37 S.

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Joachim Bible Waterfowl Refuge Unit

2026-27 season. The portion of Lick Creek Bottoms WMA between Murray Bridge Road, Bibles Chapel Road, and South Mohawk Road. Check the area map for exact boundaries.

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–last day of Feb. except in designated observation areas. Closed to waterfowl hunting.”

Deer

Follows the statewide seasons.

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

In the guide: “Big Game: Same as statewide, except as noted.”

Bear

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Zone 1 with hounds: Oct 3–5, Oct 10–11, Nov 9–14
  • Zone 1 archery: Sep 26 – Oct 23
  • Zone 1 young sportsman: Oct 31 – Nov 1

The Big Game icon includes bear; the bear hunt zone is from the area's county (Greene County, page 72).

In the guide: “Big Game: Same as statewide seasons, except as noted.”

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, except as noted.”

Dove

Sep 5 – Jul 31

Follows the statewide season (Sep 5–28, Oct 10 – Nov 1), shooting ends at 4 pm. Only for youth hunters and the adults with them.

In the guide: “Dove: Opens Sept. 5, youth/adult only the entire season.”

Ducks and geese

Closed this season.

In the guide: “Closed to waterfowl hunting.”

Quail

Closed this season.

In the guide: “Closed to quail hunting.”

Rabbit

Nov 1–14

Any legal weapon, shooting ends at 4 pm. Only for youth hunters and the adults with them.

In the guide: “Rabbit: Nov. 1–14. Bag limit two rabbits/day.”

Squirrel, grouse, and woodcock

Follows the statewide seasons, shooting ends at 4 pm. Only for youth hunters and the adults with them.

  • Squirrel: Aug 22 – Nov 14, Mar 1–15, May 8 – Jun 13
  • Grouse: Oct 10 – Nov 14
  • Woodcock: Nov 14

In the guide: “Small Game: Same as statewide, except as noted. All small game hunting and dog training (excluding raccoon/opossum) closes at 4 p.m. Closed to quail hunting. All small game hunting is Adult/Youth only.”

Raccoon

Follows the statewide season (Sep 18 – Nov 14, Mar 1–15). Only for youth hunters and the adults with them.

In the guide: “Small Game: Same as statewide, except as noted. All small game hunting and dog training (excluding raccoon/opossum) closes at 4 p.m. All small game hunting is Adult/Youth only.”

Area rules

Nontoxic shot approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is required for small game (including dove) hunting as posted. All small game hunting is adult/youth only; youths must be accompanied by a licensed adult who may also hunt. Dog training rabbit and quail Oct. 1–31; all other March 1–Oct. 31.

Nearby areas

Lick Creek Bottoms around 1 mile away

Rankin WMA around 10 miles away

Nolichucky WMA around 15 miles away

Henderson Island Refuge around 25 miles away

Buffalo Springs 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).

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