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Tennessee Public Hunting Land
189 wildlife management areas, national forest, refuges and state forests, grouped by TWRA region.
Photo: Andrew Neel andrewtneel (CC0)
Map of public hunting land in Tennessee
Markers sit at the approximate center of each area from TWRA’s hunting map. Click one for the area page.
129Wildlife management areas129 on this site, largest North Cumberland WMA14State natural areas14 on this site, largest Reelfoot Lake State Natural Area12Public hunting areas12 on this site, largest Obed Wild and Scenic River7National wildlife refuges7 on this site, largest Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge6National forests6 on this site, largest North Cherokee National Forest & WMA6State forests6 on this site, largest Franklin State Forest6Public hunting areas6 on this site, largest Garrett Lake5State parks5 on this site, largest Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA2National recreation areas2 on this site, largest Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (Tennessee portion)2Military installations2 on this site, largest Fort Campbell (Tennessee portion)
West Tennessee public hunting land
68 areas in TWRA Region 1.
- Barkley WMA8,090 acres. Stewart
- Bean Switch Refuge572 acres. Weakley
- Beason Creek PHA460 acres. Hardin
- Beech River WMA450 acres. Henderson, Decatur
- Big Cypress Tree State Natural AreaWeakley
- Big Hill Pond State ParkMcNairy
- Big Sandy WMA2,370 acres. Henry, Benton
- Black Bayou Refuge1,350 acres. Lake
- Bogota WMA2,293 acres. Dyer
- Buffalo Ridge Refuge1,400 acres. Humphreys
- C.M. Gooch WMA7,000 acres. Obion
- Camden WMA3,682 acres. Benton
- Carroll LakeCarroll
- Chambers Creek WMA400 acres. Hardin
- Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge26,997 acres. Lauderdale, Dyer
- Chickasaw State Forest & WMA11,215 acres. Hardeman, Chester
- Colonel Forrest V. Durand WMA736 acres. Madison
- Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge8,862 acres. Stewart
- Cypress Pond Refuge585 acres. Decatur
- Eagle Lake Refuge3,253 acres. Shelby
- Ernest Rice WMA2,900 acres. Dyer
- Fort Ridge WMA1,570 acres. Haywood
- Garrett LakeWeakley
- Grays Creek WMA288 acres. Hardeman
- Harmon Creek WMA983 acres. Benton
- Harts Mill WMA1,758 acres. Carroll, Weakley
- Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge11,556 acres. Haywood
- Hatchie River WMAHardeman, Haywood, McNairy
- Hop-In Refuge650 acres. Obion
- Horns Bluff Refuge1,890 acres. Crockett, Gibson
- Jarrell Switch Refuge250 acres. Carroll
- John Tully WMA15,500 acres. Lauderdale
- Lake Isom National Wildlife Refuge1,850 acres. Lake, Obion
- Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (Tennessee portion)Stewart
- Lick Creek WMA198 acres. Benton
- Lower Hatchie National Wildlife RefugeLauderdale, Tipton
- Maness Swamp Refuge1,200 acres. Gibson, Weakley
- Meeman-Shelby Forest WMA & State Park13,000 acres. Shelby
- Moss Island WMA5,119 acres. Dyer
- Natchez Trace State Forest & WMA48,000 acres. Henderson, Carroll, Benton
- New Hope WMA88 acres. Benton
- Oak Dain Wetland PHAHardeman
- Obion River WMA8,500 acres. Weakley, Obion, Gibson
- Parker Branch WMA263 acres. Gibson
- Perry Switch WMA210 acres. Madison
- Presidents Island WMA6,300 acres. Shelby
- Reelfoot Lake State Natural Area18,000 acres. Lake, Obion
- Reelfoot National Wildlife RefugeObion
- Reelfoot WMA24,000 acres. Lake, Obion
- Reelfoot-Indian Creek Watershed LakesObion
- Sergeant Lee Russell Refuge570 acres. Carroll
- South Fork Waterfowl Refuge778 acres. Madison
- Spring Creek Wetland PHA439 acres. Madison
- Stewart State Forest6,216 acres. Stewart
- Sunk Lake State Natural Area (North Unit)Lauderdale
- Tennessee National Wildlife RefugeHumphreys, Henry, Benton
- Thorny Cypress WMA3,100 acres. Dyer
- Three Rivers WMA1,577 acres. Obion
- Tigrett WMA7,629 acres. Dyer, Gibson, Crockett
- Tull Bottom WMA1,184 acres. Chester
- Tumbleweed WMA5,770 acres. Lake, Dyer
- Walker Branch State Natural Area520 acres. Hardin
- West Sandy WMA4,319 acres. Henry
- White Lake Refuge1,194 acres. Dyer
- White Oak WMA1,194 acres. Hardin
- Whiteville LakeHardeman
- Wolf River State Forest PHA5,488 acres. Fayette
- Wolf River WMA & Ghost River SNA4,236 acres. Fayette, Shelby
Middle Tennessee public hunting land
43 areas in TWRA Region 2.
