37 S.

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Big Sandy WMA (Gin Creek)

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

Follows the statewide seasons.

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

In the guide: “Big Game: Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. 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.”

Dove

Sep 5

Any legal weapon, hunting starts at noon. Only for youth hunters.

In the guide: “Special Dove (youth): Sept. 5, noon until sunset. Each youth must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult. Designated fields only.”

Sep 6 – Nov 1

Follows the statewide season (Sep 6–28, Oct 10 – Nov 1).

In the guide: “Dove: Sept. 6 through the remainder of the first and second segment of the statewide season. Designated fields only.”

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 as noted.”

Nov 28 – Feb 14

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

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

During the first two days of each segment of the late waterfowl season, hunting allowed only from Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 4 sites (not the Youth or Veteran's hunts).

In the guide: “Waterfowl: Hunting of waterfowl during the duck season occurring in Nov.–Feb. permitted only on Monday, 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, and raccoon

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Squirrel: Aug 22 – Mar 15, May 8 – Jun 13
  • Rabbit: Nov 7 – Feb 28
  • Quail: Nov 7 – Jan 15
  • Grouse: Oct 10 – Feb 28
  • Woodcock: Nov 14 – Dec 6, Jan 10–31
  • Raccoon: Sep 18 – Mar 15

In the guide: “Small Game: Same as statewide seasons, except as noted.”

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 only from 4 a.m. until two hours after shooting hours end. Temporary blinds, hides and decoys at least 200 yards from permanent blinds, removed daily. Only waterfowl may be hunted in the sub-impoundments during the duck season (Nov.-Feb.).

Nearby areas

New Hope WMA around 4 miles away

West Sandy WMA (Springville Bottoms) around 6 miles away

Lick Creek WMA around 8 miles away

Harmon Creek WMA around 10 miles away

Camden 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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