Public Land Duck Hunting
Waterfowl Management - No Silver Bullet
Leftover/Unclaimed Tier 1 Waterfowl Blind Sites
Unclaimed Waterfowl Tier 1 WMA Blind Sites in middle and west Tennessee will be available in a computerized draw at their respective regional offices on August 24th at 9 am. You must be in attendance to be awarded a site. Registration will take place on site.
Region 1
200 Lowell Thomas Drive
Jackson, TN 38301
Barkley Unit 1 - Site 2
Reelfoot - Site RD45
Region 2 - Ellington Agricultural Center
5105 Edmonson Pike
Nashville, TN 37211
Cheatham Lake - Site 31
Old Hickory Unit 1 - Site 67
Old Hickory Unit 1 - Site 80
Old Hickory Unit 1 - Site C
Old Hickory Unit 1 - Site D
Old Hickory Unit 1 - Site F
Old Hickory Unit 1 - Site J
Old Hickory Unit 2- Site 41
Tennessee offers a variety of public land duck hunting options with access for hunters statewide.
Below you will find detailed information on hunt dates, application instructions, permit options, blind availability, site conditions, hunting guide information, and information on the background of duck hunting in Tennessee.
Quota Hunt Permit Details (including Tier 2 & Pools)
Applications must be submitted through www.GoOutdoorsTennessee.com. No mail-in applications are accepted. When applying through the website, it is critical you include a current email address for your account. The following notifications will arrive ONLY by email: your application has been submitted and accepted into the system, you have successfully made changes to your application (hunt locations, group members, etc.), you were/were not selected for hunts, and how to obtain permits.
You can log into your account at www.GoOutdoorsTennessee.com at any time and see the hunts you applied for, permits you were awarded, and your priority points balance. Read our pamphlet o how to claim your permit.
Tier 2 and pool permits will be issued during three (3) application periods during the regular duck season early, middle, and late; corresponding to three 20-day periods. Local vacancy (leftover) drawings will be held after a Notice of Intent (NOI) period.
Residents: An applicant must hold any of the following license groupings to apply for season-long and segmented hunts. Segmented hunts have the option of licenses or the $12 fee:
- Combo Hunt/Fish and WMA Small Game Waterfowl
- Annual Sportsman license and Migratory Bird Permit
- Lifetime Sportsman and Migratory Bird Permit
- Annual Senior Sportsman and Migratory Bird Permit
- Disabled Veteran and Migratory Bird Permit
- Permanent Senior and Migratory Bird Permit
- Wheelchair and Migratory Bird Permit
- SSI Hunt and Fish and Migratory Bird Permit
- Junior Hunt/Fish/Trap (holder must already be 16) and Migratory Bird Permit
- Reelfoot needs Combo Hunt/Fish and Reelfoot Annual preservation permit
Non-Residents:
- Non-resident big game hunting and a WMA Waterfowl/Small Game permit:
- OR the customer can pay a $12 application fee and purchase the required licenses once selected for the drawing (which includes a 7-day option versus the entire season if this is their only opportunity to hunt). You will receive a priority point for each unsuccessful application. For example, if you apply for an Early Waterfowl Permit and are unsuccessful, you will receive a priority point for future Early Waterfowl drawings.
Priority Points are not transferable from one drawing to another. You will have the ability to apply for a priority point only if you wish not to hunt this year. These applications can only be submitted by individuals (not parties) and must be completed during the allotted application period.
For Early, Mid and Late waterfowl quota hunts, hunters awarded a permit must return to TWRA a “Notice of Intent” (NOI) which states they do or do not intend to hunt during their permitted hunt. The NOI may be submitted online through your www.GoOutdoorsTennessee.com account, by U.S. mail or e-mail. Detailed information will be provided to successful applicants. If TWRA does not receive the NOI by the specified deadline, the permit will be forfeited and become invalid. Any forfeited or invalid quota permits will be reallocated by a local, in-person drawing.
