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WMA · Plateau Tennessee
Paint Rock Refuge
Wildlife management area covering 1,600 acres in Roane County, run by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
Photo: Brian Stansberry (CC BY 3.0)
Getting to Paint Rock Refuge
Parking, trailheads and gates near Paint Rock Refuge
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.3 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.
Paint Rock Refuge at a glance
Forest, shrub edges and fields next to Watts Bar Lake in Roane County. Deer is archery-only and small game is shotgun-only.
Game listed here: deer, turkey and small game. The area is chiefly in Roane County, which TWRA places in deer Unit 5.
For the area map, hunt dates and permit rules, see the official Paint Rock Refuge page.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Paint Rock Refuge
Hunting seasons for Paint Rock Refuge
Each card below covers one listed species or one rule that applies to this county.
Deer
Across the state, 2026-27 seasons open and close within Aug 28, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027. Check whether the area shortens it.
Turkey
Across the state, 2026-27 seasons open and close within Sep 26, 2026 to May 16, 2027. Check whether the area shortens it.
Small game
Across the state, 2026-27 seasons open and close within Aug 22, 2026 to Jun 13, 2027. Small game here means squirrel, rabbit and the others the area listing allows. Check whether the area shortens it.
How many deer in Unit 5
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 Paint Rock Refuge
Bear hunting is closed in Roane County. Deer baiting on private land in Roane 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
- Feral hogYear-round
TWRA 2026-27 guide, checked October 28, 2026.
Public land around Paint Rock Refuge
Paint Rock 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: Kingston (7 mi), Athens (23 mi), Wartburg (24 mi).
Watts Bar WMA
Straight-line distance is about 4 miles; it is in Roane County and Rhea County. 3,880 acres in all.
McGlothin-Largen WMA
Straight-line distance is about 7 miles; it is in Roane County. 112 acres in all.
Mount Roosevelt WMA
Straight-line distance is about 15 miles; it is in Roane County and Cumberland County. 11,000 acres in all.
Whites Creek PHA
Straight-line distance is about 16 miles; it is in Rhea County and Roane County.
Pine Orchard Unit, Catoosa WMA
Straight-line distance is about 18 miles; it is in Morgan County. 1,114 acres in all.
Oak Ridge WMA
Straight-line distance is about 18 miles; it is in Anderson County and Roane County. 37,000 acres in all.
Local services for a hunt on Paint Rock Refuge
Businesses in Roane County and the neighboring counties.
Distances are straight-line estimates. Hours change by season, so call ahead. Full services directory.
Deer checked in around Paint Rock Refuge
County totals, not numbers from this area alone. Statewide, Roane County is #18 of 95 for deer checked in.
| County | Deer 2023-24 | Deer 2024-25 | Deer 2025-26 | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roane County | 2,271 | 2,312 | 2,293 | #18 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 Paint Rock Refuge
Which part of Tennessee is Paint Rock Refuge in?
Roane County, in the Plateau Tennessee region used by TWRA. The official area page has maps and access points: TWRA listing.
What can I hunt on Paint Rock Refuge?
Its listing covers deer, turkey and small game. Dates come from the area listing and may be shorter than statewide.
Which deer unit is Paint Rock Refuge in?
Roane County, and so this area, is in Unit 5. 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 Paint Rock Refuge?
No CWD county rules apply in Roane County for 2026-27; it is outside the zone.
Which licenses cover Paint Rock 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 Paint Rock Refuge need a quota permit?
None appear in the current guide for this area. Recheck the listing each season.
What acreage does Paint Rock Refuge have?
Its listed size is about 1,600 acres.
What other public land is near Paint Rock Refuge?
The closest listed areas are Watts Bar WMA (about 4 miles), McGlothin-Largen WMA (about 7 miles) and Mount Roosevelt WMA (about 15 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 Paint Rock Refuge?
The nearest listed processors are Aull's Poplar Creek Ranch, Rick Hill Taxidermy & Processing and Watts Bar Wildlife Artistry. Most keep seasonal hours, so check by phone.
Paint Rock Refuge trip planning
Confirm the 2026-27 dates and any area rules in the TWRA guide and the Paint Rock Refuge listing ahead of your hunt.