37 S.

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Yuchi 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.

Deer

Sep 26–27

Firearms. Quota hunt, 50 hunters drawn. Only for youth hunters. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun - Young Sportsman): Sept. 26–27. Hunter quota 50 each hunt. Three (3) deer, only one (1) antlered (bonus deer).”

Sep 26–27, Oct 3–4, Oct 16–18, Nov 6–8, Dec 4–6

Any legal weapon. Only for mobility-impaired hunters.

In the guide: “Deer, Turkey (Wheelchair-bound Only): Three (3) wheelchair-bound hunters allowed per quota deer hunt and two (2) hunters per turkey quota hunt. Hunters must contact Region 3 office to reserve hunt date.”

Oct 3–4

Firearms. Quota hunt, 50 hunters drawn. Only for youth hunters. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun - Young Sportsman): Oct. 3–4. Hunter quota 50 each hunt. Three (3) deer, only one (1) antlered (bonus deer).”

Oct 16–18

Firearms. Quota hunt, 50 hunters drawn. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun): Oct. 16–18. Hunter quota 50. Three (3) deer, no more than one (1) antlered (Bonus deer).”

Nov 6–8

Firearms. Quota hunt, 50 hunters drawn. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun): Nov. 6–8. Hunter quota 50. Three (3) deer, no more than one (1) antlered (Bonus deer).”

Dec 4–6

Firearms. Quota hunt, 35 hunters drawn. Bonus deer hunt.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun) (Upland Zone): Dec. 4–6. Hunter quota 35. Three (3) deer, no more than one (1) antlered (bonus deer).”

Turkey

Mar 13–14

Any legal weapon, shooting ends at noon. Quota hunt, 15 hunters drawn. Only for youth hunters.

In the guide: “Turkey (Young Sportsman): March 13–14. Hunter quota 15. One (1) male bearded turkey. Counts toward statewide bag limit. Hunting ends at noon. Walk-in only.”

Mar 19–21

Any legal weapon, shooting ends at noon. Quota hunt, 10 hunters drawn.

In the guide: “Turkey: March 19–21. Hunter quota 10. One (1) male bearded turkey. Counts toward statewide bag limit. Hunting ends at noon. Walk-in only.”

Mar 19–21, Apr 2–4, Apr 9–11, Apr 26–28

Any legal weapon, shooting ends at noon. Only for mobility-impaired hunters.

In the guide: “Deer, Turkey (Wheelchair-bound Only): two (2) hunters per turkey quota hunt.”

Apr 2–4

Any legal weapon, shooting ends at noon. Quota hunt, 10 hunters drawn.

In the guide: “Turkey: April 2–4. Hunter quota 10. One (1) male bearded turkey. Counts toward statewide bag limit. Hunting ends at noon. Walk-in only.”

Apr 9–11

Any legal weapon, shooting ends at noon. Quota hunt, 10 hunters drawn.

In the guide: “Turkey: April 9–11. Hunter quota 10. One (1) male bearded turkey. Counts toward statewide bag limit. Hunting ends at noon. Walk-in only.”

Apr 26–28

Any legal weapon, shooting ends at noon. Quota hunt, 10 hunters drawn.

In the guide: “Turkey: April 26–28. Hunter quota 10. One (1) male bearded turkey. Counts toward statewide bag limit. Hunting ends at noon. Walk-in only.”

Dove

Sep 1–28

Follows the statewide season (Sep 1–25, Sep 28).

In the guide: “Dove: Sept. 1 until the end of the first segment.”

Ducks and teal

Sep 12–16

Follows the statewide season (ducks and teal Sep 12–16).

In the guide: “Wood Duck, Teal: Same as Sept. Wood Duck/Teal season. No duck hunters permitted on the refuge from two (2) hours after shooting hours have ended until 4 a.m. the following day. Walk-in access only. No boat access from the river.”

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

Closed Sep 26–27, Oct 3–4, Oct 16–18, Nov 6–8, Dec 4–6, Mar 13–14, Mar 19–21, Apr 2–4, Apr 9–11, Apr 26–28.

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

In the guide: “Small game hunting closes at sunset the day before and during scheduled big game hunts.”

Quail

Closed this season.

In the guide: “Closed to quail hunting.”

Rabbit

Nov 15 – Feb 28

Any legal weapon.

In the guide: “Rabbit: Nov. 15–last day of February. Bag limit on rabbits is three (3) per day.”

Squirrel, grouse, woodcock, and geese

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Squirrel: Aug 22 – Sep 25, Sep 28 – Oct 2, Oct 5–15, Oct 19 – Nov 5, Nov 9 – Dec 3, Dec 7 – Mar 12, Mar 15, May 8 – Jun 13
  • Grouse: Oct 10–15, Oct 19 – Nov 5, Nov 9 – Dec 3, Dec 7 – Feb 28
  • Woodcock: Nov 14 – Dec 3, Jan 10–31
  • Geese: Sep 1–20, Oct 10–15, Oct 19–22, Nov 28–29, Dec 7 – Feb 14

In the guide: “Small Game: Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Closed to quail hunting. Small game seasons closed in Wetland Zone from Nov. 15–last day of Feb. Small game hunting closes at sunset the day before and during scheduled big game hunts.”

Raccoon

Closed Sep 25–27, Oct 2–4, Oct 15–18, Nov 5–8, Dec 3–6, Mar 12–14, Mar 18–21, Apr 1–4, Apr 8–11, Apr 25–28.

The night before each hunt, too.

In the guide: “Small game hunting closes at sunset the day before and during scheduled big game hunts.”

Nov 17 – Feb 28

Any legal weapon, Tuesdays and Wednesdays only.

In the guide: “Raccoon, Opossum: Nov. 17 until the last day of Feb. Hunting permitted on Tuesday and Wednesday only, sunset to sunrise. Bag limit on raccoons, one (1) per person per night. No limit on opossums. All dogs must be removed from the area prior to sunrise on Thursday.”

Area rules

Nontoxic shot only in the Wetland Zone. The Wetland Zone is closed to all forms of public use, including all forms of trespass, from Nov. 15–the last day of Feb.; no boat access and no ATV, ORV or horseback riding. During big game quota hunts, one non-hunting juvenile under 16 may accompany an adult (18 or older) with a valid WMA quota permit. Antlered deer must have a minimum of nine (9) total points or a 15 inch minimum outside antler spread on all hunts. Turkey hunting ends at noon; walk-in only. Dog training Nov. 15–last day of Feb. in the upland zone, daylight hours, no fox or coyote chasing, and not one day before and during scheduled big game hunts.

Nearby areas

Yuchi Refuge - Wetland Zone within this area

Chickamauga WMA around 10 miles away

Hiwassee Refuge around 15 miles away

Harp around 15 miles away

Watts Bar WMA around 25 miles away

Mt. Roosevelt 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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