Customers wishing to sign up for vacancy drawings will need to sign up for the desired location using TWRA’s Event System and then attend the local drawing. You must be present to be awarded a vacancy permit.
Priority Point Details
Each of the 3 waterfowl quota hunt periods have unique and separate priority points. An individual is awarded one point for each unsuccessful application in a drawing. When a person is drawn for a quota hunt, their priority points for that application period will be reset to zero (0). Priority points only apply to the individual drawing in which they were earned, i.e., WMA Big Game, Spring Turkey, and the new Early Waterfowl, Middle Waterfowl, Late Waterfowl drawings.
Applicants with the highest priority are always drawn first. Points are not transferable from one drawing to another.
The highest priority point of party members will be used for the full party. If a party application is drawn, all members are awarded a permit and removed from drawing. If a party application is not drawn, all members receive one priority point
Existing Waterfowl priority points will all be applied to the Mid-Season application period. Points may not be moved to another application period nor be used on a season-long permit application.
How does the drawing work?
Applicants select specific hunt choices by location (WMA and hunt site) and dates and arrange these choices by preference. Please select only hunts you are interested in. Applicants will not be awarded a hunt they did not select.
The computer draw process awards applicants with the highest number of priority points first. If the applicant’s first choice is available, it is awarded. The program then moves on to the next applicant’s first choice. If the applicant’s first choice is not available, the program moves to that applicant's second choice, either awarding that choice if available (and moving on to the next applicant), or if not available, the program moves to the third choice, etc.
Each eligible application is included in the drawing. If you are in a party, each applicant in your party is entered into the drawing (so a party of 5 has 5 chances, etc). When a party application is selected, the drawing runs the location/date choices in the order they are entered on the party leader’s application. If successful, all members of the party are awarded a permit and removed from the drawing. If unsuccessful, all members of the party are unsuccessful and awarded one (1) priority point.
Season Long Permits
Season permits will be for 60 days and are for blinds constructed by the permit holder. Blinds must be constructed with solid materials.
Apply Applications and drawings will be electronic, web-based, and lottery-style (like the deer/turkey quota system). Find out more on our Quota Hunt page.
Applicants form parties and each member’s name will be included in the lottery, so parties of 5 will have 5 chances to be selected, parties of 8 will have 8 chances, etc. A minimum party size of 4 is required to apply.
Application Period: June 28 - July 19, 2023
Awarded: August 5, 2023
Claim permit by August 14, 2023
Hunt Dates: November 25 - 26, 2023 & December 5, 2023 - January 31, 2024
Season Long Permit Details
- Permits for all tiers requiring permits will be issued by a computer application and drawing. Applicants must have a party of 4-8 people to apply. Each party member's name will be included in the lottery, so a party of 5 has 5 chances to be selected, a party of 8 has 8 chances, etc.
- No sign-on can be made after the drawing. Permits are nontransferable.
- Residents: An applicant must hold any of the following license groupings to apply for season-long and segmented hunts. Segmented hunts have the option of licenses or the $12 fee:
- Combo Hunt/Fish and WMA Small Game Waterfowl
- Annual Sportsman license and Migratory Bird Permit
- Lifetime Sportsman and Migratory Bird Permit
- Annual Senior Sportsman and Migratory Bird Permit
- Disabled Veteran and Migratory Bird Permit
- Permanent Senior and Migratory Bird Permit
- Wheelchair and Migratory Bird Permit
- SSI Hunt and Fish and Migratory Bird Permit
- Junior Hunt/Fish/Trap (holder must already be 16) and Migratory Bird Permit
- Reelfoot needs Combo Hunt/Fish and Reelfoot Annual preservation permit
- Tier 1 (season-long) application period is June 28 - July 19, 2023.
- Drawing held in August 2023.
- Notice Of Intent (NOI) is required. Hunters awarded a permit must return to TWRA a “Notice of Intent” (NOI) which states they do or do not intend to hunt during their permitted hunt. The NOI may be submitted online through your www.GoOutdoorsTennessee.com account, by U.S. mail or e-mail. Detailed information will be provided to successful applicants. If TWRA does not receive the NOI by the specified deadline, the permit will be forfeited and become a Tier 4 Blind.