- AEDC WMA & Woods Reservoir Refuge32,000 acres. Coffee, Franklin
- Bark Camp Barrens WMA2,800 acres. Coffee
- Bear Hollow Mountain WMA22,000 acres. Franklin
- Beaverdam Creek WMA4,055 acres. Hickman, Lewis
- Browntown WMA6,336 acres. Wayne
- Cedar Hill Swamp WMA200 acres. Robertson
- Cedars of Lebanon State Forest5,329 acres. Wilson
- Cedars of Lebanon State Natural Area2,690 acres. Wilson
- Cheatham Lake WMA5,152 acres. Cheatham, Dickson
- Cheatham WMA20,810 acres. Cheatham
- Cowan Marsh PHAFranklin
- Coy Gaither Bedford LakeBedford
- Duck River Complex State Natural Area2,612 acres. Maury
- Eagle Creek WMA22,000 acres. Wayne
- Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade State Natural Area185 acres. Rutherford
- Fate Sanders Barrens State Natural Area230 acres. Rutherford
- Flintville Hatchery750 acres. Lincoln
- Fort Campbell (Tennessee portion)Montgomery, Stewart
- Haley-Jaqueth WMA200 acres. Williamson
- Happy Hollow WMA1,800 acres. Hickman
- Haynes Bottom WMA971 acres. Montgomery
- Head of the Crow State Park Huntable LandsFranklin
- Headwaters WMA600 acres. Cannon
- Hick Hill WMA3,608 acres. Lewis
- Hickory Flats WMA623 acres. Coffee
- Laurel Hill LakeLawrence
- Laurel Hill WMA14,952 acres. Lawrence
- Long Hunter State ParkDavidson, Rutherford
- MTSU WMA995 acres. Hickman
- Maple Springs WMA122 acres. Coffee
- Mingo Swamp WMA460 acres. Franklin
- Normandy WMA750 acres. Coffee, Bedford
- Old Hickory Lake Lock 5 Refuge900 acres. Wilson, Trousdale
- Old Hickory WMA6,000 acres. Wilson, Trousdale, Sumner
- Owl Hollow Mill WMA3,000 acres. Franklin
- Percy Priest WMA10,768 acres. Rutherford, Davidson, Wilson
- Shady Park PHARobertson
- Shelton Ferry WMA628 acres. Montgomery
- Tie Camp WMA3,280 acres. Wayne
- Tims Ford State Park Huntable LandsFranklin
- VFW LakeLawrence
- Williamsport WMA1,722 acres. Maury
- Yanahli WMA12,800 acres. Maury
Plateau Tennessee public hunting land
51 areas in TWRA Region 3.
- Alpine Mountain WMA1,642 acres. Overton
- Anderson Pond PHAWhite
- Battle Creek PHAMarion
- Big Bottom Unit, Bridgestone Firestone WMAVan Buren, White
- Blackburn Fork WMA600 acres. Jackson
- Bledsoe State Forest8,289 acres. Bledsoe, Cumberland, White
- Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness WMA17,000 acres. White, Van Buren
- Catoosa Ridge Refuge1,630 acres. Cumberland
- Catoosa WMA79,740 acres. Cumberland, Morgan
- Charlotte Ann Finnell Neal WMA495 acres. Bradley, Polk
- Chickamauga WMA4,000 acres. Bradley, Rhea, Meigs
- Cordell Hull WMA25,000 acres. Jackson, Smith
- Cordell Hull Waterfowl Refuge600 acres. Jackson
- Crooked Fork Unit, Catoosa WMA1,600 acres. Morgan
- Edgar Evins State Park6,000 acres. DeKalb
- Fall Creek Falls State Natural Area16,181 acres. Van Buren, Bledsoe
- Fall Creek Falls State Park20,000 acres. Bledsoe, Van Buren
- Fourth Fractional Township WMA520 acres. Polk
- Franklin State Forest8,824 acres. Marion, Franklin
- Hampton Crossroads PHAWhite
- Harp WMA285 acres. Bledsoe
- Hicks Gap State Natural Area350 acres. Marion
- Hiwassee Refuge6,000 acres. Meigs, Rhea
- Jackson Swamp WMA203 acres. Overton
- Keyes-Harrison WMA1,740 acres. Cumberland
- Lone Mountain State Forest3,572 acres. Morgan
- Long Branch PHADeKalb
- Luper Mountain WMA5,617 acres. Cumberland
- McGlothin-Largen WMA112 acres. Roane
- Mount Roosevelt WMA11,000 acres. Roane, Cumberland, Morgan
- North Chickamauga Creek WMA5,400 acres. Sequatchie, Hamilton
- Oak Ridge WMA37,000 acres. Anderson, Roane
- Obed Wild and Scenic RiverMorgan, Cumberland
- Ocoee Ranger District, Cherokee NFPolk, Monroe, McMinn
- Paint Rock Refuge1,600 acres. Roane
- Pea Ridge WMA2,000 acres. DeKalb, Cannon
- Pickett State Forest & WMA19,200 acres. Pickett, Fentress
- Pine Orchard Unit, Catoosa WMA1,114 acres. Morgan
- Prentice Cooper State Forest & WMA26,945 acres. Marion, Hamilton
- Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA6,500 acres. White, Van Buren
- Skinner Mountain WMA18,950 acres. Fentress, Overton
- South Cherokee National Forest & WMAMonroe, Polk, McMinn
- Standing Stone State Forest & WMA8,309 acres. Overton, Clay
- Tellico Lake WMA8,000 acres. Monroe, Loudon
- Tellico Ranger District, Cherokee NFMonroe
- The Boils WMA119 acres. Jackson
- Twin Arches State Natural Area1,500 acres. Pickett, Scott
- Watts Bar WMA3,880 acres. Roane, Rhea
- Whites Creek PHARhea, Roane
- William L. Davenport Refuge State Natural Area120 acres. Polk
- Yuchi Refuge2,634 acres. Rhea
East Tennessee public hunting land
27 areas in TWRA Region 4.
