Migratory Birds
Waterfowl Seasons and Bag Limits
-Daily Bag Limit: The maximum number of migratory game birds of a single species or combination (aggregate) of species permitted to be taken by one person in any one day during the open season in any one specified geographic area for which a daily bag limit is prescribed.
-Possession Limit: The maximum number of birds that could have legally been taken in three (3) days, except on opening day and the second day of the season when the possession limit is the daily bag limit and two times the daily bag limit, respectively.
| Species | Statewide Duck Zone (the remainder of the state outside the Reelfoot Lake Duck Zone) |
Reelfoot Duck Zone (the lands and waters within the boundaries of Reelfoot Lake WMA only) |
Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood Duck and Teal |
Sep. 8 – Sep. 12 2018 |
Sep. 8 – Sep. 12, 2018 |
The Daily bag limit of ducks is 6, and may include no more than 2 wood ducks |
The possession limit
|
| Teal |
Sep. 13 - Sep. 16, 2018 |
Sep. 13 - Sep. 16, 2018 |
The Daily bag limit is 6 of any teal species |
|
| Ducks, Coots & Mergansers |
Nov. 24-25, 2018 Dec. 1, 2018 - Jan. 27, 2019 |
Nov. 10-11, 2018 Dec. 1, 2018 - Jan. 27, 2019 |
Coots: 15
Mergansers: 5 (only 2 of which may be hooded mergansers) |
|
| Youth Waterfowl Hunting Season* |
Feb. 2, 2019 and Feb. 9, 2019 |
Feb. 2, 2019 and Feb. 9, 2019 |
Same as regular season daily bag limits. |
| Species | Statewide Goose Zone All counties and portions of counties not included in the Northwest Zone. |
Northwest Goose Zone Lake, Obion, and Weakley counties; that portion of Dyer County, excluding that portion south of Hwy 104; and Gibson County excluding that portion bounded on the south by Hwy 104 and on the west by Hwy 45W. |
Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada Goose |
Sep. 1-16, 2018 Oct. 13 – Oct 23, 2018 Nov. 24 – 25, 2018 Dec 1, 2018 – Feb. 10, 2018 |
Sep. 1-16, 2018 Oct. 13 – Oct 23, 2018 Nov. 10 – 11, 2018 Dec 1, 2018 – Feb. 10, 2018 |
5 in September 3 in all other Seasons |
The possession limit is three (3) times the daily bag limit, except on opening day and the second day of the season when the possession limit is one (1) and two (2) times the daily bag limit, respectively. |
| White-Fronted Geese |
Nov. 24-25, 2018 Dec. 1, 2018 - Feb. 10, 2019 |
Nov. 10-11, 2018 Dec. 1, 2018 - Feb. 10, 2019 |
3 |
The possession limit is three (3) times the daily bag limit, except on opening day and the second day of the season when the possession limit is one (1) and two (2) times the daily bag limit, respectively. |
| Brant |
Sep. 1-16, 2018 Oct. 13 – Oct 23, 2018 Nov. 24 – 25, 2018 Dec 1, 2018 – Feb. 10, 2018 |
Sep. 1-16, 2018 Oct. 13 – Oct 23, 2018 Nov. 10 – 11, 2018 Dec 1, 2018 – Feb. 10, 2018 |
1 |
|
| Blue, Snow & Ross’ Geese (Light Geese) |
Standard federal regulations apply (unplugged shotguns and electronic calls NOT allowed) Sep. 1-16, 2018 Oct. 13 – Oct 23, 2018 Nov. 24 – 25, 2018 Dec 1, 2018 – Feb. 10, 2018 |
Standard federal regulations apply (unplugged shotguns and electronic calls NOT allowed) Sep. 1-16, 2018 Oct. 13 – Oct 23, 2018 Nov. 10 – 11, 2018 Dec 1, 2018 – Feb. 10, 2018 |
Standard season: 20 | There is no possession limit for blue, snow and ross’ geese except on opening day and the second day of the season when the possession limit is the daily bag limit and two times the daily bag limit, respectively. |
Light Goose Conservation Season* (Blue, Snow & Ross’ Geese) |
The following provisions apply during the Light Goose Conservation Season only: Unplugged shotguns, electronic calls, shooting from 30 minutes before official sunrise until 30 minutes after official sunset, no daily bag or possession limit. Feb. 11 – Mar. 18, 2019 |
The following provisions apply during the Light Goose Conservation Season only: Unplugged shotguns, electronic calls, shooting from 30 minutes before official sunrise until 30 minutes after official sunset, no daily bag or possession limit. Feb. 11 – Mar. 18, 2019 |
Conservation season: no limit |
There is no possession limit for blue, snow and ross’ geese During the Light Goose Conservation Season. |
* A free Light Goose Conservation Season Permit is required to hunt during the Conservation Season, available in late January on the TWRA website. Hunting is allowed from 30 minutes before official sunrise until 30 minutes after official sunset. There is no daily bag or possession limit. No Federal or state waterfowl stamps are required to hunt during the Conservation Season. Hunters must possess a TN Light Goose Conservation Season Permit and have a valid hunting license, but the license may be from any state. |
