Oak Ridge Reservation and WMA
Directions and Description
Site Directions: Oak Ridge Wildlife Management Area, the Three Bend Scenic and Wildlife Management Refuge Area, and the Black Oak Ridge Conservation Easement (BORCE), are in the counties of Anderson and Roane, Tennessee. For greenway access information. Lat-Long: 35.96777 N -84.24952 W
The WMA is open year-round during daylight hours, note hunting seasons. License fees may apply.
TWRA Contact Information: Region 3 Office: 1-931-484-9571, Toll-Free: 1-833-402-4698, E-mail the office, TWRA Area Manager: Shannon Young 1-865-576-2380
The Oak Ridge Reservation, 37,000 acres, has large expanses of mature hardwood forest, unbroken by development or farmland; brushy corridors and cutover forest; abandoned pastures; grasslands; cedar glades and barrens; and wetlands. These habitats make the area attractive to a large and diverse number of species. Several access points open to the public are available for hiking and bird watching. Visitors must heed warnings when encountering road or area closed signs.
Woodland birds are common to abundant across Oak Ridge. Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Chuck-will's-widow, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Wood Thrush, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Kentucky Warbler, and Summer Tanager are found commonly in summer. Brown-headed Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, and other resident woodland birds are common year-round.
Regulations & Dates
Shotguns, muzzleloading rifles, and archery equipment only.
On big game quota hunts and on approved scouting days, for all areas, except behind all security checkpoints, a non-hunting juvenile under the age of 16 may accompany an adult hunter (21 years old or older) who has a valid Oak Ridge WMA quota permit. However, these non-hunting juveniles may not accompany hunters into any area requiring entry through a Security Portal or Security Police Officer Check Point (e.g. Tower Shielding Facility, Chestnut Ridge/Park City Road, or any badged-only hunting areas). During deer hunts, non-hunting juveniles must also comply with blaze orange regulations specified for legal hunters.
No boat access during deer hunts except to access Haw Ridge Park. Boat access only for waterfowl hunters accessing Solway and Freels Bend on or during the designated Sept. and Oct. hunting dates.
All Hunters must carry, at all times, a hunting license and permit, valid picture identification (youth excluded), and a signed current hunt map.
During Oct., Nov., and Dec. big game hunts all hunters must wear daylight fluorescent orange (blaze orange) including archery hunters in the Archery-Only Zones.
Dog training is prohibited.
All Hunters are required to check in big game and coyotes at the WMA check station.
Coyotes may be taken on any hunt with weapons legal for that hunt.
Deer (Shotgun/Muzzleloader/Archery) (Zone 1) - Three (3) hunts: Nov. 2–3, 2024, Nov. 9–10, 2024 and Dec. 14–15, 2024. Hunter quota 200. Three (3) deer, no more than one (1) antlered (bonus deer).
Deer (Shotgun/Muzzleloader/Archery) (Zone 1) - Three (3) hunts: Nov. 2–3, 2024, Nov. 9–10, 2024 and Dec. 14–15, 2024. Hunter quota 175. Three (3) deer, antlerless only (bonus deer).
Deer (Archery) (Zone 2) - Three (3) hunts: Nov. 2–3, 2024, Nov. 9–10, 2024 and Dec. 14-15. 2024. Hunter quota 200. Three (3) deer, no more than one (1) antlered (bonus deer). While deer hunting, one (1) male turkey may be harvested and will count toward your statewide bag limit.
Deer (Archery) (Zone 2) - Three (3) hunts: Nov. 2–3, 2024, Nov. 9–10, 2024 and Dec. 14–15, 2024. Hunter quota 125. Three (3) deer, antlerless only (bonus deer). While deer hunting, one (1) male turkey may be harvested and will count toward your statewide bag limit.
Scouting dates - 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 26, 2024, for the Nov. 2–3, 2024, and Nov. 9–10, 2024 permit holders; Dec. 7, 2024, for the Dec. 14–15, 2024 permit holders.
Waterfowl - 30 minutes before sunrise to noon - hunting on Solway and Freels Bend only from the shoreline to Solway Bend Farm Road and from the shoreline to Freels Bend Farm Road. Access by boat only. Hunting from temporary blinds only.
Canada Goose - Sept. 2, 2024, Sept. 7–8, 2024, Sept. 14–5, 2024, Sept. 21–22, 2024, Oct. 12–13, 2024, and Oct. 19–20, 2024.
Wood Duck/Teal - Sept. 14–15, 2024.
Turkey - Two (2) hunts: April 5-6, 2025, and April 12–13, 2025. Hunter quota 225. One (1) male bearded turkey counts toward statewide bag limit. Hunting ends at noon daily. Successful hunters must be at the check station by 1 p.m.
Turkey Scouting Date - 7 a.m. to noon EST on March 29, 2025, for permit holders and approved youths only.
All listed times are in the Eastern time zone.