Hunting Near Clarksville, TN
Find WMAs, national recreation areas, and Fort Campbell hunting lands near Clarksville. All locations include permit info and TWRA links.
Hunting Areas
Cunningham, TN • 3,000 acres
Game Species
Dover, TN • 170,000 acres
Game Species
Fort Campbell, TN • 105,000 acres
Game Species
Clarksville, TN
Game Species
Dover, TN • 9,000 acres
Game Species
Tennessee Hunting Resources
Fort Campbell Hunting
Fort Campbell offers a managed hunting program for active duty, retirees, and DoD civilians. All access is managed through the iSportsman online portal. You must have valid installation access credentials.
Hunting in Clarksville, TN and Montgomery County
Clarksville, Tennessee sits at the heart of some of the most productive hunting country in the mid-South. Montgomery County and the surrounding region offer a diverse mix of public wildlife management areas, national recreation lands, and managed military hunting programs that give local hunters access to thousands of acres of quality habitat. Whether you are chasing whitetail deer through the hardwood hollows of Cunningham WMA, calling turkeys along the ridges of Land Between the Lakes, or pass-shooting ducks over the Cumberland River bottoms, Clarksville is a genuine hunting town with year-round opportunity.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) manages Region 2, which covers Montgomery County and the surrounding counties of Robertson, Cheatham, Stewart, Houston, and Humphreys. This region is known for its strong white-tailed deer population, excellent wild turkey numbers, and productive waterfowl hunting along the Cumberland River corridor and the Land Between the Lakes impoundments. The TWRA stocks several WMAs in the region and maintains detailed regulations that hunters must follow each season.
Fort Campbell adds a unique dimension to hunting in the Clarksville area. The installation manages one of the largest military hunting programs in the Army through its iSportsman online portal. Active duty soldiers, retirees, and authorized DoD civilians can access thousands of acres of managed deer, turkey, and small game habitat on the installation. The program is well-organized, with designated check stations, harvest reporting requirements, and clearly marked hunting zones. For military families stationed at Fort Campbell, this program is one of the most underutilized benefits available.
Beyond the WMAs and Fort Campbell, hunters in the Clarksville area also benefit from proximity to Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, which straddles the Kentucky-Tennessee border just 45 minutes to the northwest. LBL offers over 170,000 acres of public land managed by the US Forest Service, with some of the best deer and turkey hunting in the region. The combination of local WMAs, Fort Campbell access, and LBL makes Clarksville one of the best-positioned cities in Tennessee for hunters of all experience levels.
Game Species Guide for Montgomery County
The Clarksville area supports a wide variety of huntable game. Here is what to expect from the most popular species in Montgomery County and the surrounding region.
🦌White-Tailed Deer
- Population
- Strong. Montgomery County consistently produces quality bucks, with the river bottoms and agricultural edges holding the highest deer densities.
- Best Areas
- Cunningham WMA, Fort Campbell hunting zones, private agricultural land along the Red River and Cumberland River corridors.
- Peak Season
- The rut typically runs from late October through mid-November in this part of Tennessee, with gun season opening in mid-November.
- Techniques
- Stand hunting over food plots and scrapes during the rut. Still-hunting hardwood ridges during early archery season. Rattling and calling work well during peak rut.
🦃Wild Turkey
- Population
- Excellent. TWRA Region 2 has one of the healthiest turkey populations in the state, and Montgomery County birds are known for being vocal and responsive to calls.
- Best Areas
- Land Between the Lakes, Fort Campbell, Cunningham WMA, and any mixed hardwood-agricultural edge in the county.
- Peak Season
- Spring season runs from mid-April through mid-May. Fall turkey season coincides with deer season and allows both archery and gun hunting.
- Techniques
- Locating roosted birds the evening before, setting up before first light, and calling with yelps and clucks. Decoys are effective in open fields during spring.
🦆Waterfowl (Ducks & Geese)
- Population
- Good. The Cumberland River and its backwater sloughs provide natural staging areas for migrating mallards, wood ducks, teal, and Canada geese during the winter migration.