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| * Only youth hunters from 6-16 years of age may harvest coots, gallinules, moorhens, ducks, mergansers, and geese during the Youth Waterfowl hunt days. Youth aged 16 are still required to possess a valid Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Federal Duck Stamp). Non-hunting adults at least 21 years of age shall accompany the youth hunter(s) into the field during the youth waterfowl season and must remain in a position to take immediate control of the hunting device. Multiple youths may be accompanied by a single qualifying adult; however, adults and other persons accompanying youths shall not hunt during these youth waterfowl hunts. Adults not accompanied by youths 6-16 may still harvest geese during those dates. Geese, coots, gallinules, moorhens, and ducks may be taken by youths during the Youth Waterfowl Season. WMAs with special closing times are open all day, each day of the Youth Waterfowl Season. |
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Waterfowl Quota Hunts (Computerized/Hand Held Draw)
- Bogota & Thorny Cypress WMA Waterfowl Pool Drawings
- Chickamauga Waterfowl Blind Drawings
- Meeman Shelby Forest WMA Waterfowl Drawings
- White Oak- Lebanon Pond Area
- WMA Waterfowl Blind Reservation Application
- Gooch Unit E - Hand Held Draw Site
- Obion River Maness Swamp Hunting Unit - Hand Held Draw Site
Blind/pool sites at Bogota, Chickamauga (Candies Creek, Johnson Bottoms, Rogers Creek, and Yellow Creek Units), Gooch (Unit E), Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, Thorny Cypress, and White Oak (Lebanon Pond area) will be allocated by a computerized drawing. Hunters can apply through any TWRA license agent or gooutdoorstennessee.com from Sept. 5-26, 2018.
Hunters that are successful in drawing a blind/ pool site on Gooch (Unit E), Bogota and Thorny Cypress must, two weeks or more prior to their hunt date, return to TWRA a “Notice of Intent” which states they do intend to hunt their assigned blind/pool. Hunters that are successful in drawing a blind site on Chickamauga (Candies Creek, Johnson Bottoms, Rogers Creek and Yellow Creek), Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, White Oak and Natural Area must by Nov. 2, 2018 return to TWRA a “Notice of Intent” which states they do intend to hunt their assigned blind pool.
If the “Notice of Intent” is not received by TWRA by the specified deadline, the blind/pool will become vacant. Any vacant blinds/pools, will be reallocated by a hand-held drawing.
Candies Creek, Johnson Bottoms, Rogers Creek and Yellow Creek Units of Chickamauga hand-held drawings for vacant blind sites will be held Monday, Nov. 12, 2018 at 6 p.m. (EST) at the Hiwassee Refuge, 525 Priddy Lane, Birchwood, TN 37308. Information concerning availability of vacant blind sites can be obtained by contacting the Region III Office at 1-833-402-4698.
Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park hand-held drawing for vacant blind sites will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. and take place at 10 pm. at the Park Recreation Lodge. For more information contact Chris Park at (901) 876-5169.
Gooch (Unit E) hand-held drawings for vacant blind sites will occur each Monday from Nov. 19 - Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. at the Kenton Gym, 206 West College St., Kenton, TN 38233. For more information contact Larry Armstrong at (731) 749-5587.
White Oak (Lebanon Pond area) will conduct a hand-held drawing for vacant blind sites on Saturday Nov. 10, 2018. Registration will begin at 8:30 am and the drawing will begin at 10:00 am at the Milledgeville City Park, behind the Milledgeville Fire Station, off of Highway 22A. For information contact Chad Harden at (731) 687-3444.
Bogota and Thorny Cypress, hand-held drawings for vacant blind sites will occur each Monday from Nov. 19 - Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Dyersburg TWRA Workbase. Information concerning availability of vacant blinds/pools can be obtained by contacting Jason Maxedon at (731) 285-6124.
All hunting on computer drawn areas is permitted only from designated temporary blind sites. A blind may not be hunted unless a hunter who was drawn for that blind site and hunt date is present and possesses a valid TWRA blind site confirmation number.
If a drawn hunter is not present the blind site will not be hunted.
A hunter drawn for a blind may bring up to four additional hunters. Decoys and temporary blinds may be left out during the specified hunt period.
No portion of a blind used for discharging firearms at game may be locked or barricaded when the blind is not in use.
