37 S.

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Cheatham Lake - Pardue Pond Refuge and Dyson Ditch 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.

All hunting

Closed Nov 15 – Feb 28.

In the guide: “Closed to all forms of use and trespass from Nov. 15–the last day of February.”

Deer

Follows the statewide seasons, archery only.

  • Archery: Sep 26 – Oct 30, Nov 2–6
  • Young sportsman: Oct 31 – Nov 1
  • Muzzleloader: Nov 7–14

In the guide: “Deer: Archery equipment only for deer hunting. Archers must comply with legal blaze orange/pink requirements during muzzleloader and gun seasons.”

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

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

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Squirrel: Aug 22 – Nov 14, Mar 1–15, May 8 – Jun 13
  • Rabbit and quail: Nov 7–14
  • Grouse: Oct 10 – Nov 14
  • Woodcock: Nov 14
  • Dove: Sep 1–28, Oct 10 – Nov 1
  • Ducks and teal: Sep 12–16
  • Geese: Sep 1–20, Oct 10–22
  • Raccoon: Sep 18 – Nov 14, Mar 1–15

In the guide: “Small Game: All seasons closed during refuge closure dates unless otherwise indicated.”

Area rules

Designated observation areas are open year-round. Access by boat only.

Nearby areas

Cheatham Lake WMA around 2 miles away

Shelton Ferry WMA around 8 miles away

Cheatham WMA around 9 miles away

Cedar Hill Swamp around 20 miles away

Haynes Bottom WMA around 20 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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