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East Tennessee
Hunting Near Tazewell, TN
Public land by the mile from Tazewell, legal shooting hours for town, and the 2026-27 seasons in Claiborne County.
Photo: Virginia State Parks staff (CC BY 2.0)
Public areas closest to Tazewell
Tazewell hunters are about 11 miles from Otey Mills Refuge (North Cumberland WMA), the nearest area on the list. Count 25,047 listed acres within a 30 mile radius. If acreage matters most, look at North Cumberland WMA: 205,000 acres, 47 miles from town. All distances are as the crow flies from Tazewell, not road miles.
| Area | Distance | Type | Acres | Species | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otey Mills Refuge (North Cumberland WMA) | 11 mi | WMA | n/a | deer / turkey / small game / bear | Claiborne |
| Buffalo Springs WMA | 18 mi | WMA | 342 | deer / turkey / dove / small game / bear | Grainger |
| Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA | 19 mi | WMA | n/a | deer / turkey / small game / bear / hogs | Claiborne, Campbell |
| Chuck Swan State Forest & WMA | 22 mi | WMA | 24,705 | deer / turkey / waterfowl / dove / small game | Union, Campbell |
| Mullins Island PHA | 29 mi | Public area | n/a | deer / turkey / small game | Cocke |
| Kyles Ford WMA | 31 mi | WMA | 1,000 | deer / turkey / small game / bear | Hancock, Hawkins |
| Cove Creek WMA | 33 mi | WMA | 2,450 | deer / turkey / small game / bear | Campbell |
| Rankin WMA | 33 mi | WMA | 1,975 | deer / turkey / waterfowl / small game / hogs | Cocke, Hamblen |
| Henderson Island Refuge | 33 mi | WMA | 525 | deer / turkey / small game / bear | Jefferson |
| Lick Creek Bottoms WMA | 35 mi | WMA | 1,400 | deer / turkey / dove / small game | Greene |
| Forks of the River WMA | 39 mi | WMA | 648 | deer / turkey / dove / small game / bear | Knox |
| Fort Loudoun WMA | 42 mi | WMA | 492 | waterfowl | Knox |
| North Cumberland WMA | 47 mi | WMA | 205,000 | deer / turkey / small game / bear / elk | Campbell, Scott |
| Nolichucky WMA | 48 mi | WMA | 1,000 | deer / turkey / waterfowl / small game | Greene |
The four nearest areas to Tazewell
These four are the shortest trips; tap one for its rules and boundaries.
2026-27 dates near Tazewell
Unit 4 limits near Tazewell
The county is in Unit 4. For does, the unit allows 2 during the youth hunt, 4 in archery, 2 in the muzzleloader and straight-wall week and 2 in gun season. August is antlered only, and hunting a second county in the unit does not add more.
CWD near Tazewell
The county is clear of the CWD lists, and bait is allowed on private land with the license.
License basics
Hunter education is mandatory for those born on or after Jan. 1, 1969. Residents 16 to 64 can buy the $165 Annual Sportsman to cover all seasons and WMAs.
Statewide dates from the 2026-27 TWRA guide, checked October 28, 2026.
Seasons open around Claiborne County near Tazewell
Bear hunting here falls under zone BHZ4 and Transitional. Elk quota hunts include Claiborne County. Claiborne County is open to licensed baiting on private land.
- 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.
This week’s legal hours around Tazewell
For deer, bear and small game, shooting hours start 30 minutes early and end 30 minutes after the sun sets.
Calculated for Tazewell in Eastern time.
Deer processing and shops, Tazewell
Listings in Claiborne County first, then its neighbors.
Practice ranges around Tazewell
Miles are straight-line from the middle of town to each range.
Open to the public. Disciplines: trap and shotgun.
Open to the public. Disciplines: rifle, pistol and shotgun.
Call ahead about access. Disciplines: pistol and rifle.
What hunters ask about Tazewell
What was the 2025-26 deer harvest near Tazewell?
1,502 deer were reported county-wide in 2025-26.
What public area is closest to Tazewell?
Otey Mills Refuge (North Cumberland WMA), roughly 11 miles away.
What public land is within an hour of Tazewell?
Count 5 areas inside 30 miles; widen to 75 and it is 14.
What county is Tazewell in?
It is part of Claiborne County. Claiborne County hunting has the county’s numbers and limits.
What deer unit is Tazewell in?
Tazewell is covered by Unit 4, which sets its antlerless bag.
When is deer season around Tazewell?
Bowhunters start Sep 26, 2026; gun hunters get Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027.
Is there a fall turkey season near Tazewell?
Yes. Shotgun runs Oct 17 to 30 and archery follows the deer bow dates; take one male.
Is there a deer processor in Tazewell?
The list has Cunningham Slaughter House, Down Home Processing Inc and Helms Custom Slaughtering close by.
Is a WMA permit required?
Yes if you are 16 to 64, though the Annual Sportsman license covers it.
More for Tazewell hunters
Also near here: Hunting near Morristown, Hunting near Rogersville, Hunting near LaFollette.
Other photos on this page: Darron Birgenheier (CC BY-SA 2.0); bgautrea (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); Ben Sutherland (CC BY 2.0).