Waterfowl Hunting on WMA
West Tennessee
Barkley, Bogota (Draw Site), Big Sandy, Bogota(Non Draw Site), Camden, Gin Creek, Gooch, Gooch Unit E, Harmon Creek, John Tully-Fig Field/Fullen North Units, Meeman-Shelby State Forest Park, Obion River--Maness Swamp Unit, Thorny Cypress (Draw Site), Tigrett, Reelfoot, West Sandy, White Oak
Middle Tennessee
Haynes Bottom, Old Hickory Unit I, Woods Reservoir, Cheatham Lake
Cumberland Plateau
Chickamauga WMA Candies Creek, Johnson Bottoms, Rogers Creek, and Yellow Creek Units
Annual Draw Blinds (1st Saturday in August)
Hand-held drawings will be held on the first Saturday in August for waterfowl blind sites on AEDC (Woods Reservoir), Barkley (Unit I), Big Sandy (including Gin Creek Unit), Camden (Units I and II), Cheatham Lake, Gooch (Unit A), Harmon Creek, Haynes Bottom, Old Hickory (Units I and II), Reelfoot, Tigrett and West Sandy WMAs.
Individuals wishing to compete in the drawing must appear in person at the designated location and submit an application between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. The drawings will be held immediately after the last person signs up. One application is permitted per person and no one may apply for more than one area. Each applicant must be at least sixteen (16) years of age to compete in the drawing or sign-on. A valid Lifetime, Annual or Senior Citizen Sportsman License, or an Annual WMA Small Game and Waterfowl Permit (along with a Type 001 or 071 as appropriate) are the minimum needed to enter the blind site drawings in August. For full list of license requirements to waterfowl hunt, see above.
The permittee, who is the person to whom the TWRA issued a permit, or any of their sign-ons, must occupy the blind by the legal shooting time on days they wish to hunt. The permittee or sign-ons have priority use (exclusive and uninterrupted) only if they are in the blind on or before the legal shooting time, regardless of whether or not the blind is occupied by another person or party, provided the permittee produces identification and his/her blind permit.
If a blind is not occupied by the permittee or a sign-on by legal shooting time, the first person or party occupying the blind shall be entitled to the privilege of its exclusive and uninterrupted use until the end of shooting hours that day. Exclusive and uninterrupted use entitles the person or party the right to exclude all others from the blind, at the person’s or party’s option, except for law enforcement personnel engaged in the performance of their duties;
No more than 8 individuals, age 16 or older, may occupy a permanent (annual) draw blind at any time; no restrictions on the number of youths under age 16.
All decoys must be removed by the owner of the blind within ten days after the close of waterfowl season, unless otherwise indicated under the individual WMA listing. Refer to the Waterfowl Hunting Guide for additional restrictions.
Waterfowl hunting on all the above WMAs (except Big Sandy, Camden (Unit II), Harmon Creek, Reelfoot, and West Sandy) permitted only from permanent blind sites allocated by the annual hand-held drawing, unless otherwise specified.
On Big Sandy, Camden (Unit II), Harmon Creek, Reelfoot, and West Sandy, hunting is permitted from registered blind sites and from temporary blinds or hides. Temporary blinds and decoys must be at least 200 yards from any permanent blind. Blinds, blind materials, boats, hides and decoys must be removed at the end of shooting hours each day.
Walk-in Areas (no special permits needed)
Hunting is permitted on several WMAs (or special portions of WMAs) with only the required license(s) and a WMA Permit (no special quota or draw permits required). Areas with Walk-In hunting include: Big Sandy, Camden (Unit II), Harmon Creek, Reelfoot, and West Sandy, hunting is permitted from registered blind sites and from temporary blinds or hides. Temporary blinds and decoys must be at least 200 yards from any permanent blind. Blinds, blind materials, boats, hides and decoys must be removed at the end of shooting hours each day.
Wheelchair-bound hunts, zones, or blinds are open to hunters who are totally and permanently confined to a wheelchair as certified by a physician. Certain WMAs have special blind sites established for wheelchair-bound hunters which include: Camden, Cheatham Lake, North Chickamauga Creek, Old Hickory, Reelfoot, and West Sandy. See specific WMAs for regulations. On wheelchair-bound waterfowl hunts, each wheelchair-bound hunter must be accompanied by at least one, but not more than three assistants (at least one of whom must be age 16 years or older), who may also participate in the hunt.
