Home › Tennessee › Public land › Cedars of Lebanon State Forest
State Forest · Middle Tennessee
Cedars of Lebanon State Forest
Wilson County: 5,329 acres of state forest under the Tennessee Division of Forestry.
Photo: Brian Stansberry (CC BY 3.0)
Hunting Cedars of Lebanon State Forest
Eastern red cedar and hardwood forest in southern Wilson County next to Cedars of Lebanon State Park. TWRA lists it as open with statewide seasons; a permit is required to enter the state natural area, and OHVs are prohibited.
Access and hunt rules: Open with statewide seasons. Tennessee State Parks issues a free Cedar Forest hunting permit (online or at the Cedars of Lebanon office) that must be carried and shown on the vehicle dash; permits expire at the end of February. A permit is required to enter the state natural area (615-443-2769).
Some units inside it have their own pages: Cedars of Lebanon State Natural Area.
Species open on Cedars of Lebanon State Forest include deer, turkey and small game. Wilson County holds the bulk of the area and falls in deer Unit 3.
Maps, dates and permit requirements are on the official area page.
Cedars of Lebanon State Forest: gear to bring
Four picks from the deer rifle hunting checklist, with links to current prices.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
2026-27 seasons on Cedars of Lebanon State Forest
What can be hunted here under the current guide, and the county rules that come with it.
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.
Small game
Under statewide rules the 2026-27 seasons fall between Aug 22, 2026 to Jun 13, 2027. That includes squirrel, rabbit and other small game the area permits. This area’s own dates may be narrower than that.
Unit 3 deer limits
Archery, muzzleloader, straight-wall rifle, gun and Young Sportsman hunters may each take 3 antlerless deer per day here. The August hunt has no antlerless allowance. Two antlered deer per season is the statewide cap, with 1 allowed per day.
Hunter orange
Wear at least 500 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink above the waist and on the head when hunting big game; archery-only and turkey hunts are exempt.
Statewide dates and limits from the 2026-27 TWRA hunting guide, checked October 12, 2026. Each WMA has its own dates and rules in the guide; the area listing wins where it differs.
Cedars of Lebanon State Forest season check
There is no open bear season in Wilson County. Private land baiting is allowed in Wilson 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
- Feral hogYear-round
TWRA 2026-27 guide, checked October 12, 2026.
Nearby hunting land and the Cedars of Lebanon State Forest map
The orange marker is Cedars of Lebanon State Forest (approximate center from the TWRA hunting map). Each gold marker is another public hunting area inside a 70 mile radius. Nearby towns by straight-line distance: Lebanon (11 mi), Murfreesboro (15 mi), Carthage (25 mi).
Cedars of Lebanon State Natural Area
In Wilson County, roughly 5 miles off as the crow flies. Listed at 2,690 acres.
Fate Sanders Barrens State Natural Area
In Rutherford County, roughly 10 miles off as the crow flies. Listed at 230 acres.
Percy Priest WMA
In Rutherford County and Davidson County, roughly 11 miles off as the crow flies. Listed at 10,768 acres.
Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade State Natural Area
In Rutherford County, roughly 14 miles off as the crow flies. Listed at 185 acres.
Long Hunter State Park
In Davidson County and Rutherford County, roughly 14 miles off as the crow flies.
Old Hickory Lake Lock 5 Refuge
In Wilson County and Trousdale County, roughly 19 miles off as the crow flies. Listed at 900 acres.
Hunting services near Cedars of Lebanon State Forest
These are in Wilson County or an adjoining county.
Distances are straight-line estimates. Hours change by season, so call ahead. Full services directory.
Deer harvest in the counties around Cedars of Lebanon State Forest
Figures cover entire counties; area-only harvest is not broken out. The ranking puts Wilson County #6 out of 95 for deer harvest.
| County | Deer 2023-24 | Deer 2024-25 | Deer 2025-26 | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson County | 2,862 | 3,007 | 3,030 | #6 of 95 |
Total reported deer harvest by county, WMA harvest included, from TWRA Hunter’s Toolbox reports. Seasons run July 1 to June 30.
What hunters ask about Cedars of Lebanon State Forest
Which species can be hunted on Cedars of Lebanon State Forest?
You can hunt deer, turkey and small game, on the dates the area listing gives rather than the statewide calendar.
Where exactly is Cedars of Lebanon State Forest?
TWRA places Cedars of Lebanon State Forest in its Middle region; the ground is in Wilson County. For access points and a map, use the area listing.
Which licenses cover Cedars of Lebanon State Forest?
Open with statewide seasons. Tennessee State Parks issues a free Cedar Forest hunting permit (online or at the Cedars of Lebanon office) that must be carried and shown on the vehicle dash; permits expire at the end of February. A permit is required to enter the state natural area (615-443-2769). Any area permit is set by the Tennessee Division of Forestry, which manages it. Bring a valid Tennessee hunting license as well.
How many acres is Cedars of Lebanon State Forest?
Cedars of Lebanon State Forest covers about 5,329 acres, the figure on the managing agency's page.
Which antlerless unit applies on Cedars of Lebanon State Forest?
Wilson County is in deer Unit 3. Three antlerless a day is the cap across Young Sportsman, archery, muzzleloader, straight-wall rifle and gun hunts, with no antlerless deer in the August hunt.
Are hunts on Cedars of Lebanon State Forest drawn by quota?
The guide shows no quota hunts here at present; confirm in the area listing each season.
What is the deadline to check in big game?
Big game must be checked in the same day, by midnight, through TWRA On The Go, online or at a station, and before leaving the state.
Is Cedars of Lebanon State Forest in a CWD county?
Wilson County is not on the CWD-positive list or in the CWD Management Zone for 2026-27.
Where do I take a deer from Cedars of Lebanon State Forest for processing?
Nearby processors on our list: Lebanon Locker, PawPaw's Place and Hogwood Custom Processing. Call to confirm they are taking deer, as many run seasonally.
Are there other WMAs near Cedars of Lebanon State Forest?
On the map, the closest are Cedars of Lebanon State Natural Area (about 5 miles), Fate Sanders Barrens State Natural Area (about 10 miles) and Percy Priest WMA (about 11 miles).
Before you hunt Cedars of Lebanon State Forest
Read the 2026-27 TWRA guide and the Cedars of Lebanon State Forest listing before each trip; dates and limits change yearly.