Meeman-Shelby Forest WMA and State Park
About 12 miles north of downtown Memphis, TN Millington, TN 38053Site Directions:
To Headquarters: From Memphis, take TN Highway 388 north until it dead ends. At the dead end, turn left and go 1 mile to a four-way stop.
Look for the Shelby Forest General Store. Turn right, go 1 mile and then take a left turn into the park.
Signs are provided to assist in finding the park.
To Eagle Lake via Island 40 Rd: Eagle lake may be accessed from the southern end of Meeman-Shelby State Park by taking Island No. 40 Road off of Benjestown Road.
To get to the site from Memphis, take TN Highway 388 north until it dead ends. At the dead end, turn left and go 1 mile to a four-way stop Look for the Shelby Forest General Store. At this point take Benjestown Road south for about 3 to 4 miles to reach Island No. 40 road.
Turn right on Island No. 40 road and follow it to a point where it turns abruptly left (about 1 mile).
At the turn, there is a gate leading into the forest that controls access to a poorly maintained gravel road that leads west to the lake.
Visitors Center- Lat: 35.34387°N Long: -90.03268°W
Eagle Lake- Lat: 35.0548°N Long: -89.5399°W
Hours: 7 AM to 10 PM
Seasonality: All year
Shelby County • 13,000 acres
Near Millington, north of Memphis
Chris Park (731) 738-0233
All hunters are required to register and obtain a free permit at the park headquarters (901) 876-5215. Rimfire rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader, and archery equipment only. Centerfire rifles and handguns are prohibited. Wild hogs may be taken during deer season by licensed deer hunters.
Big Game, Small Game - Same as Statewide Seasons, except as noted below
Open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday within statewide seasons, except as noted. Closed to spring squirrel hunting. Small game hunters must meet blaze orange requirements. Deer seasons follow Unit CWD dates, including the August G/M/A hunt. See Deer Seasons & Bag Limits.
Special Squirrel Hunt (Youth) - Aug. 19, 2023
Waterfowl - Waterfowl Hunting (Draw Zone) - All areas south of Pleasant View Road (Check Station Road) is draw area. All land north of Pleasant Land View (Check Station Road) and south of North Road (Boat Ramp Road) is non-draw area. Hunting during waterfowl season(s) occurring from Nov. - Feb. will be allocated by computer draw and is restricted to temporary blind sites. Hunters are restricted to numbered stakes as specified by special instructions supplied by TWRA annually. Decoys may be left out over the specified hunt but must be removed upon completion of the hunt on the last day. Hunts will be drawn for opening days of the late waterfowl season, for each Thurs-Sat of the season including the Sat. youth hunts, and Sunday Veteran and Active Military hunts. Hunting will be limited to designated areas.
Waterfowl Hunting Non-Draw Zone. Same as statewide seasons on Opening day(s) and Thur- Sat.
Turkey (Young-Sportsman) - One hunt: April 6, 2023. One bearded turkey.
Turkey - One non-quota hunt: April 13 - May 5, 2024. Hunt days are Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Bag limit one bearded turkey, counts toward statewide bag limit.
Trapping - Beaver trapping by special permit only. Trapping of all other species prohibited.
Quail - Nov. 4, 2023 - Jan. 15, 2024.
Dog training - Open Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, Sept. 1, 2023 - March 15, 2024.
Field Trials - Sept. 1, 2023 - April 30, 2024.
Camping - State park managed campgrounds
Site Description: The site consists primarily of some 13,467 acres of upland and bottomland forests. Two thirds of the park contains bottomland forests of oak, cypress, and tupelo. There are two man-make lakes in the uplands and some natural lakes and wetland areas in the bottomlands.
The park hosts one of the finest arrays of plant and animal life in Tennessee.
A boat launch into the Mississippi River is available. Eagle Lake is a site "off the beaten track." It is a floodplain lake surrounded by cypress swamp and dryer bottomland hardwood forests. When accessing the site you must pass through some beautiful loess bluff upland forest.
Access is by a poorly maintained gravel road. There is a gate at the entrance on Island 40 which is open on an irregular schedule. The gate is closed during high water in the bottoms.
Wildlife to Watch: Some 200 species of birds have been reported from the area. The wide variety of habitats present insures year-round opportunities for birding.
Deer and turkey are abundant. Barred Owls are abundant across the bottomland forests.
Cerulean Warblers are common breeding birds on the bluffs near the dropoff to the bottomlands.
Contact Information
Region 1 Office: 731-423-5725
Phone: Toll-Free: 800-372-3928
E-mail the office
Area Manager: Chris Park (731) 738-0233