West Sandy wheelchair-bound hunts are first-come, first-served. Applications for Cheatham and Old Hickory are available from the Region II office, (615) 781-6622. Applications for Camden and Reelfoot are available below and at the Region I office (731-423-5725) or Reelfoot office (731-253-7343). Information for North Chickamauga Creek (Varner Unit) is available from the Region III Office, (931-484-9571). Applications for wheelchair-bound hunts must be received by noon on the fourth Friday of October at the Region I Office (Camden), Reelfoot Office (Reelfoot), or Region II Office (Cheatham and Old Hickory)
Temporary Blinds & Decoys
Temporary blinds and decoys must be removed at the end of shooting hours each day, unless otherwise indicated under the individual WMA listing.
All decoys must be removed by the owner of the blind within ten days after the close of waterfowl season, unless otherwise indicated under the individual WMA listing. Refer to the 2011 Waterfowl Guide for additional restrictions.
Youths Hunting Waterfowl on a WMA
Waterfowl Federal Regulations Summary
In addition to state regulations, the following federal rules apply to taking, possession, shipping, transporting and storing of migratory game birds. This is only a summary, Each hunter should also consult actual regulations, which may be found in Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 20.
Restrictions
No person shall take migratory game birds:
- With a trap, snare net, rifle, pistol, swivel gun, shotgun larger than 10-guage, punt gun, battery gun, machine gun, fishhook, poison, drug, explosive or stupefying substance.
- With a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler which cannot be removed without disassembling the gun.
- From a sink box (a low floating device, having a depression affording the hunter a means of concealment beneath the surface of the water).
- From or with the aid or use of a car or other motor-driven vehicle, or any aircraft, except that paraplegic and single or double amputees of the legs may take from any stationary motor vehicle. "Paraplegic" means an individual afflicted with paralysis of the lower half of the body with involvement of both legs, usually due to disease or injury to the spinal cord.
- From or by means of any motor boat or sail boat unless the motor has been completely shut off and/or the sail furled and its progress therefore has ceased.
- By the use or aid of live decoys. All live, tame or captive ducks and geese shall be removed for a period of 10 consecutive days prior to hunting and confined within as enclosure which substantially reduces the audibility of their calls and totally conceals such tame birds from the sight of migratory waterfowl.
- Using records or tapes of migratory bird sounds, or electronically amplified imitations of bird calls.
- By driving, rallying or chasing birds with any motorized conveyance or any sail boat to put them in range of hunters.
- By the aid of baiting (placing feed such as corn, wheat, salt or other feed to constitute a lure or enticement), or on or over any baited areas. Hunters should be aware that a baited area is considered to be baited for 10 days after the removal of the bait, and it is not necessary for the hunter to know an area is baited to be in violation.
Closed Season
No person shall take migratory game birds during the closed season.
Shooting or Falconry Hours
No person shall take migratory game birds except during the hours open to shooting and falconry as prescribed.
Daily Bag Limit
No person shall take more than one daily bag limit per day.
Field Possession Limit
No person shall possess more than one daily bag limit while in the field or while returning from the field to one's car, hunting camp, home, etc.
Tagging
No person shall give, put or leave any migratory game birds at any place or in the custody of another person unless the birds are tagged by the hunter with the following information: The hunter's signature, address, the total number of birds involved by species and the dates such birds were killed. No person or business shall receive or have in custody any migratory game birds belonging to another person unless such birds are properly tagged
Possession of Live Birds
Wounded birds reduced to possession shall be immediately killed and included in the daily bag limit.
Dressing
No person shall completely field dress any migratory game bird (except doves and band-tailed pigeons) and then transport the birds from the field. The head or one fully feathered wing must remain attached to all such birds while being transported from the field to one's home or to a migratory bird preservation facility.
Shipment
No person shall ship migratory game birds unless the package is marked on the outside with:
- the name and address of the person sending the birds.
- the name and address of the person to whom th birds are being sent, and
- the number of birds, by species, contained in the package.
Importation
For information regarding the importation of migratory birds killed in another country, hunters should consult 50 CFR 20.61 through 20.66. One fully feathered wing must remain attached to all migratory game birds being transported between a port of entry and one's home or to a migratory bird preservation facility. No person shall import migratory game birds killed an any foreign country, except Canada.
| Species | Opens | Closes | Daily Bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dove1 | Sept. 1 Oct. 13 Dec. 8 |
Sept. 28 Nov. 4 Jan. 15 |
152 152 152 |
| Woodcock1 | Nov. 10 | Dec. 24 | 3 |
| Wilson Snipe1 | Nov. 14 | Feb. 28 | 8 |
| Crow1 (Fri./Sat./Sun./) | June 1 | Feb. 28 | No Limit |
| Moorhen and Gallinule1 | Sept. 1 | Nov. 9 | 25 |
| Virginia and Sora Rail1 | Sept. 1 | Nov. 9 | 15 |
- Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit required
- No limit on Eurasian collared doves; however, any doves not readily identifiable as Eurasian collared doves will be considered mourning doves and count towards the mourning dove daily bag and possession limits.