- No priority points will be issued for this drawing.
- Individuals/Parties who receive a Season-Long Waterfowl Permit are ineligible for other waterfowl drawings.
Quota Hunt Permits
Quota permits will be for hunts from 1 to 4 days and are for agency-built blinds (Tier 2) or temporary blinds (Quota Hunt Permit Areas)
Apply: Applications will be web-based, through our online quota hunt system (like the deer/turkey quota system). There will be 3 application periods- early, mid, and late, as well as the ability to receive priority points for any drawing you are not selected. How to Claim Your Permit
Applicants form parties and each member’s name will be included in the lottery, so parties of 5 will have 5 chances to be selected, parties of 8 will have 8 chances, etc. A minimum party size of 4 is required to apply.
When selecting specific quota hunt locations (WMA and Site number), please note that there are several types for which to apply.
Early Segment
Application Period: September 27 - October 17, 2023
Claim permit by October 30, 2023
Left-Over Drawing: November 13, 2023 - Available WMAs with Blind Sites TBA
Hunt Dates: November 25 & 26, 2023 & December 5-21, 2023
Mid Segment
Application Period: October 25 - November 14, 2023
Claim permit by November 27, 2023
Left-Over Drawing: December 12, 2023 - Available WMAs with Blind Sites TBA
Hunt Dates: December 22, 2023 & January 11, 2024
Late Segment
Application Period: November 15 - December 5, 2023
Claim permit by December 18, 2023
Left-Over Drawing: January 4, 2024 - Available WMAs with Blind Sites TBA
Hunt Dates: January 12 - 31, 2024
Youth Waterfowl Hunting Season - February, 3 & 10, 2024
Veterans and Active Military Personnel - February, 4 & 11, 2024
In order for the agency to understand the quality of your duck hunting experience and how we can better serve you, a post-season survey is sent to everyone who receives a permit for a blind. After your hunt, you will be emailed a link to fill out a survey. The survey is optional and will be mailed within 10 days from the end of your permitted hunt, even if you did not hunt.
- A Permit is good for the entire regular 60-Day Waterfowl Season
- Permanent blind structure, built by permit holder(s), required to be built out of solid material
- A minimum party size of 4 is required to apply with a maximum of 8, no limit for youth hunters
- Application and drawings will be electronic, web-based, and lottery-style (like the deer/turkey quota system) The program is lottery-style, meaning the computer will assign random numbers to each applicant in the party. The lowest number assigned is equal to the first name drawn. The program will give that person their first choice. The program then moves on to the second lowest number’s first choice. If the applicant’s first choice is not available, the program moves to that applicant's second choice, either awarding that choice if available (and moving on to the next applicant) or if not available, the program moves to the third choice, etc
- Notice of Intent (NOI) must be submitted
- Decoys, trash, and blind material must be removed no later than 15 days post season
- Youth/Military Hunts are available to permit holders/hopping
- Occupancy requirements - A permit holder must be present for daily use, must hunt within 5 ft of location stake
- Blind hopping allowed
- A Permit is good for 2, 3, or 4-day hunts, Monday–Thursday, Friday–Sunday. Closure days may apply to specific WMAs.
