37 S.

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AEDC and Woods Reservoir Refuge

2026-27 season.

Check before you hunt. Confirm these dates in 2026-2027 Tennessee Fishing, Hunting & Trapping Guide. Seasons, closures and area rules can change.

Deer

Aug 1 – Nov 11, Nov 16–25, Nov 30 – Jul 31

Follows the statewide seasons, archery only. Sign-in required.

  • Archery: Sep 26 – Oct 30, Nov 2–6
  • Young sportsman: Oct 31 – Nov 1, Jan 9–10
  • Muzzleloader: Nov 7–11, Nov 16–20
  • Gun: Nov 21–25, Nov 30 – Jan 3

The dates skip the quota hunts and the day before each.

In the guide: “Deer (Archery): Same as statewide seasons. Only archery equipment can be used during muzzleloader and gun segments. Closed one (1) day prior to and during scheduled quota deer hunts. Statewide bag limits apply.”

Oct 31 – Nov 1, Jan 9–10

Follows the statewide season (young sportsman Oct 31 – Nov 1, Jan 9–10). Only for youth hunters. Bonus deer hunt. Sign-in required.

In the guide: “Deer (Young Sportsman-Shotgun-Muzzleloader): Same as statewide season. No hunter quota, Two (2) deer, either sex only one (1) may be antlered. (Bonus deer).”

Nov 13–15

Firearms. Quota hunt, 900 hunters drawn. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Shotgun - Muzzleloader): Nov. 13–15. 900 quota. Two (2) deer either sex only one (1) may be antlered. (Bonus deer).”

Nov 27–29

Firearms. Quota hunt, 900 hunters drawn. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Shotgun - Muzzleloader): Nov. 27–29. 900 quota. Two (2) deer either sex only one (1) may be antlered. (Bonus deer).”

Turkey

Follows the statewide seasons. Sign-in required.

  • Fall archery: Sep 26 – Oct 30, Nov 2–6
  • Fall shotgun: Oct 17–30
  • Spring young sportsman: Mar 27–28
  • Spring: Apr 3 – May 16

In the guide: “Turkey (Spring and Fall): Same as statewide season.”

Ducks and geese

Aug 1 – Nov 27

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Ducks and teal: Sep 12–16
  • Geese: Sep 1–20, Oct 10–22

In the guide: “Waterfowl: Same as statewide season, except open on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays of the late duck season and the first and last day of each segment of the late duck season.”

Nov 28 – Feb 14

Follows the statewide seasons, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays only.

  • Ducks and teal: Dec 5 – Jan 31
  • Geese: Dec 5 – Feb 14

In the guide: “Waterfowl: Same as statewide season, except open on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays of the late duck season and the first and last day of each segment of the late duck season. Hunting on Woods Reservoir is from registered blind sites only.”

Small game, grouse, woodcock, dove, and raccoon

Follows the statewide seasons. Sign-in required.

  • Squirrel: Aug 22 – Nov 12, Nov 16–26, Nov 30 – Mar 15, May 8 – Jun 13
  • Rabbit: Nov 7–12, Nov 16–26, Nov 30 – Feb 28
  • Quail: Nov 7–12, Nov 16–26, Nov 30 – Jan 15
  • Grouse: Oct 10 – Nov 12, Nov 16–26, Nov 30 – Feb 28
  • Woodcock: Nov 16–26, Nov 30 – Dec 6, Jan 10–31
  • Dove: Sep 1–28, Oct 10 – Nov 1, Dec 8 – Jan 15
  • Raccoon: Sep 18 – Nov 11, Nov 16–25, Nov 30 – Mar 15

In the guide: “Small Game: Same as statewide seasons, except closed during deer quota hunts.”

Small game, woodcock, raccoon, grouse, dove, and ducks and geese

Closed Nov 13–15, Nov 27–29.

In the guide: “Small Game: Closed during deer quota hunts.”

Raccoon

Closed Nov 12, Nov 26.

The nights before the quota deer hunts.

In the guide: “Raccoon/Opossum hunting is closed the night before a deer hunt.”

Area rules

Part of the Arnold Air Force Base. All access is strictly controlled and areas may be closed by the military; deer hunting dates may change due to military training. Unexploded ordnance may be present: do not touch it, and notify the AEDC Operations Center at (931) 454-7752. Handguns, rifles, camping and fires outside designated campgrounds, metal detectors, ATVs and horseback riding are prohibited. Big game and small game hunters must sign in at one of three hunter sign-in stations. Small game hunting and dog training are closed during all deer quota hunts; raccoon and opossum hunting closes the night before a deer hunt. Deer-Turkey-Archery Zones are archery only and closed to small game. Unit 1 is closed to small game hunting and trapping, and Units 1 and 2 may only be hunted when their red gates are open and signed. Woods Reservoir waterfowl hunting is from registered blind sites only (outside them during the early duck and goose seasons, except within 150 yards of the bank from the pumping station to Rowland's Creek causeway). Camping in the designated campground for hunters actively hunting during deer and turkey seasons.

Nearby areas

AEDC - Woods Reservoir Waterfowl Refuge within this area

Hickory Flats WMA around 9 miles away

Owl Hollow Mill WMA around 10 miles away

Bark Camp Barrens around 10 miles away

Mingo Swamp around 15 miles away

Normandy WMA around 15 miles away

Most WMAs are open with statewide seasons except as noted in their listing; on those, the season dates, bag limits and legal weapons of the county the WMA is in apply. WMAs marked BG, SG or WF need a Big Game, Small Game or Waterfowl WMA permit on top of the license (Sportsman and Lifetime license holders are exempt). The August archery deer hunt is closed on WMAs open with statewide seasons, except certain Unit 1 WMAs. On WMAs open with statewide seasons, quail season runs Nov. 7 to Jan. 15. Hunters may not enter more than two hours before sunrise and must be out one hour after sunset. Legal hours are 30 minutes before legal sunrise to 30 minutes after legal sunset, except turkey and migratory birds, which end at official sunset. Youths may hunt ducks and geese Feb. 6 and 13, and veterans and active military Feb. 7 and 14. A light goose conservation season runs Feb. 15 to Mar. 31 with a free permit. Unless a listing says otherwise, furbearers may be taken on any scheduled big game or small game hunt that coincides with a statewide furbearer season, with the weapons legal for that hunt (page 81).

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