Laurel Hill WMA

Site Directions:  From Columbia, take Hwy 43 to Hwy 20, follow Hwy 20 through Summertown,  turn left on Hwy 240 (Turnpike Road), and take Hwy 240 to Hwy 241 (Napier Road).  Turn right on Hwy 241, turn left on VFW Road, and stay straight to VFW Lake and Deer Check Station. 

The deer check station address is 74 VFW Rd.  Lawrenceburg TN.  38464. Check Station 931-762-4537. The check station is only open during gun hunts.  Maps are outside at the check station and at all horse parking areas.  WMA headquarters phone number is 931-762-5749.

Laurel Hill Lake – Address is 39 Peter Cave Rd., Lawrenceburg TN.  38464.  Laurel Hill Lake Bait shop 931-762-7200.  From 64 HWY turn onto Chisholm Crossing Road which becomes Brush Creek Road and the lake entrance is on the right.  Laurel Hill Lake - Lat: 35.3513°N Long: -87.53376°W VFW Lake - Lat: 35.3567°N Long: -87.4845°W

The WMA is open year-round during daylight hours, note hunting seasons.   License fees may apply.

TWRA Contact Information: Region 2 Office: 1-615-781-6622, Toll-Free: 1-800-624-7406, E-mail the office, TWRA Area Manager: Pam McDonald1-(931-762-5749

Laurel Hill Wildlife Management Area is owned by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and is in northwest Lawrence County Tennessee.  It consists of 14,952 acres.  Eighty-five percent of the property is mature hardwoods, the remaining acreage is managed openings of early successional grass or brushy areas, planted food, and cover plots ranging from clover, corn, milo, millet, lespedeza, native warm-season grasses which provide hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, small game, and dove. There are 30 miles of chert gravel roads which provide good access throughout the property.  There are also approximately 30 miles of horse-riding trails. 

The Little Buffalo River runs through the middle of the property and there are numerous other small streams that run into the Little Buffalo. There are two agency lakes within Laurel Hill WMA that provide excellent Bass, Bluegill, Catfish, and Crappie fishing opportunities.  The largest is Laurel Hill Lake which is 325 acres, and the VFW lake is 22 acres.  There is one campground in the WMA for hunters that is primitive camping, so no electrical or water hookups.  It is across the street from 276 Napier Rd., Lawrenceburg TN 38464, no sign-in or registration is required.  Laurel Hill also has 3 deer hunting blinds to assist hunters with disabilities.  

ATV/UTV’s allowed only on roads open to motor vehicle traffic.  All hooved animals must be ridden on designated trails or roads open to motorized vehicles. Hooved animals and ATV riding are prohibited during all big game (deer, turkey) seasons.  Hooved animal riding and ATV use are permitted only by individuals possessing a license valid to hunt the WMA OR a High Impact Habitat Conservation Permit.  The use of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.

Neotropical migratory bird species are common in summer, including Summer and Scarlet Tanager, Worm-eating Warbler, and Kentucky Warbler. Cerulean Warblers also nest here, one of the few locations in the western highland rim where they can still be found nesting. Loggerhead Shrikes are rare, but regular nesting in the area. Great Blue Herons, Eastern Bluebird, and Belted Kingfishers are regularly seen year-round.

On Laurel Hill Lake, Common Loons, Mallards, Gadwall, Wood Ducks, and Bufflehead can be abundant in winter. Spring migration can yield a wide variety of migrant birds including Magnolia Warbler, Yellow Warbler, and Bay-breasted Warbler.  Wild Turkey, White-tailed Deer, squirrel, rabbit, and other game species are abundant.