National Wildlife Refuge · Tennessee · FWS Region 4

Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Henry County, Tennessee, Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 26,862 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 6 mapped hunt units: 5 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 49,473 huntable acres.

5 with special regs1 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
6hunt units
49.5Khuntable acres
26.9KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Tennessee 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 Tennessee NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, migratory birds, 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. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge is on and around Kentucky Lake in northwest Tennessee. The refuge's three units, Big Sandy, Duck River and Busseltown, stretch for 65 miles along the Tennessee River.

Youth hunting

A youth deer hunt is offered; archery, muzzleloader and firearms are all legal. Youth hunters can take up to three deer with only one buck. The deer are counted as bonus deer.

All refuges with youth hunts →
Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall 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 (6)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 49,473 (98%)Closed: 902 (2%)49.5Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations49,473 ac 98%
  • Closed902 ac 2%
Units by size (acres)
Duck River Remainder
15,450 ac
Big Sandy Peninsula
15,312 ac
Duck River Bottoms
10,867 ac
Sulphur Wells/Britton Ford
4,571 ac
Busseltown Unit
3,272 ac
No Hunt Zone
902 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Big Sandy Peninsula
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 15,312 Required
Other		 All hunters over the age of 17 must purchase a permit for $15.
🧒 A youth deer hunt is offered; archery, muzzleloader and firearms are all legal. Youth hunters can…
Busseltown Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 3,272 Required
Other		 All hunters over the age of 17 must purchase a permit for $15.
🧒 A youth deer hunt is offered; archery, muzzleloader and firearms are all legal. Youth hunters can…
Duck River Bottoms
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 10,867 Required
Other		 All hunters over the age of 17 must purchase a permit for $15.
🧒 A youth deer hunt is offered; archery, muzzleloader and firearms are all legal. Youth hunters can…
Duck River Remainder
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 15,450 Required
Other		 All hunters over the age of 17 must purchase a permit for $15.
🧒 A youth deer hunt is offered; archery, muzzleloader and firearms are all legal. Youth hunters can…
Sulphur Wells/Britton Ford
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,571 Required
Other		 All hunters over the age of 17 must purchase a permit for $15.
🧒 A youth deer hunt is offered; archery, muzzleloader and firearms are all legal. Youth hunters can…
No Hunt Zone
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 902 Required
Other		 All hunters over the age of 17 must purchase a permit for $15.
🧒 A youth deer hunt is offered; archery, muzzleloader and firearms are all legal. Youth hunters can…

Tennessee NWR by the numbers

With about 49,473 huntable acres, Tennessee NWR ranks #1 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Tennessee and #52 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 98% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Duck River Remainder (15,450 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Busseltown Unit, covers 3,272 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 902 acres is closed to hunting (No Hunt Zone). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 26,862 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 360 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Tennessee 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, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

All hunters over the age of 17 must purchase a permit for $15.

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)
  • 📋 Other (see refuge)

You'll also need

  • A valid Tennessee hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Tennessee NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

In early spring, Kentucky Lake is known for some of the best crappie fishing in the nation. Later in the season, largemouth and smallmouth bass, striped bass, sunfish, sauger and catfish provide sport for many.

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

How to get to Tennessee NWR

Navigate

Destination: Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
36.34199, -88.12057
DMS
36°20′31.2″N 88°07′14.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Paris, TN12 mi E of town
  • Clarksville, TN44 mi W of town
  • Paducah, KY57 mi SE of town
  • Jackson, TN64 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • BNA Nashville Intl82 mi
  • MEM Memphis Intl138 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 Tennessee 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, 20265:53 AM6:23 AM7:22 PM12h 59m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM7:01 PM12h 28m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:16 AM6:46 AM6:37 PM11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM6:17 PM11h 20m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:44 AM6:14 AM4:57 PM10h 43m
Sun, Nov 15, 20265:59 AM6:29 AM4:45 PM10h 16m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM4:38 PM9h 53m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM4:38 PM9h 42m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:33 AM7:03 AM4:47 PM9h 43m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:33 AM7:03 AM4:59 PM9h 56m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:24 AM6:54 AM5:16 PM10h 23m

Computed for 36.342, -88.121 (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 Tennessee 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…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

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…

Dove Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Managed Fields, Openers and Rules

How dove hunting works on National Wildlife Refuges — managed fields and draw days, HIP and plugged-gun rules…

Tennessee NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Tennessee NWR?

Yes. Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 5 units (49,473 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, migratory birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Tennessee NWR?

Yes — Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other. Permits can be obtained online (e.g. recreation.gov) or other. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Tennessee NWR?

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

Where is Tennessee NWR located?

Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge is in Henry County, Tennessee, about 12 miles E of Paris, TN (straight-line). GPS: 36.34199, -88.12057.

What are legal shooting hours at Tennessee 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

Cross Creeks NWR

Stewart County, TN · 23 mi E

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🎣

8.2K huntable acres

Clarks River NWR

Marshall County, KY · 34 mi N

8 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

11.7K huntable acres

Reelfoot NWR

Obion County, TN · 68 mi W

3 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐇🎣

10.4K huntable acres

Lake Isom NWR

Lake County, TN · 72 mi W

1 special1 closed
🦌🐇🎣

1.8K huntable acres

Cypress Creek NWR

Alexander County, IL · 82 mi NW

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

16.4K huntable acres

Hatchie NWR

Haywood County, TN · 84 mi SW

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

11.2K huntable acres

All refuges in Tennessee →

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