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East Tennessee
Hunting Near Morristown, TN
How far Morristown hunters drive to public land, which 2026-27 rules apply in Hamblen County, and who processes deer close by.
Photo: Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0)
Public hunting areas around Morristown
Mullins Island PHA is the nearest public area, roughly 7 miles from Morristown. That 30 mile ring holds 7 listed areas and around 6,242 acres. Biggest of the bunch: Chuck Swan State Forest & WMA, 24,705 acres, around 36 miles. Distances are straight-line miles from the center of Morristown; road miles run longer.
| Area | Distance | Type | Acres | Species | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mullins Island PHA | 7 mi | Public area | n/a | deer / turkey / small game | Cocke |
| Rankin WMA | 10 mi | WMA | 1,975 | deer / turkey / waterfowl / small game / hogs | Cocke, Hamblen |
| Lick Creek Bottoms WMA | 13 mi | WMA | 1,400 | deer / turkey / dove / small game | Greene |
| Buffalo Springs WMA | 15 mi | WMA | 342 | deer / turkey / dove / small game / bear | Grainger |
| Henderson Island Refuge | 16 mi | WMA | 525 | deer / turkey / small game / bear | Jefferson |
| Nolichucky WMA | 26 mi | WMA | 1,000 | deer / turkey / waterfowl / small game | Greene |
| Kyles Ford WMA | 29 mi | WMA | 1,000 | deer / turkey / small game / bear | Hancock, Hawkins |
| Martha Sundquist State Forest | 32 mi | State Forest | 2,001 | bear | Cocke |
| Otey Mills Refuge (North Cumberland WMA) | 34 mi | WMA | n/a | deer / turkey / small game / bear | Claiborne |
| Forks of the River WMA | 35 mi | WMA | 648 | deer / turkey / dove / small game / bear | Knox |
| Chuck Swan State Forest & WMA | 36 mi | WMA | 24,705 | deer / turkey / waterfowl / dove / small game | Union, Campbell |
| Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF | 39 mi | National Forest | n/a | deer / turkey / dove / small game / bear | Unicoi, Cocke |
| Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA | 40 mi | WMA | n/a | deer / turkey / small game / bear / hogs | Claiborne, Campbell |
| Henderson Swamp PHA | 40 mi | WMA | n/a | deer / turkey / dove / small game / bear | Washington |
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Morristown
Nearest WMAs and refuges to Morristown
Each area page has its own map, season dates and special rules.
Seasons and rules around Morristown
Deer limits for Morristown hunters
Unit for Hamblen County: Unit 6. A hunter can take 4 antlerless deer in archery, then 2 each in the youth, muzzleloader and straight-wall, and gun seasons. Moving to another county in the unit gives no extra tags.
Is Hamblen County in the CWD zone
Outside the CWD zone. Private land baiting is legal with the bait license.
License and permits
One license, the $165 Annual Sportsman, handles all hunting for residents aged 16 to 64, WMA permits included. Hunters born Jan. 1, 1969 or later must pass hunter education.
Statewide dates from the 2026-27 TWRA guide, checked October 28, 2026.
Open seasons for Hamblen County near Morristown
Hamblen County hunters follow zone Transitional bear rules. With a Deer Bait Privilege License, bait is legal on private land in Hamblen County.
- 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.
Morristown shooting hours this week
Legal light for most game opens half an hour before sunrise and ends half an hour after sunset.
Calculated for Morristown in Eastern time.
Hunting services around Morristown
Closest county first: Hamblen, then the ring around it.
Ranges close to Morristown
The nearest is Morristown Trap Club, about 4 miles away.
Open to the public, with trap and shotgun.
Call ahead about access, with pistol and rifle.
Call ahead about access, with trap.
Questions about hunting near Morristown
Do I need a WMA permit?
Yes, for hunters 16 to 64 on TWRA wildlife management areas, unless you hold an Annual Sportsman license, which includes it.
Where can I take a deer to be processed near Morristown?
Nearby listings include Buckeye's Custom Meat Cutting, Manning's Meat Processing and Jordy and Sons Custom Meats.
What is the nearest WMA to Morristown?
Head to Mullins Island PHA, around 7 miles out.
How many deer came out of Hamblen County last season?
Hamblen County checked 572 deer in 2025-26, ranking 89th.
Which county rules apply in Morristown?
Morristown is in Hamblen County. Hamblen County hunting lists the deer harvest and local rules.
Is there much public hunting near Morristown?
The list shows 7 areas in a 30 mile radius and 14 out to 75 miles.
What are the 2026-27 deer dates for Morristown?
Sep 26, 2026 for bows and Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 for guns, same as statewide.
What unit sets deer limits around Morristown?
Hamblen County is in Unit 6 for 2026-27. Units set the antlerless limits.
What are the fall turkey rules near Morristown?
It is open, with a one male limit, by archery or in the Oct 17 to 30 shotgun window.
Getting ready to hunt near Morristown
Nearby towns: Hunting near Newport, Hunting near Rogersville, Hunting near Tazewell.
Other photos on this page: USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); Bob n Renee (CC BY 2.0); IvyMike (CC BY 2.0).