37 S.

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Ernest Rice, Sr. 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

Aug 1 – Oct 30, Nov 2 – Jan 8, Jan 11 – Jul 31

Follows the statewide seasons, archery only.

  • Archery: Sep 26 – Oct 30, Nov 2–6
  • Muzzleloader: Nov 7–20
  • Gun: Nov 21 – Jan 3

Antlered deer must have nine (9) antler points or a minimum outside beam spread of twenty inches. The dates skip the statewide Young Sportsman days.

In the guide: “Deer: Open with statewide season dates but restricted to archery equipment only - no hunting with muzzleloaders or guns for deer except in 7 day gun season listed below. Archery season is closed during the young sportsman gun hunts.”

Oct 17–18

Firearms, either sex. Only for youth hunters.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun - Young Sportsman): Special hunt Oct. 17–18. No antler requirement. Either sex.”

Oct 31 – Nov 1, Jan 9–10

Follows the statewide season (young sportsman Oct 31 – Nov 1, Jan 9–10). Only for youth hunters.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun - Young Sportsman): Open with statewide seasons. No antler restriction.”

Dec 19–25

Firearms, buck only.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun): Dec. 19–25. One deer, antlered only. Antlered deer must have nine (9) antler points or a minimum outside beam spread of twenty inches.”

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 and raccoon

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • 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: “Waterfowl, Raccoon, Opossum: Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Waterfowl, raccoon and opossum seasons are not closed during the big game hunts. Waterfowl hunting from temporary blinds only.”

Small game, grouse, woodcock, and dove

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Squirrel: Aug 22 – Dec 18, Dec 26 – Mar 15, May 8 – Jun 13
  • Rabbit: Nov 7 – Dec 18, Dec 26 – Feb 28
  • Quail: Nov 7 – Dec 18, Dec 26 – Jan 15
  • Grouse: Oct 10 – Dec 18, Dec 26 – Feb 28
  • Woodcock: Nov 14 – Dec 6, Jan 10–31
  • Dove: Sep 1–28, Oct 10 – Nov 1, Dec 8–18, Dec 26 – Jan 15

In the guide: “Small Game: Same as statewide season, except small game hunting is closed during the big game gun hunt and except as noted. Closed to Fall turkey hunting.”

Closed Dec 19–25.

In the guide: “Small game hunting is closed during the big game gun hunt.”

Area rules

Dog training is closed. Hunters (except raccoon, opossum, and turkey hunters) may not enter the WMA more than two hours before sunrise and must be off one hour after sunset.

Nearby areas

Moss Island around 5 miles away

White Lake Refuge around 6 miles away

Bogota WMA around 10 miles away

Tumbleweed WMA around 10 miles away

Tigrett 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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