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Barkley WMA - Unit I

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 27, Feb 15 – Jul 31

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Archery: Sep 26 – Oct 30, Nov 2–6
  • Young sportsman: Oct 31 – Nov 1
  • Muzzleloader: Nov 7–20
  • Gun: Nov 21–27

In the guide: “Big Game: Same as statewide seasons except as noted. Deer and Small Game hunting is only allowed on days waterfowl hunting is closed during the duck season occurring in Nov.–Feb. Closed to Fall turkey hunting.”

Nov 28 – Feb 14

Follows the statewide seasons, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays only.

  • Young sportsman: Jan 9–10
  • Gun: Nov 28 – Jan 3

In the guide: “Big Game: Same as statewide seasons except as noted. Deer and Small Game hunting is only allowed on days waterfowl hunting is closed during the duck season occurring in Nov.–Feb. Closed to Fall turkey hunting.”

Turkey

Mar 27–28

Follows the statewide season (spring young sportsman Mar 27–28). Only for youth hunters.

In the guide: “Turkey (Young Sportsman): Same as statewide season.”

Apr 3–25

Any legal weapon.

In the guide: “Turkey: April 3–April 25. One male bearded turkey, counts toward statewide bag limit.”

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 seasons, except as noted.”

Nov 28 – Feb 14

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

  • Ducks and teal: Nov 28–29, Dec 5 – Jan 31
  • Geese: Nov 28–29, Dec 5 – Feb 14

In the guide: “Waterfowl: Hunting of waterfowl during the duck and goose seasons occurring in Nov.–Feb. permitted only on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and the first and last day of each segment of the duck and goose seasons occurring in Nov.–Feb.”

Small game, grouse, woodcock, dove, and raccoon

Aug 1 – Nov 27, Feb 15 – Jul 31

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Squirrel: Aug 22 – Nov 27, Feb 15 – Mar 15, May 8 – Jun 13
  • Rabbit: Nov 7–27, Feb 15–28
  • Quail: Nov 7–27
  • Grouse: Oct 10 – Nov 27, Feb 15–28
  • Woodcock: Nov 14–27
  • Dove: Sep 1–28, Oct 10 – Nov 1
  • Raccoon: Sep 18 – Nov 27, Feb 15 – Mar 15

In the guide: “Small Game: Same as statewide seasons except as noted. Deer and Small Game hunting is only allowed on days waterfowl hunting is closed during the duck season occurring in Nov.–Feb.”

Nov 28 – Feb 14

Follows the statewide seasons, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays only.

  • Squirrel, rabbit, grouse, and raccoon: Nov 28 – Feb 14
  • Quail: Nov 28 – Jan 15
  • Woodcock: Nov 28 – Dec 6, Jan 10–31
  • Dove: Dec 8 – Jan 15

In the guide: “Small Game: Same as statewide seasons except as noted. Deer and Small Game hunting is only allowed on days waterfowl hunting is closed during the duck season occurring in Nov.–Feb.”

Area rules

All activities are prohibited in the sub-impoundments five days before each opening day of the statewide duck season. During the regular waterfowl season, access to the sub-impoundment only from 4 a.m. until two hours after shooting hours end. Waterfowl hunting only from Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 4 locations. Only waterfowl may be hunted in the sub-impoundments during the duck season (Nov.-Feb.).

Nearby areas

Barkley WMA - Unit II around 2 miles away

Lick Creek WMA around 15 miles away

New Hope WMA around 20 miles away

Haynes Bottom WMA around 20 miles away

West Sandy WMA (Springville Bottoms) around 25 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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