37 S.

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Laurel Hill 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 19 – Oct 15

Archery. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Archery): Sept. 19–Oct. 15. Three (3) deer, either sex, only one (1) antlered (bonus deer).”

Oct 17–18

Firearms. Only for youth hunters. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun - Young Sportsman): Oct. 17–18. Two (2) deer, only one (1) may be antlered. No antler restrictions (bonus deer).”

Oct 22–25

Muzzleloader, buck only. Quota hunt, 500 hunters drawn. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Muzzleloader): Oct. 22–25. Hunter quota 500. One (1) deer, antlered only (bonus deer).”

Nov 13–15

Firearms, buck only. Quota hunt, 500 hunters drawn. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun): Nov. 13–15. Hunter quota 500. One (1) deer, antlered only (bonus deer).”

Nov 27–29

Firearms, buck only. Quota hunt, 500 hunters drawn. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun): Nov. 27–29. Hunter quota 500. One (1) deer, antlered only (bonus deer).”

Dec 4–6

Firearms. Quota hunt, 500 hunters drawn. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun): Dec. 4–6. Hunter quota 500. Two (2) deer, only one (1) may be antlered. (bonus deer).”

Turkey

Follows the statewide seasons.

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

Fall turkey season is closed in Lawrence County (page 74).

In the guide: “Turkey: Same as statewide season.”

Ducks and geese

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Ducks and teal: Sep 12–16, Dec 7 – Jan 31
  • Geese: Sep 1–20, Oct 10–16, Oct 19–21, Dec 7 – Feb 14

On Laurel Hill Lake, only Jan. 17–31 and by boat. VFW Lake is closed to waterfowl hunting.

In the guide: “Waterfowl: Same as statewide season, except hunting on Laurel Hill Lake is only open the last 2 weeks of the statewide season (Jan 17–31) and by boat access only. VFW Lake is closed to waterfowl hunting.”

Small game, grouse, woodcock, and dove

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Squirrel: Aug 22 – Oct 16, Oct 19–21, Oct 26 – Nov 12, Nov 16–26, Nov 30 – Dec 3, Dec 7 – Mar 15, May 8 – Jun 13
  • Rabbit: Nov 7–12, Nov 16–26, Nov 30 – Dec 3, Dec 7 – Feb 28
  • Quail: Nov 7–12, Nov 16–26, Nov 30 – Dec 3, Dec 7 – Jan 15
  • Grouse: Oct 10–16, Oct 19–21, Oct 26 – Nov 12, Nov 16–26, Nov 30 – Dec 3, Dec 7 – Feb 28
  • Woodcock: Nov 16–26, Nov 30 – Dec 3, Jan 10–31
  • Dove: Sep 1–28, Oct 10–16, Oct 19–21, Oct 26 – Nov 1, Dec 8 – Jan 15

In the guide: “Small Game: Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Small game hunting is closed at sunset the day before and during the young sportsman's hunt and quota hunts.”

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

Closed Oct 17–18, Oct 22–25, Nov 13–15, Nov 27–29, Dec 4–6.

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

In the guide: “Small game hunting is closed at sunset the day before and during the young sportsman's hunt and quota hunts.”

Raccoon

Sep 1 – Feb 28

Any legal weapon.

In the guide: “Opossum - Raccoon: Sept. 1–Feb. 28.”

Closed Oct 16–18, Oct 21–25, Nov 12–15, Nov 26–29, Dec 3–6.

The night before each hunt, too.

In the guide: “Small game hunting is closed at sunset the day before and during the young sportsman's hunt and quota hunts.”

Area rules

ATVs on roads open to motor vehicle traffic only. Hooved animals ridden only on designated roads or trails open to motorized vehicles, and not during big game seasons; riders need a hunting and fishing license and WMA permit or a High Impact Habitat Conservation Permit. No entry between sunset and sunrise. Contact the area manager for wheelchair accessible blinds. Special antlered deer regulations apply on all deer hunts: at least four (4) antler points on one side or a 15-inch minimum outside spread. WMA check station open for Young Sportsman and quota hunts. Dog training Sept. 1–March 15, except during big game hunts, daylight hours. Camping in the designated campground for hunters during deer and turkey seasons.

Nearby areas

Laurel Hill WMA - Shields Farm Unit within this area

Tie Camp WMA around 15 miles away

Hick Hill WMA around 15 miles away

Eagle Creek WMA around 20 miles away

Beaver Dam Creek WMA around 25 miles away

Browntown 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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