The following is intended as a quick reference only. These regulations are intended to be accurate, but that accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Please consult the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's Hunting & Trapping Guide before hunting in Tennessee. If you have a question that isn't answered here, please submit it to us via our Question & Answer section and we will find the answer to your question. Thank you.
Click here for a list of WMA hunting seasons from the TWRA
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency manages nearly 100 Wildlife Management Areas across Tennessee, ranging in size from 53 acres to 625,000 acres. All WMAs are open to the public for hunting and trapping. Following are regulations specified by TWRA for those WMAs:
DISORDERLY CONDUCT: Acts of disorderly conduct, obnoxious or boisterous conduct, including acts which interfere with the orderly process of hunting, are prohibited. Violators may be removed from the area and/or prosecuted.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: Possession of any alcoholic beverage, narcotic drug, barbiturate or marijuana while hunting within WMAs is prohibited. No individual may be under the influence of the listed substances at any time on a WMA. The use of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on certain WMAs year round, including: Catoosa, Cheatham, Chuck Swan, Forks of the River, Laurel Hill, Pea Ridge and Prentice Cooper.
BAG LIMITS: Statewide bag and possession limits apply unless exception is indicated.
BAITING: Baiting to feed or attract wildlife on WMAs is prohibited.
DOG TRAINING: Varies by specific WMAs.
FIREARMS: Use, possession or transportation of any firearm, archery equipment or ammunition is prohibited except when authorized. Any weapon transported in a vehicle must be unloaded.
HORSES: Horses are permitted on roads and trails open to motorized traffic, and any other trails established for their use. Riding off roads or designated trails is prohibited.
ACCESS: Hunters (except coon, possum, turkey and waterfowl) may not enter prior to one hour before sunrise and must be out of the area by one hour after sunset. Coon and possum hunters must be out of the area by one hour after sunrise.
PRIVATE DWELLINGS: It is unlawful to hunt or shoot at, or chase or kill, any wild animal, bird or fowl on public land or waters within 100 yards of a visible dwelling house without the owner's permission, even if the house is located on private lands.
LITTER: No litter or sewage shall be deposited in the area.
MOTORIZED VEHICLES: All motorized vehicles must be muffler-equipped and spark-arrestor equipped. All motorized vehicles are confined to roads not designated as closed. Off-road vehicles are restricted to roads open to other motorized traffic and designated trails only. Driving off roads is prohibited.
PLANT REMOVAL: Removal of trees or other plants, dirt, gravel or sod from WMAs is prohibited without specific authorization.
WILDLIFE HARASSMENT: No species of wildlife may be harassed except those authorized for the hunt. No animal killed may be dismembered to the extent that its species and sex cannot be identified before checking out of the area.
OVERNIGHT CAMPING: Camping is permitted on designated areas by permission of the WMA manager, superintendent or supervisor. On areas where camping is permitted, weapons must remain in camp except during legal hunting hours. Individuals with handgun permits may not carry their sidearms within WMAs except on authorized hunts, and then only during specified hunting hours.
SAFETY ZONES: Hunting is prohibited in safety zones.
TARGET PRACTICE: Target practice is prohibited except on designated ranges.
UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS: Unauthorized persons are prohibited from being in WMAs during big game hunts except when indicated.
CALLING TURKEYS: Calling or attepting to call wild turkeys using any sound that mimics those made by a wild turkey is prohibited from March 1 to the opening day of the spring turkey hunts on all WMAs.
WANTON WASTE: The wanton waste requirement demands that all hunters retrieve all crippled or dead game if possible and prohibits disposal of dead wildlife on WMAs.
