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WMA · East Tennessee
Kyker Bottoms Refuge
Wildlife management area, 525 acres, in Blount County. Management falls to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
Photo: Andrew Neel andrewtneel (CC0)
Getting to Kyker Bottoms Refuge
Parking, trailheads and gates near Kyker Bottoms Refuge
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.2 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.
Kyker Bottoms Refuge at a glance
About 135 acres of wetland and 513 acres of early successional habitat and oak savanna off US 129 in Blount County. Closed to all use Nov. 15 through February except observation areas; small game is youth/adult only.
Kyker Bottoms Refuge is listed for deer, turkey, small game and feral hogs. For deer limits, Blount County puts it in Unit 6.
For the area map, hunt dates and permit rules, see the official Kyker Bottoms Refuge page.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Kyker Bottoms Refuge
Hunting seasons for Kyker Bottoms Refuge
Each card below covers one listed species or one rule that applies to this county.
Deer
Statewide, 2026-27 hunting for this species spans Aug 28, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027. Area seasons are sometimes shorter than the statewide ones.
Turkey
Statewide, 2026-27 hunting for this species spans Sep 26, 2026 to May 16, 2027. Area seasons are sometimes shorter than the statewide ones.
Small game
Statewide, 2026-27 hunting for this species spans Aug 22, 2026 to Jun 13, 2027. Small game here means squirrel, rabbit and the others the area listing allows. Area seasons are sometimes shorter than the statewide ones.
Feral hogs
Hogs may be taken here only under this area’s own listing in the TWRA guide.
How many deer in Unit 6
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. No more than 1 antlered deer a day, or 2 a season, anywhere in the state.
Orange or pink rule
Big game hunters wear 500 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink on the upper body and head, except during archery-only and turkey hunts.
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.
Seasons open around Kyker Bottoms Refuge
Blount County is in bear hunting zone BHZ2. Private land baiting is allowed in Blount 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.
Public land around Kyker Bottoms Refuge
Kyker Bottoms Refuge is the orange point; its position is an approximate center from TWRA mapping. Other public hunting areas within roughly 70 miles appear in gold. Towns closest to the area: Maryville (12 mi), Tellico Plains (19 mi), Townsend (21 mi).
Tellico Lake WMA
Roughly 4 straight-line miles from Kyker Bottoms Refuge, in Monroe County and Loudon County. 8,000 acres in all.
Foothills WMA
Roughly 5 straight-line miles from Kyker Bottoms Refuge, in Blount County. 10,000 acres in all.
Whites Mill Refuge
Roughly 16 straight-line miles from Kyker Bottoms Refuge, in Blount County. 53 acres in all.
Tellico Ranger District, Cherokee NF
Roughly 17 straight-line miles from Kyker Bottoms Refuge, in Monroe County.
Paint Rock Refuge
Roughly 23 straight-line miles from Kyker Bottoms Refuge, in Roane County. 1,600 acres in all.
Fort Loudoun WMA
Roughly 24 straight-line miles from Kyker Bottoms Refuge, in Knox County. 492 acres in all.
Local services for a hunt on Kyker Bottoms Refuge
Businesses in Blount County and the neighboring counties.
Distances are straight-line estimates. Hours change by season, so call ahead. Full services directory.
Deer checked in around Kyker Bottoms Refuge
County totals, not numbers from this area alone. Statewide, Blount County is #78 of 95 for deer checked in.
| County | Deer 2023-24 | Deer 2024-25 | Deer 2025-26 | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blount County | 851 | 988 | 1,001 | #78 of 95 |
Total reported deer harvest by county, WMA harvest included, from TWRA Hunter’s Toolbox reports. Seasons run July 1 to June 30.
Common questions on Kyker Bottoms Refuge
Which part of Tennessee is Kyker Bottoms Refuge in?
Blount County, in the East Tennessee region used by TWRA. The official area page has maps and access points: TWRA listing.
What can I hunt on Kyker Bottoms Refuge?
Its listing covers deer, turkey, small game and feral hogs. Dates come from the area listing and may be shorter than statewide.
Which deer unit is Kyker Bottoms Refuge in?
Blount County, and so this area, is in Unit 6. Young Sportsman days carry a combined antlerless limit of 2, archery 4, the muzzleloader and straight-wall week 2, and gun 2. None are allowed in the August hunt, and the limit applies across the unit rather than per county.
Does CWD affect hunting on Kyker Bottoms Refuge?
No CWD county rules apply in Blount County for 2026-27; it is outside the zone.
Which licenses cover Kyker Bottoms Refuge?
For ages 16 to 64, carry a WMA permit or annual sportsman license along with the right hunting licenses. Some areas, and federal refuges, have permits of their own.
Do any hunts on Kyker Bottoms Refuge need a quota permit?
None appear in the current guide for this area. Recheck the listing each season.
What acreage does Kyker Bottoms Refuge have?
Its listed size is about 525 acres.
What other public land is near Kyker Bottoms Refuge?
The closest listed areas are Tellico Lake WMA (about 4 miles), Foothills WMA (about 5 miles) and Whites Mill Refuge (about 16 miles).
When must I check in a deer or turkey?
Check in big game by midnight on the day of harvest through the TWRA On The Go app, online or at a check station, and before the animal leaves the state.
Who processes deer near Kyker Bottoms Refuge?
The nearest listed processors are D & C Morgan's Meat Processing, Keith's Butcher Shop and Rick Hill Taxidermy & Processing. Most keep seasonal hours, so check by phone.
Kyker Bottoms Refuge trip planning
Confirm the 2026-27 dates and any area rules in the TWRA guide and the Kyker Bottoms Refuge listing ahead of your hunt.