37 S.

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Old Hickory Lock 5 Refuge

2026-27 season. The rules here are for the part north of the Cumberland River; the south part has its own listing. 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: “Public use, including all forms of trespass, is prohibited from Nov. 15 to the last day of February.”

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: “Old Hickory Lock 5 Refuge (North of the Cumberland River) · 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: “Old Hickory Lock 5 Refuge (North of the Cumberland River) · Turkey: Same as statewide season. Bag limit one (1) male bearded turkey during the first 14 days of the statewide season, not to exceed two (2) for the season.”

Ducks and geese

Closed this season.

In the guide: “Closed to waterfowl hunting.”

Small game, grouse, woodcock, dove, and raccoon

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Squirrel: Aug 22 – Nov 14, Mar 1–15, May 8 – Jun 13
  • Rabbit and quail: Nov 7–14
  • Grouse: Oct 10 – Nov 14
  • Woodcock: Nov 14
  • Dove: Sep 1–28, Oct 10 – Nov 1
  • Raccoon: Sep 18 – Nov 14, Mar 1–15

In the guide: “Old Hickory Lock 5 Refuge (North of the Cumberland River) · Small Game: Same as statewide seasons, except as noted.”

Area rules

Public entry and fishing permitted while on the main river channel passing through the refuge.

Nearby areas

Old Hickory Lock 5 Refuge - South of the Cumberland River within this area

Old Hickory WMA around 5 miles away

Percy Priest WMA around 25 miles away

Cordell Hull WMA around 25 miles away

Edgar Evins State Park around 30 miles away

Cordell Hull Refuge 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).

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