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East Tennessee
Hamblen County Hunting
Harvest history, public land, deer unit rules for 2026-27 and nearby processors for hunters working Hamblen County.
Photo: GA-Kayaker (CC BY 2.0)
At 89th of 95 counties, Hamblen County produced 572 reported deer in 2025-26 from 161 square miles of land and 15 square miles of water. Divided by land area, that is near 3.5 deer per square mile. The county made up 0.4% of all deer checked in Tennessee that season.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Hamblen County
Public hunting land in and near Hamblen County
Inside the county line you have 1 public area; another 8 sit within roughly 45 miles. On the map, orange means inside the county.
Kyles Ford WMA
Straight-line distance about 28 miles, in Hancock County and Hawkins County. 1,000 acres.
Martha Sundquist State Forest
Straight-line distance about 32 miles, in Cocke County. 2,001 acres.
Otey Mills Refuge (North Cumberland WMA)
Straight-line distance about 34 miles, in Claiborne County.
How many deer and turkeys Hamblen County produces
572 deer were checked in 2025-26, which is 11% more than the season before. Its average since 2016-17 is 412. Counts ranged from 321 (2018-19) up to 572 (2025-26). Wildlife management area hunters checked 78 of them. Spring turkey hunters checked 178 gobblers in 2026 spring, 85th in the state.
Source: TWRA Hunter’s Toolbox harvest reports, county totals including WMA harvest. Deer seasons run July 1 to June 30. Recent seasons can still be revised slightly by TWRA.
Hamblen County: what is in season
Hamblen County is in bear hunting zone Transitional. Private land baiting is allowed in Hamblen 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
- Bear
- Feral hogYear-round
TWRA 2026-27 guide, checked October 28, 2026.
Seasons and limits in Hamblen County, 2026-27
Deer limits in Unit 6
Antlerless limits: Young Sportsman 2 for the four days, archery 4, the muzzleloader and straight-wall week 2, gun 2, none in August. Crossing into another county in the same unit does not reset the count. Bucks are limited to 2 a season statewide and 1 a day.
Hamblen County archery, muzzleloader and gun
Archery opens Sep 26. Muzzleloader runs Nov 7 to Nov 20, 2026. Gun season runs Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027. These are statewide dates for 2026-27.
Hamblen County: baiting allowed
Deer baiting on private land is legal here with the Deer Bait Privilege License, new for 2026-27. One site per 5 acres, 500 yards apart, scattered only.
Hamblen County fall turkey rules
Fall turkey runs alongside deer archery, with a shotgun window of Oct 17 to 30, 2026 and a single male turkey limit.
Hamblen County bear rules
Transitional counties: Anderson (east of I-75, south of Old Lake City Hwy and Dutch Valley Rd), Bradley, Campbell (south of Hwy 63, east of I-75), Claiborne (east of 25E, south of Hwy 63), Grundy, Marion, Hamblen, Hamilton, Grainger, Jefferson (west of Hwy 411), Knox, Loudon, McMinn (west of Hwy 411), Sequatchie, Union.
From the 2026-27 TWRA hunting guide, checked October 28, 2026. Read the guide.
Sunrise, sunset and legal light in Hamblen County
Start shooting 30 minutes before sunrise and stop 30 minutes after sunset for deer and small game; for turkeys and migratory birds the cutoff is sunset.
Times calculated for the center of Hamblen County in Eastern time. Turkey and migratory bird hunting ends at sunset. Shooting hours for every county.
Meat processing and mounts near Hamblen County
Closest to home first: Hamblen County, then adjacent counties.
Listings come from TWRA, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, state permit lists and business pages. Call before you drive; seasonal hours vary.
Burn bans and permits in Hamblen County
See the Tennessee county list for Hamblen County today.
- When a permit is needed: October 15 through May 15 each year (TCA 39-14-306(a)(1)); required for open-air fires within 500 feet of any forest, grassland or woodland.
- Burn bans come from: Under TCA 39-14-306(b), the Commissioner of Agriculture, in consultation with the State Forester and at the request of county mayors, issues county burn bans.
- Campfires while hunting: TWRA wildlife management areas: Rule 1660-01-14-.13(5)(i) says 'No warming, camping or any type fire shall be allowed except at designated camping areas.
Practice ranges near Hamblen County
Checked October 2026: 2 inside the county line.
Shooting here: trap and shotgun. Open to the public.
Shooting here: pistol and rifle. Call ahead about access.
Upcoming matches
| Date | Event | Type | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2026 | Morristown Trap Club ATA Shoot (November) | Trap | Details |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Morristown Trap Club ATA Shoot (December) | Trap | Details |
Adjacent to Hamblen County
Town pages for Hamblen County: Hunting near Morristown.
Same county, different sport: Hamblen County fishing spots.
5 of the 5 bordering counties had a bigger 2025-26 deer harvest.
Hamblen County hunting FAQ
Can I bait deer in Hamblen County?
On private land, yes, with the $50 resident Deer Bait Privilege License; WMAs stay off limits.
Can I hunt turkey in the fall in Hamblen County?
Yes. Archery during the deer bow dates and shotgun Oct 17 to 30, 2026, one male bird.
Is Hamblen County open to bear hunting?
Yes, under Transitional, with zone-specific dates and dog seasons.
What time does shooting light end in Hamblen County?
See the table above for this week. The rule is sunrise minus 30 minutes to sunset plus 30 for big and small game.
Where can I get a deer processed in Hamblen County?
Listed processors in or next to Hamblen County include Buckeye's Custom Meat Cutting, Manning's Meat Processing and Jordy and Sons Custom Meats.
Is there public hunting land in Hamblen County?
Hamblen County has Rankin WMA. Neighboring areas include Mullins Island PHA, Lick Creek Bottoms WMA and Buffalo Springs WMA.
How many deer were killed in Hamblen County?
572 in 2025-26, which ranked 89th in Tennessee.
Is Hamblen County in Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6?
TWRA places Hamblen County in Unit 6. Antlerless limits: Young Sportsman 2 for the four days, archery 4, the muzzleloader and straight-wall week 2, gun 2, none in August. Crossing into another county in the same unit does not reset the count.
What is the CWD status of Hamblen County?
No, the county is clear of the CWD lists for 2026-27.
Hamblen County hunt planning
Area rules can differ from county rules, so read the listing for the spot you plan to hunt.
Other photos on this page: Dave Williss (CC BY 2.0); USDAgov (Public domain); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0); Calistemon (CC BY-SA 4.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0).