- Big South Fork National River and Recreation AreaScott, Fentress, Pickett
- Big Springs PHASullivan
- Buffalo Springs WMA342 acres. Grainger
- Chuck Swan State Forest & WMA24,705 acres. Union, Campbell
- Cove Creek WMA2,450 acres. Campbell
- Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMAClaiborne, Campbell
- Foothills WMA10,000 acres. Blount
- Forks of the River WMA648 acres. Knox
- Fort Loudoun WMA492 acres. Knox
- Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area693 acres. Carter
- Henderson Island Refuge525 acres. Jefferson
- Henderson Swamp PHAWashington
- Holston Army Ammunition PlantHawkins
- Honey Creek State Natural Area109 acres. Scott
- Kyker Bottoms Refuge525 acres. Blount
- Kyles Ford WMA1,000 acres. Hancock, Hawkins
- Lick Creek Bottoms WMA1,400 acres. Greene
- Martha Sundquist State Forest2,001 acres. Cocke
- Mullins Island PHACocke
- Nolichucky WMA1,000 acres. Greene
- North Cherokee National Forest & WMACarter, Johnson, Cocke
- North Cumberland WMA205,000 acres. Campbell, Scott, Claiborne
- Otey Mills Refuge (North Cumberland WMA)Claiborne
- Rankin WMA1,975 acres. Cocke, Hamblen
- Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NFUnicoi, Cocke, Greene
- Watauga Ranger District, Cherokee NFCarter, Johnson, Sullivan
- Whites Mill Refuge53 acres. Blount
National forest, refuges and state forests
Wildlife management areas are listed by region above and on the WMA list.
State natural areas
- Big Cypress Tree State Natural AreaWeakley
- Cedars of Lebanon State Natural AreaWilson
- Duck River Complex State Natural AreaMaury
- Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade State Natural AreaRutherford
- Fall Creek Falls State Natural AreaVan Buren, Bledsoe
- Fate Sanders Barrens State Natural AreaRutherford
- Hampton Creek Cove State Natural AreaCarter
- Hicks Gap State Natural AreaMarion
- Honey Creek State Natural AreaScott
- Reelfoot Lake State Natural AreaLake, Obion
- Sunk Lake State Natural Area (North Unit)Lauderdale
- Twin Arches State Natural AreaPickett, Scott
- Walker Branch State Natural AreaHardin
- William L. Davenport Refuge State Natural AreaPolk
Public hunting areas
- Anderson Pond PHAWhite
- Battle Creek PHAMarion
- Big Springs PHASullivan
- Cowan Marsh PHAFranklin
- Coy Gaither Bedford LakeBedford
- Hampton Crossroads PHAWhite
- Long Branch PHADeKalb
- Mullins Island PHACocke
- Oak Dain Wetland PHAHardeman
- Obed Wild and Scenic RiverMorgan, Cumberland
- Shady Park PHARobertson
- Whites Creek PHARhea, Roane
National wildlife refuges
- Chickasaw National Wildlife RefugeLauderdale, Dyer
- Cross Creeks National Wildlife RefugeStewart
- Hatchie National Wildlife RefugeHaywood
- Lake Isom National Wildlife RefugeLake, Obion
- Lower Hatchie National Wildlife RefugeLauderdale, Tipton
- Reelfoot National Wildlife RefugeObion
- Tennessee National Wildlife RefugeHumphreys, Henry, Benton
National forests
- North Cherokee National Forest & WMACarter, Johnson, Cocke
- Ocoee Ranger District, Cherokee NFPolk, Monroe, McMinn
- South Cherokee National Forest & WMAMonroe, Polk, McMinn
- Tellico Ranger District, Cherokee NFMonroe
- Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NFUnicoi, Cocke, Greene
- Watauga Ranger District, Cherokee NFCarter, Johnson, Sullivan
State forests
- Bledsoe State ForestBledsoe, Cumberland, White
- Cedars of Lebanon State ForestWilson
- Franklin State ForestMarion, Franklin
- Lone Mountain State ForestMorgan
- Martha Sundquist State ForestCocke
- Stewart State ForestStewart
Public hunting areas
- Carroll LakeCarroll
- Garrett LakeWeakley
- Laurel Hill LakeLawrence
- Reelfoot-Indian Creek Watershed LakesObion
- VFW LakeLawrence
- Whiteville LakeHardeman
State parks
- Big Hill Pond State ParkMcNairy
- Head of the Crow State Park Huntable LandsFranklin
- Long Hunter State ParkDavidson, Rutherford
- Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHAWhite, Van Buren
- Tims Ford State Park Huntable LandsFranklin
National recreation areas
