Kyker Bottoms Refuge: deer harvest, 2026-27 rules and map
Kyker Bottoms Refuge is 560 acres of TWRA hunting land in Blount County, measured on TWRA's boundary, in its Region 4. Hunters checked in 10 deer from the area in the 2025-26 season, 2 antlered bucks among them (TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox). The first deer hunt in TWRA's 2026-27 guide for the area: Deer (Archery), Sept. 26–Oct. 30, Nov. 2– Nov. 14.
Data updated October 2026. Rules: TWRA's 2026-27 guide, page 115. Harvest: TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox, 2015-16 to 2025-26.
Kyker Bottoms RefugeOther TWRA hunting landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 560 acres, measured on TWRA's boundary; the guide lists 525 |
|---|---|
| County | Blount County |
| TWRA region | Region 4 |
| Deer management unit | Unit 6 |
| Permits | WMA Small Game permit; Big Game (Non-Quota/WMA) or quota permit |
| Deer checked in, 2025-26 | 10 (2 antlered bucks, 2 antlerless males, 6 females) |
| Area manager | Matt Jellicorse (423) 587-7037 |
| Nearest towns | Greenback (4 mi), Vonore (6 mi) and Friendsville (10 mi) |
What are the 2026-27 hunting rules on Kyker Bottoms Refuge?
TWRA's 2026-27 guide prints these rules and seasons for the area. Where it says statewide seasons, the statewide dates and the county's deer management unit limits apply.
Closed to all forms of use and trespass from Nov. 15– last day of Feb. except in designated observation areas. Nontoxic shot approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service required for small game hunting as posted. Wild hogs may be taken on any deer and turkey hunt with hunting devices legal for those hunts.
Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. All small game hunting is Youth/Adult only. Youths must be accompanied by a licensed adult, age 21 years or older, who may also hunt. Blaze orange/ pink is required by small game hunters during young sportsman deer gun hunt.
- Deer (Archery): Sept. 26–Oct. 30, Nov. 2– Nov. 14. Bag limit same as statewide.
- Deer (Gun - Young Sportsman): Oct. 31–Nov. 1, bag limit same as statewide season. Turkey is Youth/Adult only March 27–28 and weekends of the statewide season open Friday–Sunday only. Youth must be accompanied by a licensed adult, age 21 years or older, who may also hunt. Same as statewide bag limit, male bearded turkey only.
- Rabbit, Quail: Nov. 1–14. Quail bag limit two/day, rabbit and quail hunting closes at 4 p.m.
- Raccoon: Sept. 4–5, 11–12.
- Dog training: Rabbit and Quail - Oct. 1–Nov. 14. Closes at 4 p.m. each day.
Source: TWRA 2026-27 Tennessee Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Guide, page 115; TWRA's page for the area. Read every rule in the guide before you go: the guide is the final word.
How many deer are taken on Kyker Bottoms Refuge?
Hunters checked in 10 deer from Kyker Bottoms Refuge in the 2025-26 season. Over the 7 seasons the Toolbox shows, the area averaged 4 deer a season, from 1 in 2024-25 to 10 in 2025-26.
| Season | Deer checked in | Males | Antlered | Antlerless males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 2024-25 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 2022-23 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2021-22 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2020-21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2016-17 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Source: TWRA Hunter's Toolbox, Deer Harvests by County / WMA, read October 2026. These are deer hunters reported at check-in. Before 2018-19 the Toolbox counts every male as antlerless, so only the male total is shown for those seasons.
Which county is Kyker Bottoms Refuge in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | Deer unit | County deer off WMAs, 2025-26 | Rank of 95 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blount County | 560 | 6 | 944 | 75th |
Acres measured by FilledTag on TWRA hunting lands layer (HuntingAllowed) and the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries. County harvest: TWRA Hunter's Toolbox, Deer Harvests by County / WMA. Units: TWRA deer management unit counties.
How do you get to Kyker Bottoms Refuge?
Highways within 5 miles: US 411, TN 115, US 129 and TN 72. Nearest towns: Greenback (4 miles), Vonore (6 miles), Friendsville (10 miles) and Maryville (12 miles). Directions and the area map are on TWRA's page for Kyker Bottoms Refuge.
The closest other TWRA hunting lands with a page here: Tellico Lake WMA (1.3 miles), Foothills WMA (3 miles) and South Cherokee WMA (4.1 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When can you hunt deer on Kyker Bottoms Refuge in 2026-27?
TWRA's 2026-27 guide lists these deer hunts for Kyker Bottoms Refuge: Deer (Archery), Sept. 26–Oct. 30, Nov. 2– Nov. 14; Deer (Gun - Young Sportsman), Oct. 31–Nov. 1, bag limit same as statewide season. Each hunt's limits and rules are above.
How many deer were killed on Kyker Bottoms Refuge last season?
Hunters checked in 10 deer from Kyker Bottoms Refuge in the 2025-26 season: 2 antlered bucks, 2 antlerless males and 6 females, by TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox. The 7-season average is 4.
What county is Kyker Bottoms Refuge in?
All of it is in Blount County, by TWRA's boundary, in deer management Unit 6.
What permit do you need to hunt Kyker Bottoms Refuge?
TWRA's guide lists these for the area: WMA Small Game permit; Big Game (Non-Quota/WMA) or quota permit. Lifetime and Annual Sportsman License holders are exempt from WMA permits (guide, page 11).
Get a Tennessee hunt plan when they open
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Tennessee included.
Where these numbers come from
- Area rules, seasons, size and manager: TWRA 2026-27 Tennessee Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Guide.
- Deer harvest on the area and by county: TWRA Hunter's Toolbox, Deer Harvests by County / WMA.
- Boundary: TWRA hunting lands layer (HuntingAllowed). Counties, highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries; U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer. National forest and refuges: U.S. Forest Service national forest ownership; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries.
FilledTag is not part of Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Numbers are copied from TWRA or measured from public maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
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