National Wildlife Refuge · Tennessee · FWS Region 4

Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Obion County, Tennessee, Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 2,618 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into Kentucky. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 4 mapped hunt units: 3 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 10,360 huntable acres.

3 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
10.4Khuntable acres
2.6KFWS-owned acres
3game categories

Reelfoot NWR hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Reelfoot NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, wild turkey, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Reelfoot Lake has become one of Tennessee's favorite destinations for outdoor enthusiasts, and readers of outdoor magazines are familiar with the many hunting and fishing opportunities offered on parts of the lake.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeySmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammals

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Tennessee regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (4)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 10,360 (99%)Closed: 76 (1%)10.4Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations10,360 ac 99%
  • Closed76 ac 1%
Units by size (acres)
Grassy Island Unit
5,418 ac
Long Point Unit - TN
2,908 ac
Long Point Unit - KY
2,034 ac
Closed Area
76 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Grassy Island Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 5,418 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar
Long Point Unit - KY
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,034 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar
Long Point Unit - TN
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,908 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar
Closed Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 76 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar

Reelfoot NWR by the numbers

With about 10,360 huntable acres, Reelfoot NWR ranks #5 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Tennessee and #188 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 99% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Grassy Island Unit (5,418 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Long Point Unit - KY, covers 2,034 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 76 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Area). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 2,618 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 96 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Reelfoot NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Tennessee sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Wild Turkey, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge
  • ✉️ By mail
  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 📋 Other (see refuge)
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

You'll also need

  • A valid Tennessee hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Reelfoot NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge is on a portion of Reelfoot Lake. There is a boat ramp at the end of the refuge auto tour route. Fishing season on the Grassy Island unit (southern unit) is February 1-November 14.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Reelfoot NWR

Navigate

Destination: Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
36.43448, -89.33988
DMS
36°26′04.1″N 89°20′23.6″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Dyersburg, TN28 mi N of town
  • Paris, TN57 mi W of town
  • Paducah, KY61 mi SW of town
  • Cape Girardeau, MO61 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • MEM Memphis Intl103 mi
  • BNA Nashville Intl150 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Reelfoot NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:57 AM6:27 AM7:27 PM12h 60m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM7:06 PM12h 28m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM6:42 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM6:22 PM11h 19m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:49 AM6:19 AM5:02 PM10h 43m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM4:50 PM10h 16m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM4:42 PM9h 53m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM4:43 PM9h 42m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:38 AM7:08 AM4:51 PM9h 43m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:38 AM7:08 AM5:03 PM9h 56m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:29 AM6:59 AM5:21 PM10h 22m

Computed for 36.434, -89.340 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Guides for hunting Reelfoot NWR

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

Fishing National Wildlife Refuges: Licenses, Seasons, Boats and Where to Go

What to know before fishing a National Wildlife Refuge or fish hatchery — state licenses, seasonal closures that…

Refuge Hunting Permits: Types, Lotteries & How to Apply

Signed brochures, quota permits, special use permits and where to get them — online, kiosk, mail or visitor center.

How to Read a Refuge Hunt Brochure (and Not Miss the Rule That Matters)

What's inside a National Wildlife Refuge hunt brochure, where to find it, how it relates to 50 CFR Part 32 and state…

Reelfoot NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Reelfoot NWR?

Yes. Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (10,360 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, wild turkey, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Reelfoot NWR?

Yes — Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained kiosk, mail, online through fws, other, or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Reelfoot NWR?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Reelfoot NWR located?

Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge is in Obion County, Tennessee, about 28 miles N of Dyersburg, TN (straight-line). GPS: 36.43448, -89.33988.

What are legal shooting hours at Reelfoot NWR?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Lake Isom NWR

Lake County, TN · 9.9 mi SW

1 special1 closed
🦌🐇🎣

1.8K huntable acres

Chickasaw NWR

Lauderdale County, TN · 45 mi SW

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

26.7K huntable acres

Cypress Creek NWR

Alexander County, IL · 47 mi N

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

16.4K huntable acres

Big Lake NWR

Mississippi County, AR · 56 mi SW

2 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🐗🎣

10.4K huntable acres

Mingo NWR

Wayne County, MO · 60 mi NW

6 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🎣

16.4K huntable acres

Clarks River NWR

Marshall County, KY · 64 mi NE

8 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

11.7K huntable acres

All refuges in Tennessee →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.