Tennessee publishes deer harvest in a form FDR could rank for 103 public hunting areas. Owl Hollow WMA is highest at 42.0 deer harvested per square mile in 2025. Old Hickory WMA has 41.5 in 2025 and Yuchi has 33.1 in 2025. The rankings describe reported harvest and do not measure access or hunting pressure.
KEY FINDINGS
- Owl Hollow WMA has the highest harvest per square mile at 42.0. The agency reported 154 deer on 2,348 acres in 2025.
- 103 public hunting areas are ranked. Ranks compare areas measured between 2020 and 2025 and each row shows its own newest year.
- 11 federal areas are ranked on their own. Cross Creeks NWR has the highest harvest per square mile at 8.2 in 2025.
Tennessee public land rankings
Best public land in Tennessee
Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Seasons measured 2020 through 2025. Captured October 19, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.
Download all ranked rows (CSV)
Public hunting areas
Top 15 of 103 ranked public hunting areas by deer harvest per square mile. Each row shows its own newest year.
15 of 103 areas shown
| 1 | Owl Hollow WMA | 2,348 | 2025 | 154 | 42.0 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Old Hickory WMA | 5,181 | 2025 | 336 | 41.5 | |
| 3 | Yuchi | 2,590 | 2025 | 134 | 33.1 | 2.1% est. (2026) |
| 4 | Chickamauga WMA | 3,296 | 2025 | 159 | 30.9 | |
| 5 | Normandy | 839 | 2025 | 35 | 26.7 | |
| 6 | Percy Priest WMA | 11,273 | 2025 | 383 | 21.7 | |
| 7 | Haynes Bottom | 973 | 2025 | 32 | 21.1 | |
| 8 | Yanahli | 12,621 | 2025 | 391 | 19.8 | |
| 9 | Mtsu | 795 | 2025 | 22 | 17.7 | |
| 10 | Kyles Ford WMA | 993 | 2025 | 26 | 16.8 | |
| 11 | Paint Rock Refuge | 673 | 2025 | 17 | 16.2 | |
| 12 | Williamsport | 1,517 | 2025 | 37 | 15.6 | 19.2% est. (2026) |
| 13 | Lick Creek Bottoms WMA | 1,321 | 2025 | 29 | 14.0 | |
| 14 | Harmon Creek WMA | 935 | 2025 | 20 | 13.7 | |
| 15 | Bark Camp Barrens | 3,446 | 2025 | 72 | 13.4 |
Draw odds are the share of applicants drawn across an area's deer hunts in the draw year shown. Est. means the agency does not print every drawn count so some are worked out from its numbers.
Federal areas
Top 11 of 11 ranked federal areas by deer harvest per square mile. Each row shows its own newest year.
11 of 11 federal areas shown
| 1 | Cross Creeks NWR | 8,862 | 2025 | 114 | 8.2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Lower Hatchie NWR | 12,187 | 2025 | 87 | 4.6 |
| 3 | Hatchie NWR | 11,556 | 2025 | 81 | 4.5 |
| 4 | Enterprise South Park | 2,800 | 2021 | 11 | 2.5 |
| 5 | Chickasaw NWR | 26,997 | 2025 | 85 | 2.0 |
| 6 | Reelfoot NWR | 10,428 | 2025 | 29 | 1.8 |
| 7 | Tennessee NWR | 51,000 | 2025 | 102 | 1.3 |
| 8 | Lake Isom NWR | 1,850 | 2025 | 3 | 1.0 |
| 9 | Holston AAP | 5,980 | 2025 | 9 | 0.96 |
| 10 | Milan AAP | 22,357 | 2025 | 25 | 0.72 |
| 11 | FT Campbell | 70,000 | 2025 | 13 | 0.12 |
01Public hunting areas
103 areas ranked on harvest per square mile
Owl Hollow WMA has the most deer harvested per square mile at 42.0 in 2025. Old Hickory WMA has 41.5 in 2025 and Yuchi has 33.1 in 2025.
The top 15 run from 42.0 down to 13.4 deer harvested per square mile.
02Federal areas
11 federal areas ranked on harvest per square mile
Cross Creeks NWR has the most deer harvested per square mile at 8.2 in 2025. Lower Hatchie NWR has 4.6 in 2025 and Hatchie NWR has 4.5 in 2025.
03Basis of this report
Sources and method
FDR divided the agency's deer harvest by the area's size to get harvest per square mile. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Ranks compare areas measured between 2020 and 2025 and each row shows its own newest year.
Success rate is the agency's published figure or harvest divided by hunters. Tied values share a rank and the order uses the unrounded values.
A ranking does not evaluate an individual property and does not confirm that it is open to hunting for you.
NOTES AND SOURCES
- Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Seasons measured 2020 through 2025. Captured October 19, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.
Fully Drawn Research is an independent data analysis desk, not affiliated with any state wildlife agency, transportation agency, mapping provider or outfitter. FDR rankings are independent analysis of state agency numbers. A ranking does not evaluate an individual property.
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