- Best Areas
- Cumberland River bottomlands, Lake Barkley backwaters, and the LBL impoundments. Wood ducks are present year-round in the wooded sloughs.
- Peak Season
- Early teal season opens in September. Main duck season runs from late November through January. Canada goose seasons vary by zone.
- Techniques
- Decoy spreads with spinning-wing decoys for ducks. Pass-shooting along river corridors. Layout blinds in flooded agricultural fields for geese.
🕊️Mourning Dove
- Population
- Abundant. Dove hunting is one of the most popular early-season activities in Montgomery County, with large concentrations gathering in harvested grain fields and sunflower plots.
- Best Areas
- Harvested corn and soybean fields, sunflower food plots, and open agricultural areas throughout the county. TWRA manages several dove fields on WMAs.
- Peak Season
- Season opens September 1 and runs through November, with a second split in December. The first two weeks of September are typically the best.
- Techniques
- Field edge hunting with decoys. Identifying flight lines between roost trees and feeding fields. Hunting near water sources during hot early-season days.
🐿️Squirrel
- Population
- Excellent. Montgomery County has abundant gray and fox squirrel populations in its mature hardwood forests. Squirrel hunting is a great way to scout deer country in late summer.
- Best Areas
- Mature oak and hickory ridges throughout the county, Cunningham WMA, and the hardwood bottoms along the Red River.
- Peak Season
- Season opens in late August and runs through February. Early season hunting in green canopy requires patience; late season in bare trees is more productive.
- Techniques
- Still-hunting under mast-producing oaks and hickories. Sitting quietly and waiting for movement. .22 rifles and small-bore shotguns are both effective.
🐇Rabbit
- Population
- Good in areas with early successional habitat. Brushy field edges, overgrown fence rows, and clear-cut areas hold the best rabbit numbers in Montgomery County.
- Best Areas
- Field edges and brushy cover throughout the county. WMA areas with managed early successional habitat. Thickets along creek drainages.
- Peak Season
- Season runs from November through February. Cold, clear days after a frost are traditionally the best for rabbit hunting.
- Techniques
- Walking brushy cover and kicking up rabbits. Running beagles through thick cover. Posting blockers at the edges of brush piles while drivers push through.
Tennessee Hunting Season Calendar
Approximate season dates for Montgomery County and TWRA Region 2. Always verify exact dates with the official TWRA regulations before hunting, as dates change annually.
| Species | Season Type | Approx. Dates | Bag Limit | License Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery | Late Sept - Late Jan | Antlerless: varies by zone | Hunting + Archery stamp |
| White-tailed Deer | Muzzleloader | Late Oct - Early Nov | 1 antlered per day | Hunting + Muzzleloader stamp |
| White-tailed Deer | Gun (Modern) | Mid-Nov - Early Jan | 1 antlered per day | Hunting license |
| Wild Turkey | Spring (Gobbler) | Mid-April - Mid-May | 2 gobblers per season | Hunting + Turkey permit |
| Wild Turkey | Fall (Any sex) | Nov - Jan (with deer) | 1 per day | Hunting license |
| Mourning Dove | Season 1 | Sept 1 - Nov 30 | 15 per day | Hunting + Federal Migratory Bird |
| Mourning Dove | Season 2 | Dec 1 - Jan 15 | 15 per day | Hunting + Federal Migratory Bird |
| Teal (Early) | Early Teal | Early - Late Sept | 6 per day | Hunting + Federal Duck Stamp |
| Ducks | Main Season | Late Nov - Late Jan | 6 per day (species limits vary) | Hunting + Federal Duck Stamp + TN Waterfowl |
| Canada Goose | Regular Season | Oct - Jan | 3 per day | Hunting + Federal Duck Stamp |
| Squirrel | Season | Late Aug - Late Feb | 10 per day | Hunting license |
| Rabbit | Season | Nov 1 - Feb 28 | 8 per day | Hunting license |
| Raccoon | Season | Oct 15 - Feb 28 | No limit | Hunting + Fur Harvester |
| Coyote | Year-round | No closed season | No limit | Hunting license |
Source: TWRA Tennessee Hunting Guide. Dates are approximate and subject to annual revision. Always confirm with official TWRA publications.