- Big South Fork National River and Recreation AreaScott, Fentress, Pickett
- Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (Tennessee portion)Stewart
Military installations
- Fort Campbell (Tennessee portion)Montgomery, Stewart
- Holston Army Ammunition PlantHawkins
Places in Tennessee closed to hunting
National parks and battlefields, TVA dam reservations and some refuges do not allow hunting.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee portion)National Park Service unit with no federal statute or special regulation authorizing hunting; 36 CFR 2.2 bars taking wildlife in park areas except where hunting
- Natchez Trace Parkway (Tennessee portion)National Park Service unit with no federal statute or special regulation authorizing hunting; 36 CFR 2.2 bars taking wildlife in park areas except where hunting
- Fort Donelson National BattlefieldNPS says hunting is prohibited in all areas of the battlefield.
- Stones River National BattlefieldNational Park Service unit with no federal statute or special regulation authorizing hunting; 36 CFR 2.2 bars taking wildlife in park areas except where hunting
- Shiloh National Military ParkNational Park Service unit with no federal statute or special regulation authorizing hunting; 36 CFR 2.2 bars taking wildlife in park areas except where hunting
- Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park (Tennessee units)National Park Service unit with no federal statute or special regulation authorizing hunting; 36 CFR 2.2 bars taking wildlife in park areas except where hunting
- Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (Tennessee portion)National Park Service unit with no federal statute or special regulation authorizing hunting; 36 CFR 2.2 bars taking wildlife in park areas except where hunting
- Andrew Johnson National Historic SiteNational Park Service unit with no federal statute or special regulation authorizing hunting; 36 CFR 2.2 bars taking wildlife in park areas except where hunting
- Kingston Refuge (TWRA)TWRA's page says it is closed to hunting, trapping and dog training.
- Sunk Lake State Natural Area – South UnitRefuge unit open to the public only March 16-Nov. 14 and closed to hunting; only the north unit is open.
- TVA dam reservations (all Tennessee reservoirs)TVA's land layer marks every dam reservation 'No Hunting'; TVA also bars hunting at power plant reservations, substations, campgrounds and day-use areas.
- TVA Melton Hill and Nickajack no-hunting dispersed recreation tractsTVA maps these specific dispersed recreation tracts as 'Dispersed Recreation – No Hunting'.
Closures from the National Park Service, TVA and TWRA, checked October 9, 2026.
Public land questions
How much public hunting land is in Tennessee?
TWRA manages or co-manages more than a million acres across its wildlife management areas, with more in the national forest, refuges and Big South Fork.
What is the biggest WMA in Tennessee?
North Cumberland WMA, about 205,000 acres in Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Morgan and Scott counties.
Do I need a permit to hunt WMAs?
A WMA permit for hunters 16 to 64, unless you hold an Annual Sportsman license. Some areas also run quota hunts drawn in advance.
Can I hunt Cherokee National Forest?
Yes. TWRA manages hunting on the North and South Cherokee as WMAs under the statewide rules plus their own listings.
Can I hunt national wildlife refuges in Tennessee?
Several refuges, including Tennessee, Cross Creeks, Reelfoot, Chickasaw and Hatchie, allow hunting under refuge-specific rules and permits.
Are WMA seasons the same as statewide seasons?
Not always. Each WMA has its own dates, and they can be shorter or limited to certain weapons.
Where are the best duck hunting areas?
West Tennessee: Reelfoot, the Tennessee River refuges and the Mississippi River bottoms. See the waterfowl page.
How were these locations mapped?
From TWRA’s official Hunting Allowed map layer and each agency’s pages, checked October 2026.