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WMA · East Tennessee
Buffalo Springs WMA
Grainger County: 342 acres of wildlife management area under the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
Photo: Brian Stansberry (CC BY 3.0)
Getting to Buffalo Springs WMA
Parking, trailheads and gates near Buffalo Springs WMA
- Parking areaParking · 0.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 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.
Hunting on Buffalo Springs WMA
TWRA-owned, mostly wooded land near Rutledge in Grainger County, a former CCC game farm. Deer is archery-only, small game shotgun-only, and closed to quail.
Species open on Buffalo Springs WMA include deer, turkey, dove, small game and bear. Grainger County holds the bulk of the area and falls in deer Unit 4.
Before going, open the agency page for this area, which lists dates, permits and the map.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Buffalo Springs WMA
What is open on Buffalo Springs WMA in 2026-27
Species open on this ground, their statewide windows, and the local deer and county rules.
Deer
Under statewide rules the 2026-27 seasons fall between Aug 28, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027. This area’s own dates may be narrower than that.
Turkey
Under statewide rules the 2026-27 seasons fall between Sep 26, 2026 to May 16, 2027. This area’s own dates may be narrower than that.
Dove
Under statewide rules the 2026-27 seasons fall between Sep 1, 2026 to Jul 11, 2027. This area’s own dates may be narrower than that.
Small game
Under statewide rules the 2026-27 seasons fall between Aug 22, 2026 to Jun 13, 2027. Applies to squirrel, rabbit and any other small game this area opens. This area’s own dates may be narrower than that.
Bear
Under statewide rules the 2026-27 seasons fall between Sep 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027. The bear hunting zone sets the rules, and some areas are closed to bear. This area’s own dates may be narrower than that.
Unit 4 bag limits
Archery hunters may take 4 antlerless deer, the muzzleloader and straight-wall week allows 2, gun season 2, and Young Sportsman 2 across its four days. The August hunt allows none, and changing counties inside the unit does not add more. Statewide, hunters may take 2 antlered deer a season and 1 a day.
Bear hunting, Transitional
Grainger County falls in Transitional: 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.
Blaze orange
The law calls for 500 square inches of blaze orange or fluorescent pink, worn on the upper body and head, for big game. Turkey and archery-only hunts are the exceptions.
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.
Open seasons for Buffalo Springs WMA
For bear, Grainger County counts as zone Transitional. Deer baiting on private land in Grainger 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.
Buffalo Springs WMA on the map
Orange marks Buffalo Springs WMA, set at the rough center taken from the TWRA hunting map. Public hunting areas within about 70 miles are marked in gold. Closest towns: Morristown (15 mi), Tazewell (18 mi), Sevierville (22 mi).
Henderson Island Refuge
In Jefferson County, roughly 17 miles off as the crow flies. Covers 525 acres.
Rankin WMA
In Cocke County and Hamblen County, roughly 21 miles off as the crow flies. Covers 1,975 acres.
Chuck Swan State Forest & WMA
In Union County and Campbell County, roughly 23 miles off as the crow flies. Covers 24,705 acres.
Otey Mills Refuge (North Cumberland WMA)
In Claiborne County, roughly 26 miles off as the crow flies.
Businesses that serve Buffalo Springs WMA hunters
Each one is in Grainger County or a county next to it.
Distances are straight-line estimates. Hours change by season, so call ahead. Full services directory.
Buffalo Springs WMA hunting events
1 upcoming event on file (October 2026 check).
Upcoming
| Date | Event | Type | Where | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 5 to Dec 12, 2026 | Hunter Education Classroom Course, Rutledge | Class | Rutledge, Grainger County | Register |
How many deer come out of the Buffalo Springs WMA area
Read these as county numbers, since the area’s own harvest is not reported separately. By reported deer harvest, Grainger County places #74 among 95 counties.
| County | Deer 2023-24 | Deer 2024-25 | Deer 2025-26 | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grainger County | 733 | 889 | 1,023 | #74 of 95 |
Total reported deer harvest by county, WMA harvest included, from TWRA Hunter’s Toolbox reports. Seasons run July 1 to June 30.
Questions about Buffalo Springs WMA
How large is Buffalo Springs WMA?
The agency lists it at roughly 342 acres.
What county is Buffalo Springs WMA in?
It lies in Grainger County, which TWRA counts as East Tennessee. See the official listing for maps and entry points.
What animals can you hunt on Buffalo Springs WMA?
Deer, turkey, dove, small game and bear are listed. Follow the area's own dates, which may be narrower than statewide.
How many deer can I take on Buffalo Springs WMA?
Unit 4, because the area is mainly in Grainger County. Gun season allows 2 antlerless deer, muzzleloader and straight-wall week 2, archery 4 and the four Young Sportsman days 2 combined. No antlerless deer may be taken in the August hunt, and hunting a second county in the unit does not add to the total.
What permit do I need for Buffalo Springs WMA?
Anyone 16 through 64 hunting a TWRA wildlife management area needs a WMA permit (or an annual sportsman license) in addition to the hunting licenses. Federal refuges and certain areas set extra permits.
Which public areas are closest to Buffalo Springs WMA?
Try Henderson Island Refuge (about 17 miles), Rankin WMA (about 21 miles) and Mullins Island PHA (about 21 miles).
Are there quota hunts on Buffalo Springs WMA?
No quota hunts are listed for this area in the current guide. Check the area listing each year, since that can change.
Where do I check in a deer or turkey?
Deer and turkey are checked in by midnight of the day of harvest, before they leave the state, by app (TWRA On The Go), online or at a check station.
Is Buffalo Springs WMA in the CWD zone?
Not for 2026-27: Grainger County is outside the CWD Management Zone and not CWD-positive.
Where can I drop off a deer near Buffalo Springs WMA?
Close options include Sellars Meat Cutting, Helms Custom Slaughtering and Buckeye's Custom Meat Cutting. Many open only during deer season, so call first.
Get ready for Buffalo Springs WMA
Before you hunt, compare the 2026-27 TWRA guide with the Buffalo Springs WMA listing. Both change from season to season.