Hunting
on J. Percy Priest Lake
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers administers 19,462 acres
of land as part of the J. Percy Priest Lake Project. Much of this land
is managed for wildlife and is open to public hunting. The Tennessee
Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) administers the wildlife management
program and has cooperative agreements with area farmers who perform
management practices to benefit wildlife. The fields are interspersed
among undeveloped woodlands and make for excellent hunting.
Many
types of recreational activities occur on and around the lake. Practice good
hunter ethics and remember, other people may be sensitive to seeing a hunter’s
success.
State
law prohibits hunting on public lands and waters within 100 yards of a visible
residence without the owner’s permission, whether or not the residence is on
public or private land.
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WMA Unit I
Unit I consists of 1,306 acres near LaVergne that is operated by TWRA.
It is a water fowl rest area. Deer and turkey may be taken only
with archery equipment. Deer and turkey seasons are the same as
statewide seasons with the exceptions of being closed on Fridays,
Saturdays and Sunday.
There are some scheduled dove hunts, juvenile small game hunts, and
squirrel hunting is authorized during regular statewide sessions (except
during field trial events).
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WMA Unit II
All other lands (except those areas listed below) are open for
hunting and are grouped together as Unit II. The seasons and limits are
the same as set by TWRA. No area permit is required, but you must have
the same State and Federal licenses that you would be required to have
if you were hunting on private property. Deer hunting on Unit II is
allowed with ARCHERY, MUZZLELOADER or SHOTGUNS WITH RIFLED SLUGS.
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The following areas are closed
to public hunting:
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Long
Hunter State Park
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YMCA
Joe C. Davis Outdoor Center
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Sharp
Springs Recreation Area—Smyrna Parks and Recreation Department
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Hamilton
Creek Metro Park—Metro Department of Parks and Recreation
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J.
Percy Priest Wildlife Management area (Unit I) - see exceptions above
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Developed
portions of Corps of Engineers Recreation Areas (except for those areas
periodically posted as being open for waterfowl hunting)
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Legal firearms: In addition to State Laws restricting firearm usage,
legal firearms that can be used for hunting are: 1) Shotguns with shot or rifled
slugs 2) Rimfire pistols and rifles (.22’s) - NO CENTERFIRE 3)
Muzzleloading rifles, shotguns and pistols and 4) Archery Equipment
Reminder: It is prohibited to posses a loaded firearm, ammunition, loaded
projectile firing devices, bows and arrows, crossbows, or other weapons unless:
1) In the possession of a Federal, State or Local Law Enforcement Officer 2)
Being used for hunting or fishing as permitted under State and Federal Law, or
3) Being used at an authorized shooting range.
There is only one authorized shooting range
open to the public on J. Percy Priest Lake, and that is the
Stones River Hunter
Education Center on Hobson Pike.
Portable tree stands and waterfowl
blinds are allowed, but must be removed at the end of each day’s hunt. Permanent
tree stands and duck blinds are prohibited.
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No vehicles of any type may be taken
off of authorized roadways. |
