Old Hickory WMA
Site Directions: Access is primarily via water, but a couple of good areas can be accessed by vehicle. Barton Creek can be accessed from Denny Rd. The Headquarters area can be accessed via Canoe Branch Rd.
Headquarters via Canoe Branch Rd- Lat-Long: 36.34462, -86.28169
Barton Creek via Denny Rd - Lat-Long: 36.29860, -86.35861
Hours: daylight hours
Seasonality: year-round
Fees: none
Old Hickory WMA
Michael Bobel (615) 444-6673
TWRA Region 2 Office
Ellington Agricultural Center
5105 Edmonson Pike
Nashville, TN 37211
Phone: 615-781-6622
Toll Free: 1-800-624-7406
Fax: 615-831-9995
Areas coconsistf 6,000 huntable acres in narrow strips of land along the 21,700 acres of water on Old Hickory Lake. Of the 6,000 acres, only 1,000 acres have public land access. The remaining 5,000 acres are primarily accessible by water.
Unit I
Highway 109 upstream to River Mile 267, Excluding Lock 5 Refuge
Big Game Hunting
Small Game Hunting
Trapping
Dove - Sept. 4, 2022 on Barton’s Creek. Youth only (6-16), must be accompanied by a licensed non-hunting adult. Hunting begins at 6 a.m.
Dove - Sept. 6, 2022 and every Wednesday and Friday-Sunday thereafter during the first segment of the statewide season.
Turkey Hunting
Turkey - Same as statewide spring season.
Waterfowl Hunting
Waterfowl - Hunting is permitted only from registered blind sites and staked temporary blind sites during the duck/goose season occurring in Nov. - Feb. Same as statewide season, except waterfowl hunting shall cease at 3 p.m. (CST) during the late duck season, except hours same as statewide on the last day of each segment of the duck/goose season occurring in Nov. - Feb.
Wheelchair Accessible Hunting
Waterfowl (wheelchair-bound only blind site) - Applications must be received by the TWRA Region II Office by noon on the fourth. Friday in October. Persons holding a permit for another blind are not eligible.
Dog training - Sept. 1 - March 15, except closed during duck seasons.
Quail Hunting
Quail - Nov. 6, 2022 - Jan. 15, 2023
Unit II
Hwy. 109 downstream to Old Hickory Dam
Big Game Hunting
Small Game Hunting
Trapping
Same as statewide seasons, except as noted.
Quail Hunting
Quail - Nov. 6, 2022 - Jan. 15, 2023
Turkey Hunting
Turkey - Same as statewide spring season.
Waterfowl Hunting
Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Hunting from registered blind sites only, except during the early duck season. All goose hunting is from registered blinds only.
Unit III
From River Mile 267 upstream to the old Lock 6 site at River Mile 281
Big Game Hunting
Small Game Hunting
Trapping
Same as statewide seasons, except as noted.
Quail Hunting
Quail - Nov. 6, 2022 - Jan. 15, 2023
Turkey Hunting
Turkey - Same as statewide spring season.
Waterfowl Hunting
Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Hunting from registered blind sites only, except during the early duck season. All goose hunting is from registered blinds only.
Site Description: Of the 6,000 acres of Old Hickory WMA, only 1,000 acres are accessible from public access locations. The remainder is accessible only by boat.
There are patches of hardwood forest of oak, hickory, and maple, and riparian forest of Black Willow and sycamore along the shoreline of parts of the lake. These forested areas are mixed with cropland that is flooded for waterfowl in winter.
There is public access via gravel roads, which can be driven or walked.
Old Hickory WMA is part of The Cordell Hull Conservation Opportunity Area
Wildlife to Watch: Waterfowl are abundant in winter.
Early successional birds are common in summer, including Indigo Bunting, Northern Cardinal, Eastern Towhee, and Yellow-breasted Chat.
Sparrows of various species may be seen throughout the winter.
There are approximately a dozen heron rookeries around Old Hickory Lake.
NOTE: These areas are used for recreational purposes, please be safe.
Old Hickory WMA
Michael Bobel (615) 444-6673
