Reelfoot WMA

Directions and Description

Site Directions: from Tiptonville Tennessee, take TN Highway 78 north and northeast. Go about 3 miles. The Wildlife Management Area lies east of Highway 78 and may be accessed by several roads (Eagle Nest Road, Ernie Pierce Road, Choctaw-McCutcher Road) leading east from the Highway (look for signs).  Lat: 36.44052°N Long: -89.41579°W (entrance to the WMA on Ernie Pierce Rd)

The WMA is open year-round during daylight hours, please note hunting seasons.  General access is free however, some hunting, fishing, or recreational license fees may apply.

TWRA Contact Information: Region 1 Office 1-731-423-5725 Toll-Free 1-800-372-3928 e-mail the office Manager is Chase Taylor (731) 253-7343

The area contains a mix of habitats across its 24,000 acres.   The more elevated lands contain cultivated fields and a mix of shrub and early successional forest habitats.  Wetter and lower elevation areas contain bottomland hardwood and cypress swamp habitats. There are also freshwater sloughs, bayous, marshes, and some lake habitats. There is a wetland area that is pumped with water for waterfowl in winter (and hunting access for handicapped hunters). At the end of the road is a small parking area with a trailhead. The trail traverses through the woods for upwards of a mile.

Reelfoot Lake was created by a series of earthquakes in the winter of 1811-12. Although the lake was up to 40 feet deep, excessive siltation from poor land-use practices surrounding the lake has led to the lake being generally less than 20 feet deep.  The site is a good location to observe waterfowl in the winter when up to 750,000 individuals may use the site at one time! Large numbers of Bald Eagles may be seen in winter, although several pairs nest around Reelfoot Lake. Woodland birds are generally good and many species may be seen along the hiking trail.

Prothonotary Warblers are a common breeding bird, while migrant birds of most species occurring in Tennessee can be found here. Short-eared Owls are found in the vicinity in the winter months. Reelfoot Lake is the only place where some species of water snakes can be found in Tennessee. Across all protected lands on and around Reelfoot, there have been many mammals. amphibians and reptiles documented.

Permits Needed - No WMA permits are required. However, in addition to regular hunting and fishing licenses, a Reelfoot Preservation Permit is required to hunt, trap, fish or boat on Reelfoot WMA, (including the washout and tailwaters downstream as marked, and that portion of Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge in Tennessee). The exceptions are Sportsman and Lifetime Sportsman License holders, youth under 16, and residents over 65.

CWD Carcass Transportation Regulations Apply

Small Game, Trapping, and Dog Training are the same as statewide seasons, except as noted below.

Small game hunters (except waterfowl) must wear blaze orange during big game hunts.

Opossum - Raccoon - Sunset, Aug. 23, 2024 - the last day of Feb. 2025. No limit.

Deer - Same as statewide season except archery-only from Nov. 23, 2024, until the end of the statewide deer seasons. Deer count toward statewide bag limit.

Fall Turkey - Closed.

Spring Turkey - Closed.

Turkey - Young Sportsman Only - Same as statewide season.

Quail - Nov. 2, 2024 - Jan. 15, 2025.

Waterfowl - Same as statewide waterfowl seasons. Waterfowl hunting closed at 3 p.m. (CST), except for the last day of each segment of the duck season occurring in Nov. - Feb. and the remaining Reelfoot goose seasons when hunting ceases at sunset.

Waterfowl (wheelchair-bound only blind sites) - Applications must be received by the TWRA Region 1 Office by noon on the fourth Friday in October. Persons holding a permit for another blind are not eligible to compete in the wheelchair-bound blind drawing. If the blind is not occupied by shooting time, another wheelchair-bound hunter and 1 to 3 assistants (at least one assistant must be age 16 or older) may occupy the blind for that day. Hunting is restricted to wheelchair hunters and assistants only within the marked wheelchair-hunting zone at designated blinds.

Youth Waterfowl (Wheelchair-bound only blind sites) - Applications must be received by the TWRA Region 1 Office by noon on the fourth Friday in October. Persons holding a permit for another blind are not eligible to compete in the wheelchair-bound blind drawing. Youths, aged 6-16, must be accompanied by an adult, 21 years of age or older, who must remain in a position to take immediate control of the hunting device except as otherwise noted. If the blind is not occupied by shooting time, another wheelchair-bound hunter and 1 to 3 assistants (at least one assistant must be age 16 or older) may occupy the blind for the day. Hunting is restricted to wheelchair hunters and assistants only within the marked wheelchair-hunting zone at designated blinds.

Camping - State park-managed campgrounds