37 S.

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Cheatham 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

Sep 26 – Oct 23

Archery.

In the guide: “Deer (Archery): Sept. 26–Oct. 23. No quota. One (1) deer antlered and one (1) antlerless. Antler restrictions apply.”

Oct 24–25

Any legal weapon. Only for youth hunters.

In the guide: “Deer (Young Sportsman, Non Quota): Oct. 24–25. One (1) deer antlered and one (1) antlerless. No antler restrictions.”

Oct 30 – Nov 1

Muzzleloader. Quota hunt, 450 hunters drawn.

In the guide: “Deer (Muzzleloader): Oct. 30–Nov. 1. Hunter quota 450. One (1) deer antlered and one (1) antlerless. Antler restrictions apply.”

Nov 6–8

Muzzleloader. Quota hunt, 450 hunters drawn.

In the guide: “Deer (Muzzleloader): Nov. 6–8. Hunter quota 450. One (1) deer antlered and one (1) antlerless. Antler restrictions apply.”

Nov 13–20

Firearms. Quota hunt, 450 hunters drawn.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun): Nov. 13–20. Quota 450. One (1) antlered and one (1) antlerless. Antler restrictions apply.”

Nov 21–28

Firearms. Quota hunt, 450 hunters drawn.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun): Nov. 21–28. Quota 450. One (1) antlered and one (1) antlerless. Antler restrictions apply.”

Nov 29 – Jan 3

Firearms, antlerless only.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun, Non-quota): Nov. 29–Jan. 3. One (1) antlerless deer.”

Turkey

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Spring young sportsman: Mar 27–28
  • Spring: Apr 3 – May 16

In the guide: “Turkey: Same as statewide spring season. Bag limit one (1) male bearded turkey during the first 14 days of the statewide season not to exceed two (2) for the season.”

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

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Squirrel: Aug 22 – Oct 28, Nov 2–4, Nov 9–11, Nov 29 – Mar 15, May 8 – Jun 13
  • Rabbit: Nov 9–11, Nov 29 – Feb 28
  • Quail: Nov 9–11, Nov 29 – Jan 15
  • Grouse: Oct 10–28, Nov 2–4, Nov 9–11, Nov 29 – Feb 28
  • Woodcock: Nov 29 – Dec 6, Jan 10–31
  • Dove: Sep 1–28, Oct 10–28, Dec 8 – Jan 15
  • Ducks and teal: Sep 12–16, Nov 29, Dec 5 – Jan 31
  • Geese: Sep 1–20, Oct 10–22, Nov 29, Dec 5 – Feb 14
  • Raccoon: Sep 18 – Oct 28, Nov 2–4, Nov 9–11, Nov 29 – Mar 15

In the guide: “Small Game: Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Small game hunting closed one (1) day prior and during all big game quota hunts.”

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

Closed Oct 29 – Nov 1, Nov 5–8, Nov 12–28.

In the guide: “Small game hunting closed one (1) day prior and during all big game quota hunts.”

Area rules

Hooved animal riding permitted only with a hunting and fishing license and WMA permit or a High Impact Habitat Conservation Permit, in designated areas, and not during big game seasons. No unauthorized entry between sunset and sunrise. Contact the area manager for wheelchair accessible blinds. Antlered deer must have at least four (4) antler points on one side or a 15 inch minimum outside spread, except during the Young Sportsman hunt. Shooting range open 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 7 days a week (permit required). Camping in the designated campground for hunters during deer and turkey seasons.

Nearby areas

Cheatham Lake WMA around 7 miles away

Cheatham Lake - Pardue Pond Refuge and Dyson Ditch Refuge around 9 miles away

Shelton Ferry WMA around 15 miles away

Cedar Hill Swamp around 25 miles away

Haynes Bottom WMA around 30 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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