- Permanent blind structure, built and maintained by the TWRA
- A minimum party size of 4 is required to apply with a maximum of 8, no limit for youth hunters, must include the permit holder
- Application(s) will be a web-based Quota Hunt Process with 3 computer applications and draw periods (early, mid & late) Applicants are sorted by priority points. For multiple applicants with the same number of priority points, the computer will choose at random. Group priority points are not averaged. The highest priority point of the group will be used for the draw
- Notice of Intent (NOI) must be submitted
- Decoys, trash, and blind material must be removed at the end of the hunt period
- Youth/Military Hunts are available during late segment hunts
- Occupancy requirements - A permit holder must be present for daily, must hunt in the blind
- Blind hopping NOT allowed
- No Permit is required, daily first-come, first-served
- Temporary blinds only
- A minimum party size of 4 is required to apply with a maximum of 8, no limit for youth hunters
- No applications are required, first-come, first-served
- Decoys, trash, and blind material must be removed daily
- Youth/Military Hunts are first-come, first-served
- Occupancy requirements - must hunt within 25 ft of the location stake
- Blind hopping is first-come, first-served
Comparison Chart for Tier Designations on WMAs
All waterfowl drawings require a party application of 4 persons minimum, 8 persons maximum.
| Blind Type | TIER 1 | TIER 2 | TIER 3 | QUOTA PERMIT AREA |
| Permanent Blind built and maintained by permit holder(s) | Permanent Blind built and maintained by TWRA | Temporary blinds only* | Temporary blinds only | |
| Permit duration | Entire regular waterfowl season 60 days | 2 or 3 or 4-day hunt Monday–Thursday, Friday–Sunday. Closure days on Specific WMAs may apply. | No permit needed, first come, first-served | 2 or 3 or 4-day hunt Monday–Thursday, Friday–Sunday. Closure days on Specific WMAs may apply |
| Hunt Location Permit Required | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Application Deadlines Minimum of 4 people, maximum of 8. | Opens - June 28, 2023 Closes - July 19, 2023 Claim permit by August 14, 2023 |
Early Segment Opens - Sept. 27 Mid Segment Mid Segment Opens - Oct. 25 Late Segment Late Segment Opens - Nov. 15 |
First come-First Served | Early Segment Opens - Sept. 27 Mid Segment Mid Segment Opens - Oct. 25 Late Segment Opens - Nov. 15 |
| Equipment Removal (Decoys, trash, blind material) | 15 days post-season | End of Hunt period | Daily | End of Hunt period |
| Youth/Military Hunt | Available to permit holders/ hopping | Apply during Late segment | First-come, first-served | Apply during Late segment. Chickamauga Units open on a first-come, first-served basis. |
| Hopping | Yes | No | Yes, first-come, first-served | No |
| Hunting Distance from Stake | Blinds Constructed within 5 ft of the location | Must be in blind | 25 ft. | Must be in designated unit |
| Left-Over Drawing | Yes, after claim permit deadline; No, after blind construction deadline | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| Post Season Survey | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Priority Points | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Blind Construction Deadline | Fourth Monday in October | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Number of Hunters | Max 8 adults- No limit for youth hunters | Max 8 hunters, no limit for youth hunters, must include permit holder | Max 8 adults. No limit for youth hunters. | Max 8 hunters, must include permit holder |
| *except where there is a blind remaining from the previous season. No new blinds may be constructed. | ||||
| Tier 1 sites forfeited during the permitting process will be available for real location find information on our Quota Hunt Page. | ||||
Waterfowl Crops Status
Tier 2 Blind Location Videos
Duck Hunting In Tennessee Background
For many years Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency received public comments about public land duck hunting. The comments mostly fell into 2 categories: the need for increased duck hunting opportunities on public lands (i.e. more access) and concerns over the fairness of the handheld duck blind draw system. A scientific survey of duck hunters done in partnership with the University of Tennessee validated these comments, as well as other issues with in-person handheld draws, and a desire for opportunities to hunt for shorter time periods.
In 2020, due to COVID, all handheld duck blind drawings were computerized and available online, to ensure the waterfowl quota hunt season could continue. The Agency decided to maintain this system to make Waterfowl hunting consistent with all other agency quota hunts and to provide fair and equitable access to all hunters across the state.
In 2021, TWRA took another step with the creation of the Tier 2 segmented hunt options. In addition to season-long 60-day sites, Tier 2 sites provide 2, 3, or 4-day hunts during the early, mid, and late duck season. This dramatically increased the number of duck hunters who can be drawn and have public access to WMAs each season.