WMA harvest included, from TWRA Hunter’s Toolbox reports. Seasons run July 1 to June 30.
Buffalo Ridge Refuge FAQ
Does Buffalo Ridge Refuge require a WMA permit?
A WMA permit is required for hunters aged 16 to 64 unless they hold an annual sportsman license, and the regular licenses still apply. Watch for added area or refuge permits.
Which game does Buffalo Ridge Refuge allow?
The area is listed for deer. Each species follows the dates in the area's own listing, which can be shorter than statewide seasons.
Where is Buffalo Ridge Refuge located?
You will find it in Humphreys County, part of the West Tennessee region. Access points are marked on the map at the area page.
Does Buffalo Ridge Refuge have quota hunts?
Part of the hunting is by quota permit from a TWRA draw held before the season.
Which deer unit does Buffalo Ridge Refuge fall under?
The deer unit is Unit 2, set by Humphreys County. Antlerless deer: 3 per day in the Young Sportsman, archery, muzzleloader, straight-wall rifle and gun seasons, and none in the August hunt.
How much land does Buffalo Ridge Refuge cover?
Roughly 1,400 acres, per the managing agency's page.
Where can I get a deer processed near Buffalo Ridge Refuge?
Processors in the area: Wallace Processing and Taxidermy, Prime Cuts and McEwen Custom Slaughter. Phone before you drive over; plenty are seasonal.
Are there CWD restrictions at Buffalo Ridge Refuge?
It is. Humphreys County is a CWD-positive county with carcass and baiting restrictions.
Do I have to check in game taken here?
Report it by midnight that day through TWRA On The Go, online or at a check station. It has to be checked before the animal leaves Tennessee.
What other public ground is around Buffalo Ridge Refuge?
The three nearest are Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge (about 9 miles), Happy Hollow WMA (about 9 miles) and MTSU WMA (about 15 miles).
Heading to Buffalo Ridge Refuge
Dates and bag limits shift each season. The 2026-27 TWRA guide and the area listing have the current version.