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Plateau Tennessee
Meigs County Hunting
Meigs County WMAs and public ground, harvest by season, the 2026-27 dates and limits, and local meat processors and shops.
Photo: TimothyJ (CC BY 2.0)
Meigs County sits in Plateau Tennessee with 195 square miles of land and 22 square miles of water, and its 2025-26 deer check-in of 1,394 put it 55th in the state. The harvest density was close to 7.1 deer for each square mile. It accounted for 0.9% of the statewide deer harvest.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Meigs County
Public areas for Meigs County hunters
Meigs County holds 2 listed public areas, with 8 others inside a 45 mile radius. Orange pins mark areas inside the county.
Hiwassee Refuge
6,000 acres with deer, turkey, waterfowl, dove, small game on the list.
Mount Roosevelt WMA
Located in Roane County and Cumberland County, around 26 miles from mid-county. 11,000 acres.
Watts Bar WMA
Located in Roane County and Rhea County, around 28 miles from mid-county. 3,880 acres.
Charlotte Ann Finnell Neal WMA
Located in Bradley County and Polk County, around 28 miles from mid-county. 495 acres.
Meigs County deer harvest by season
Deer check-ins went from 1,471 in 2024-25 to 1,394 in 2025-26, a 5% drop. Over ten seasons the county averaged 1,248 deer a year. High mark: 1,471 in 2024-25. Low mark: 1,070 in 2018-19. TWRA counts 232 of those deer as WMA harvest. In 2026 spring, 194 turkeys came out of the county (80th in Tennessee).
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.
Open seasons for Meigs County
Meigs County sits outside every bear zone. With a Deer Bait Privilege License, bait is legal on private land in Meigs County.
- 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.
Meigs County deer, turkey and bear rules
Unit 5 deer limits
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. Antlered deer: 2 per season statewide, 1 per day.
2026-27 deer dates for Meigs County
2026-27 schedule: bows Sep 26, muzzleloaders Nov 7 to Nov 20, 2026, rifles and shotguns Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, same as the rest of Tennessee.
Bait sites in Meigs County
Not a CWD county, so private land baiting is open with the bait license. Keep it scattered, at one site per 5 acres spaced 500 yards.
Fall gobbler hunting, Meigs County
Fall hunting is allowed here: one male turkey, taken by bow during deer archery or by shotgun Oct 17 to 30, 2026.
From the 2026-27 TWRA hunting guide, checked October 28, 2026. Read the guide.
Meigs County shooting hours this week
The window for big and small game is sunrise minus 30 minutes to sunset plus 30. Turkeys and migratory birds close at sunset itself.
Times calculated for the center of Meigs County in Eastern time. Turkey and migratory bird hunting ends at sunset. Shooting hours for every county.
Hunting services around Meigs County
Ordered by county: Meigs first, then its neighbors.
Listings come from TWRA, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, state permit lists and business pages. Call before you drive; seasonal hours vary.
Meigs County hunting events
3 past results on file (October 2026 check).
Results
| Date | Event | Winner or result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2025 | 2025 Ten Mile 300 Pro Slam (UKC Coonhound) | GRNITECH PR World War Z, owners Jonathon Moses, Joshua Sparks and Josh Jones, handler Jonathon Moses; $2,000 | Source |
| Jun 6, 2026 | 2026 Ten Mile 300 Pro Slam (UKC Coonhound) | GRNITECH(2) 'PR' World War Z (TW), owners Jonathon Moses, Joshua Sparks and Josh Jones, handler Jason Russell; $2,000 | Source |
| Jul 11, 2026 | Ten Mile HA RQE #192 Nite Hunt and Bench Show | GRNITECH Maxed Out Dow Jones TW (Josh Jones, Jonathon Moses) | Source |
Burn bans and permits in Meigs County
See the Tennessee county list for Meigs County today.
- Burn permit: 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.
- Who sets a ban: 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.
- Warming fires: 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.
Gun ranges in and around Meigs County
Nothing is listed within the county line; the nearest ones are shown with miles from the county center.
Call ahead about access, with pistol, rifle, plus shotgun.
Members only, with pistol, rifle, skeet, trap, plus archery.
Open to the public, with sporting clays.
Hunt the counties next to Meigs County
If you fish too, see Meigs County fishing spots.
There are 5 counties on the Meigs County line; 4 checked more deer than it did.
Questions about hunting Meigs County
How early can I shoot in Meigs County?
From a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset for most game; the weekly table above has the exact times.
Can I hunt bear in Meigs County?
Not open. Only counties in a listed bear zone have a season.
Where can I hunt public land in Meigs County?
Inside the county: Chickamauga WMA and Hiwassee Refuge. Just beyond the line you will find Yuchi Refuge, Harp WMA and Whites Creek PHA.
Where can I drop off a deer in Meigs County?
Options close by include Watts Bar Wildlife Artistry, Creekside Custom Butchering and Sale Creek Deer Processing.
What unit sets the deer limits for Meigs County?
Unit 5 covers the county for 2026-27. 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.
How many deer were checked in Meigs County?
Hunters reported 1,394 deer in Meigs County in 2025-26, ranking 55th of 95 counties.
What are the bait rules in Meigs County?
Yes, on private land with the Deer Bait Privilege License ($50 resident). Baiting is still not allowed on WMAs.
Is Meigs County in the CWD zone?
It is neither CWD-positive nor in the management zone.
Is there a fall turkey season in Meigs County?
Yes. Fall archery follows the deer archery dates and fall shotgun runs Oct 17 to 30, 2026, with a limit of one male turkey.
Getting ready to hunt Meigs County
Check the 2026-27 TWRA guide and each area listing before you hunt in Meigs County.
Other photos on this page: TimothyJ (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); fredsharples (CC BY 2.0); PierreSelim (CC BY 3.0); Bonesaw 0311 (CC BY 2.0); USDAgov (Public domain); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0).