37 S.

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Buffalo Springs WMA

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 only.

  • 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: “Deer: Archery equipment only.”

Bear

Follows the statewide season (transitional zone archery Sep 26 – Oct 23).

In the guide: “Bear: Same as statewide Bear Transition Zone. See page 72–73 for bear hunting details.”

Turkey

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • 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: “Big Game: Same as statewide seasons, except as noted.”

Dove

Sep 1, Sep 5, Sep 7

Any legal weapon.

Hunting opens at noon on Sept. 1.

In the guide: “Dove: Sept. 1 (hunting opens at noon) and Sept. 5 & 7 gate opens at 6:30 a.m.”

Sep 8 – Jul 31

Follows the statewide season (Sep 8–28, Oct 10 – Nov 1, Dec 8 – Jan 15).

In the guide: “Dove: The remainder of the statewide season is walk in only. All fields return to same as statewide season beginning Sept. 8 and are open to all hunters. Do not block the gate.”

Quail

Closed this season.

In the guide: “Quail hunting closed.”

Squirrel, rabbit, grouse, woodcock, ducks and geese, and raccoon

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Squirrel: Aug 22 – Mar 15, May 8 – Jun 13
  • Rabbit: Nov 7 – Feb 28
  • Grouse: Oct 10 – Feb 28
  • Woodcock: Nov 14 – Dec 6, Jan 10–31
  • Ducks and teal: Sep 12–16, Nov 28–29, Dec 5 – Jan 31
  • Geese: Sep 1–20, Oct 10–22, Nov 28–29, Dec 5 – Feb 14
  • Raccoon: Sep 18 – Mar 15

In the guide: “Small Game: Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Shotgun only during small game. Quail hunting closed.”

Area rules

Waterfall parking area closed one hour after sunset until one hour before sunrise except as authorized by the WMA manager; night use of other access points is prohibited except for raccoon and opossum hunters and scheduled events. Shotgun only during small game. Quail dog training only during the statewide quail season.

Nearby areas

Henderson Island Refuge around 15 miles away

Rankin WMA around 20 miles away

Chuck Swan State Forest around 20 miles away

Forks of the River WMA around 25 miles away

Lick Creek 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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