37 S.

← All Tennessee areas

Hiwassee 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: “Refuge is closed to all forms of use and trespass from Nov. 15 through the last day of Feb., except the wildlife viewing area is open year-round.”

Deer

Sep 19–20

Firearms. Quota hunt, 100 hunters drawn. Only for youth hunters. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Shotgun – Muzzleloader)(Young-Sportsman): Sept. 19–20. Hunter quota 100. Two (2) deer, no more than one (1) antlered (bonus deer).”

Oct 23–25

Muzzleloader. Quota hunt, 150 hunters drawn. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Muzzleloader): Oct. 23–25. Hunter quota 150. Two (2) deer, no more than one (1) antlered (bonus deer).”

Oct 30 – Nov 1

Muzzleloader. Quota hunt, 150 hunters drawn. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Muzzleloader): Oct. 30–Nov. 1. Hunter quota 150. Two (2) deer, no more than one (1) antlered (bonus deer).”

Deer and turkey

Sep 25–27

Archery. Quota hunt, 200 hunters drawn. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Archery): Sept. 25–27. Hunter quota 200. Two (2) deer, no more than one (1) antlered, one (1) male turkey (bonus deer).”

Oct 9–11

Archery. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Archery): Oct. 9–11. Two (2) deer, no more than one (1) antlered, one (1) male turkey (bonus 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 turkey season.”

Dove

Sep 1, Sep 17

Any legal weapon, hunting starts at noon.

In the guide: “Dove: Sept. 1 & Sept. 17. Noon to sunset only. No access permitted by boat.”

Sep 12

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

In the guide: “Dove (Youth): Sept. 12. Noon to sunset only. No access permitted by boat.”

Geese

Sep 1–18

Any legal weapon.

In the guide: “Canada Goose: Sept. 1–18. No goose hunters permitted on refuge from two (2) hours after shooting hours have ended until 4 a.m. the following day.”

Teal

Follows the statewide season (Sep 12–16).

In the guide: “Wood Duck, Teal: Same as Sept. Wood Duck/Teal season.”

Quail

Closed this season.

In the guide: “Big Game, Small Game: Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Closed to quail hunting.”

Rabbit

Nov 2–14

Any legal weapon.

In the guide: “Rabbit: Nov. 2–14. Bag limit of three (3) per day.”

Squirrel and rabbit

Closed Sep 19–20, Sep 25–27, Oct 9–11, Oct 23–25, Oct 30 – Nov 1.

Closed from sunset the day before; open by day until then.

In the guide: “Small game hunting and dog training is closed at sunset on the day before and during scheduled big game hunts, unless special exception is indicated.”

Squirrel and ducks

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Squirrel: Aug 22 – Sep 18, Sep 21–24, Sep 28 – Oct 8, Oct 12–22, Oct 26–29, Nov 2–14, Mar 1–15, May 8 – Jun 13
  • Ducks: Sep 12–16

In the guide: “Squirrel: Same as statewide seasons except as noted.”

Raccoon

Sep 1 – Nov 14

Any legal weapon, Tuesdays and Wednesdays only.

In the guide: “Opossum, Raccoon: Sept. 1–Nov. 14. Hunting will be limited to Tuesday and Wednesday nights only.”

Closed Sep 18–20, Sep 24–27, Oct 8–11, Oct 22–25, Oct 29 – Nov 1.

The night before each hunt, too.

In the guide: “Small game hunting and dog training is closed at sunset on the day before and during scheduled big game hunts, unless special exception is indicated.”

Area rules

The wildlife viewing area is open year-round; public entry and fishing permitted on the main river channel during refuge closure. Nontoxic shot approved by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is required for small game hunting. Small game hunting and dog training close at sunset the day before and during scheduled big game hunts. No goose, duck or teal hunters on the refuge from two hours after shooting hours until 4 a.m. Dog training Sept. 1–March 15, daylight hours, closed during refuge closure dates. Camping during deer hunts only at the check station.

Nearby areas

Chickamauga WMA around 2 miles away

Yuchi Refuge around 15 miles away

Harp around 20 miles away

North Chickamauga Creek WMA around 20 miles away

Charlotte Ann Finnell Neal WMA 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).

Our apps