37 S.

← All Tennessee areas

Kyker Bottoms 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–last day of Feb. except in designated observation areas.”

Deer

Sep 26 – Oct 30, Nov 2–14

Archery.

In the guide: “Deer (Archery): Sept. 26–Oct. 30, Nov. 2–Nov. 14. Bag limit same as statewide.”

Oct 31 – Nov 1

Any legal weapon. Only for youth hunters.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun - Young Sportsman): Oct. 31–Nov. 1, bag limit same as statewide season.”

Bear

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Zone 2 with hounds: Oct 3–18, Nov 2–6
  • Zone 2 archery: Sep 26 – Oct 23
  • Zone 2 young sportsman: Oct 31 – Nov 1

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

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

Turkey

Follows the statewide seasons, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only. Only for youth hunters and the adults with them.

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

In the guide: “Turkey is Youth/Adult only March 27–28 and weekends of the statewide season open Friday–Sunday only.”

Mar 27–28

Any legal weapon. Only for youth hunters and the adults with them.

In the guide: “Turkey is Youth/Adult only March 27–28 and weekends of the statewide season open Friday–Sunday only. Youth must be accompanied by a licensed adult, age 21 years or older, who may also hunt. Same as statewide bag limit, male bearded turkey only.”

Rabbit and quail

Nov 1–14

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

In the guide: “Rabbit, Quail: Nov. 1–14. Quail bag limit two/day, rabbit and quail hunting closes at 4 p.m.”

Squirrel, grouse, woodcock, dove, ducks and geese, and raccoon

Follows the statewide seasons. 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
  • 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: Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. All small game hunting is Youth/Adult only.”

Raccoon

Sep 4–5, Sep 11–12

Any legal weapon. Only for youth hunters and the adults with them.

In the guide: “Raccoon: Sept. 4–5, 11–12.”

Area rules

Dog training Oct. 1–Nov. 14. Nontoxic shot is required for small game hunting as posted. Wild hogs may be taken on any deer and turkey hunt with hunting devices legal for those hunts. All small game hunting is youth/adult only: youths must be accompanied by a licensed adult, 21 or older, who may also hunt. Small game hunters must wear blaze orange/pink during the young sportsman deer gun hunt. Dog training (rabbit and quail) Oct. 1–Nov. 14, closes at 4 p.m. each day.

Nearby areas

Foothills WMA around 6 miles away

Whites Mill Refuge around 15 miles away

Paint Rock around 25 miles away

Oak Ridge WMA around 25 miles away

Forks of the River 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).

Our apps