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Plateau Tennessee
Hunting Near Clinton, TN
Public hunting land within driving distance of Clinton, with the 2026-27 season dates that apply and the processors and shops closest to town.
Photo: ShenandoahNPS (Public domain)
Clinton public land by distance
At about 11 miles, Cove Creek WMA is the first public area you reach from Clinton. Inside 30 miles there are roughly 282,226 public acres across 13 areas. For the most room, North Cumberland WMA has 205,000 acres about 17 miles out. Mileage is measured from the middle of Clinton in a straight line.
| Area | Distance | Type | Acres | Species | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cove Creek WMA | 11 mi | WMA | 2,450 | deer; turkey; small game; bear | Campbell |
| Oak Ridge WMA | 11 mi | WMA | 37,000 | deer; turkey; waterfowl; coyote | Anderson, Roane |
| Fort Loudoun WMA | 15 mi | WMA | 492 | waterfowl | Knox |
| North Cumberland WMA | 17 mi | WMA | 205,000 | deer; turkey; small game; bear; elk | Campbell, Scott |
| Forks of the River WMA | 19 mi | WMA | 648 | deer; turkey; dove; small game; bear | Knox |
| Chuck Swan State Forest & WMA | 20 mi | WMA | 24,705 | deer; turkey; waterfowl; dove; small game | Union, Campbell |
| Lone Mountain State Forest | 25 mi | State Forest | 3,572 | deer; turkey; small game | Morgan |
| Crooked Fork Unit, Catoosa WMA | 27 mi | WMA | 1,600 | deer; turkey; small game; hogs | Morgan |
| Watts Bar WMA | 28 mi | WMA | 3,880 | deer; turkey; waterfowl; small game | Roane, Rhea |
| Whites Mill Refuge | 29 mi | WMA | 53 | waterfowl | Blount |
| Paint Rock Refuge | 29 mi | WMA | 1,600 | deer; turkey; small game | Roane |
| McGlothin-Largen WMA | 30 mi | WMA | 112 | deer; turkey; waterfowl; dove; small game | Roane |
| Pine Orchard Unit, Catoosa WMA | 30 mi | WMA | 1,114 | deer; turkey; small game | Morgan |
| Buffalo Springs WMA | 33 mi | WMA | 342 | deer; turkey; dove; small game; bear | Grainger |
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Clinton
Short drives from Clinton
Start with these four, then check each one’s page for dates and rules.
2026-27 seasons for Clinton hunters
Clinton deer bag
Anderson County falls under Unit 4. Here the antlerless bag is set per segment, 4 in archery and 2 each in the youth hunt, the muzzleloader and straight-wall week, and gun season. Limits are per unit, not per county.
Anderson County CWD rules
CWD rules do not cover this county, so licensed baiting on private land is allowed.
Licenses and hunter ed
Residents 16 to 64 can cover every hunt with the $165 Annual Sportsman license, which includes WMA permits. Hunter education is required for anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1969.
Statewide dates from the 2026-27 TWRA guide, checked October 28, 2026.
Anderson County near Clinton season check
Zone BHZ4 and Transitional bear dates apply in Anderson County. Elk can be hunted by permit in Anderson County. Anderson County allows deer bait on private land with a Deer Bait Privilege 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
- Elk
- Feral hogYear-round
TWRA 2026-27 guide, checked October 28, 2026.
Clinton legal light by day
Deer and small game hours run a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset.
Calculated for Clinton in Eastern time.
Where to process a deer near Clinton
Sorted by county, starting with Anderson.
Shooting ranges near Clinton
The three closest listed ranges, straight-line miles from town.
Open to the public. Listed for pistol / rifle / archery / shotgun.
Clinton: quick answers
How much public land is around Clinton?
Within 30 miles: 13. Within 75 miles: 14.
Clinton is in what county?
County rules for Anderson County apply. Anderson County hunting has more on the county.
What are the doe limits near Clinton?
Unit 4. Doe limits in Tennessee are set by unit.
When does gun season start near Clinton?
Gun season is Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, after archery opens Sep 26, 2026.
Can I take a turkey in the fall near Clinton?
Yes. Fall archery and the Oct 17 to 30 shotgun season are open in Anderson County, 1 male turkey for the fall.
What deer processors are close to Clinton?
Coldwater Farms, Adam's Taxidermy & Processing and Broken Wing Meat Processing are listed nearby.
Do WMAs near Clinton need a permit?
For ages 16 to 64, yes. Annual Sportsman holders already have it.
What is the deer harvest near Clinton?
TWRA counted 1,011 deer from Anderson County in 2025-26.
Which public hunting area is nearest Clinton?
About 11 miles to Cove Creek WMA.
Before you hunt near Clinton
Hunting from a nearby town? Hunting near Knoxville, Hunting near LaFollette, Hunting near Wartburg.
Other photos on this page: Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0); GerryT (CC BY 2.0); Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0); Kaldari (Public domain).