Tennessee Hunting Regulations Overview
📋License Requirements
- •All hunters 13 and older must have a valid Tennessee hunting license.
- •Residents pay lower fees than non-residents. Annual combination licenses are the best value for most hunters.
- •Deer hunters need a base hunting license plus a deer permit. Turkey hunters need a turkey permit.
- •Waterfowl hunters need a federal duck stamp in addition to state licenses.
- •Hunter education certification is required for first-time hunters born after January 1, 1969.
- •Purchase licenses at GoOutdoorsTennessee.com or at any authorized license agent in Clarksville.
🌲WMA Rules
- •A WMA permit (included in most combination licenses) is required to hunt on all Tennessee WMAs.
- •Hunters must check in and check out at designated stations on many WMAs, including Cunningham.
- •Camping is allowed on most WMAs but restricted to designated areas. Check individual WMA rules.
- •ATVs are prohibited on most WMAs. Check the specific WMA regulations before bringing off-road vehicles.
- •Baiting is prohibited on all WMAs and on Fort Campbell hunting areas.
- •Blaze orange is required during all gun deer seasons on WMAs.
🪖Fort Campbell Hunting Rules
- •All Fort Campbell hunting is managed through the iSportsman online portal at fortcampbell.isportsman.net.
- •Valid military ID and current installation access credentials are required.
- •Hunters must check in and check out through the iSportsman system for every hunt.
- •All harvested deer must be checked at the Natural Resources check station.
- •Baiting is strictly prohibited. Violation results in loss of hunting privileges.
- •Hunters must follow both Tennessee state regulations and Fort Campbell-specific rules, whichever is more restrictive.
🔒Firearm & Safety Rules
- •Blaze orange (at least 500 square inches) is required for all hunters during gun deer season in Tennessee.
- •Loaded firearms are prohibited in vehicles on WMAs.
- •Hunting from a vehicle is illegal in Tennessee.
- •Trespassing on private land without permission is a criminal offense in Tennessee.
- •Always identify your target and what is beyond it before firing.
- •Alcohol and hunting do not mix. Tennessee law prohibits hunting while intoxicated.
Local Hunting Tips for Clarksville Area Hunters
Scout Cunningham WMA in Late Summer
Cunningham WMA is one of the closest public hunting areas to Clarksville. Visit in August and September to locate food sources, identify travel corridors, and find stand locations before season opens. The WMA has a mix of hardwood ridges, agricultural fields, and creek bottoms that hold deer throughout the season.
Use iSportsman Early for Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell hunting zones fill up quickly, especially during the rut and opening weekends. Log into the iSportsman portal well before the season and familiarize yourself with the zone system. Early risers who check in before 4:30 AM on opening day get first pick of the best zones.
Hunt the Cumberland River Bottoms for Ducks
The Cumberland River below Barkley Dam is one of the most underutilized waterfowl areas in the region. Cold snaps push mallards and divers into the tailwater, and the wooded backwater sloughs hold wood ducks throughout the season. A small boat or kayak opens up access to areas most hunters never reach.
Turkey Season Starts on the Roost
The best turkey hunting in Montgomery County starts the evening before. Drive the back roads of the county at dusk and listen for birds flying up to roost. Set up within 150 yards of the roost before first light the next morning and be ready to call as soon as legal shooting time begins.
LBL Is Worth the 45-Minute Drive
Land Between the Lakes is one of the best public hunting destinations in the mid-South and is only 45 minutes from Clarksville. The deer and turkey populations are managed for quality, and the hunting pressure is lower than most hunters expect. A Kentucky hunting license is required for the northern portion of LBL.
Dove Fields Open the Season Right
Montgomery County has excellent dove hunting in September, particularly around harvested grain fields and sunflower plots. TWRA manages several dove fields in Region 2 that are open to the public. Arrive early on opening day, bring plenty of shells, and plan to stay through the afternoon flight for the best action.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hunting Near Clarksville
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