Tennessee Public Hunting Areas
Over 7,000 acres of public hunting lands are available for Tennessee’s hunters. This is a cooperative effort between the TWRA and landholding companies to provide public hunting with the landowner setting, collecting and administering permits and the TWRA enforcing the rules and regulations governing these areas.
Seasons are open same as statewide seasons. Public lands are important to hunters and non-hunters alike, so all users should work to maintain a good relationship with the owners. Never litter or abuse the land.
Heartwood PHA
Over 7,000 acres located in Perry County. A permit is re-quired. Cost is $15.00 for adults and $12.50 for persons under 16 and over 65. For more information, contact the TWRA Region I office (731) 423-5725. Permits can be purchased at the following businesses:
Main Street Market - Lobelville
Sanders Market - Linden
Regulations
Permits (On Public Hunting Areas where required, as per agreement.)
Before any person may hunt on a Public Hunting Area he or she must possess a valid and appropriate hunt permit purchased from a Public Hunting Area permit agent. This permit must be available for inspection while on the area.
A Public Hunting Area permit is subject to cancellation if the permittee violates any of the rules and regulations of the area.
General
Use, possession or transportation of firearms, bows and arrows or other hunting devices and equipment is expressly prohibited except during times when they may be legally used for hunting.
Safety Rules
The hunter’s permit is subject to cancellation if he or she is found to be careless with firearms and no permit fee refund will be made.
No hunt participant shall be in possession of any alcoholic beverage, narcotic drug, barbiturate, or mari-juana while hunting within a Public Hunting Area. No person may be under the influence of these substances while hunting on a Public Hunting Area.
Firearms loaded with ammunition in either the chamber or magazine may not be transported in or on motorized vehicles. Exception: muzzleloaders may be transported in a loaded condition if the percussion cap or primer is removed from the nipple or tube. Flintlock muzzleloaders must have the priming powder removed from the pan, the frizzen open and the vent plugged.
Hunting is specifically prohibited inside safety zones on all Public Hunting Areas.
Miscellaneous
- All motorized vehicles must be muffler equipped to suppress noise and be spark arrestor equipped to prevent fires. Operation of motorized vehicles is confined to roads not designated as closed and driving off road into woods, fields, strip mines, foot trails, and utility rights-of-way is prohibited.
- Vehicles shall not be parked in any manner which will block or deny access to any road or trail.
- The use of wire, nails or other metal materials is prohibited in the building or attaching of climbing de-vices or hunting stands on or in trees. Hunting is prohibited from any stand attached to a tree with these mate-rials. Portable climbing devices and stands that do not injure trees are excepted from this rule.
- No person shall deface, damage, destroy or remove any equipment, structure, sign, trees, plants, dirt or gravel from any Public Hunting Area without proper authorization.
- No garbage, refuse, litter or sewage shall be left or deposited on a Public Hunting Area.
- The use of buckshot for hunting is specifically prohibited.
- Open fires are prohibited on all Public Hunting Areas.
- Other miscellaneous uses of Public Hunting Areas shall be in accordance with posted notices and/or as indicated on the hunt permit.
Other Public Hunting Lands
Other TWRA lands not proclaimed as a WMA or refuge are open with statewide seasons unless otherwise indicated.
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
In addition to a state hunting license, a Big South Fork Permit is required for feral hog hunting during the Jan. 20–last day of Feb., 2010 season (no dogs al-lowed). For information about hunting and obtaining a feral hog hunting permit call Big South Fork NRRA at (423) 569-9778 or the BSFNRRA Bandy Creek Visitor Center at (423) 286-7275.
Fort Campbell Outdoor Recreation
(270) 798-2175. Web site: http://www.campbell.army.mil/huntfish.htm
Holston Army Ammunition Plant - (423) 578-6276
Milan Army Ammunition Plant
(731) 686-6682. Web site: http://www.milanarsenalhunting.com
Tims Ford State Park Huntable Lands
Permit required, available at the Park Office. Same seasons and regulations as Owl Hollow Mill WMA (see hunting guide). For more information call (931) 962-1183.
Federal Refuges
Contact the individual refuge for their specific seasons and regulations.
Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge -
(731) 635-7621
Cross Creeks Natl. Wildlife Refuge -
(931) 232-7477
Lower Hatchie Natl. Wildlife Refuge -
(731) 635-7621
Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge -
(731) 772-0501
Reelfoot and Lake Isom NWRs -
(731) 538-2481
Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge -
(731) 642-2091
Publications 
