Laurel Hill WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 rules and map
Laurel Hill WMA is 14,273 acres of TWRA hunting land in Lawrence and Lewis counties, measured on TWRA's boundary, in its Region 2. Hunters checked in 111 deer from the area in the 2025-26 season, 63 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. 19–Oct. 15. Three (3) deer, either sex, only one (1) antlered (bonus deer).
Data updated October 2026. Rules: TWRA's 2026-27 guide, page 101. Harvest: TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox, 2015-16 to 2025-26.
Laurel Hill WMAOther TWRA hunting landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 14,273 acres, measured on TWRA's boundary; the guide lists 14,952 |
|---|---|
| County | Lawrence County, Lewis County |
| TWRA region | Region 2 |
| Deer management unit | Unit 2 |
| Permits | WMA Small Game permit; WMA Waterfowl/Small Game permit; Big Game (Non-Quota/WMA) or quota permit; High Impact Conservation Permit (riding) |
| Deer checked in, 2025-26 | 111 (63 antlered bucks, 9 antlerless males, 39 females) |
| Area manager | Pam McDonald (931) 762-5749 |
| Nearest towns | Ethridge (9 mi), Hohenwald (10 mi) and Lawrenceburg (10 mi) |
What are the 2026-27 hunting rules on Laurel Hill WMA?
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.
ATVs allowed on roads open to motor vehicle traffic only. All hooved animals must be ridden on designated trails or roads open to motorized vehicles. Hooved animals and ATV riding on trails and roads is prohibited during all big game seasons. Horses and other saddle and pack animals and Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) use permitted only by individuals possessing a valid hunting and fishing license and WMA permit or a High Impact Habitat Conservation Permit. Unauthorized entry or presence is prohibited between sunset and sunrise. Contact area manager for wheelchair accessible blinds.
Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Small game hunting is closed at sunset the day before and during the young sportsman's hunt and quota hunts.
- Opossum, Raccoon: Sept. 1–Feb. 28. Special Antlered Deer Regulations apply on all deer hunts. Antlered deer must have at least four (4) antler points on one (1) side or a 15-inch minimum outside spread. WMA Check Station open for Young Sportsman and quota hunts.
- Deer (Archery): Sept. 19–Oct. 15. Three (3) deer, either sex, only one (1) antlered (bonus deer).
- Deer (Gun - Young Sportsman): Oct. 17–18. Two (2) deer, only one (1) may be antlered. No antler restrictions (bonus deer).
- Deer (Muzzleloader): Oct. 22–25. Hunter quota 500. One (1) deer, antlered only (bonus deer).
- Deer (Gun): Nov. 13–15. Hunter quota 500. One (1) deer, antlered only (bonus deer).
- Deer (Gun): Nov. 27–29. Hunter quota 500. One (1) deer, antlered only (bonus deer).
- Deer (Gun): Dec. 4–6. Hunter quota 500. Two (2) deer, only one (1) may be antlered. (bonus deer).
- Turkey: Same as statewide season.
- Waterfowl: Same as statewide season, except hunting on Laurel Hill Lake is only open the last 2 weeks of the statewide season (Jan 17–31) and by boat access only. VFW Lake is closed to waterfowl hunting.
- Dog training: Sept. 1– March 15, except during big game hunts, daylight hours only.
Shields Farm Unit
Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Centerfire rifles and handguns prohibited.
- Camping: Open during deer and turkey seasons to any hunters who are actively hunting the WMA. In designated campground only.
Source: TWRA 2026-27 Tennessee Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Guide, page 101; 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 Laurel Hill WMA?
Hunters checked in 111 deer from Laurel Hill WMA in the 2025-26 season. Over the 11 seasons the Toolbox shows, the area averaged 121 deer a season, from 101 in 2023-24 to 146 in 2024-25.
| Season | Deer checked in | Males | Antlered | Antlerless males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 111 | 72 | 63 | 9 | 39 |
| 2024-25 | 146 | 87 | 82 | 5 | 59 |
| 2023-24 | 101 | 78 | 75 | 3 | 23 |
| 2022-23 | 125 | 71 | 62 | 9 | 54 |
| 2021-22 | 102 | 75 | 64 | 11 | 27 |
| 2020-21 | 140 | 99 | 91 | 8 | 41 |
| 2019-20 | 106 | 76 | 70 | 6 | 30 |
| 2018-19 | 137 | 97 | 90 | 7 | 40 |
| 2017-18 | 141 | 106 | 35 | ||
| 2016-17 | 116 | 91 | 25 | ||
| 2015-16 | 101 | 76 | 25 |
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 Laurel Hill WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | Deer unit | County deer off WMAs, 2025-26 | Rank of 95 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence County | 14,021 | 2 | 3,086 | 3rd |
| Lewis County | 252 | 2 | 455 | 91st |
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 Laurel Hill WMA?
Highways through the area: TN 241. Nearest towns: Ethridge (9 miles), Hohenwald (10 miles), Lawrenceburg (10 miles) and Waynesboro (10 miles). Directions and the area map are on TWRA's page for Laurel Hill WMA.
The closest other TWRA hunting lands with a page here: Tie Camp WMA (7.4 miles), Hick Hill WMA (7.6 miles), Eagle Creek WMA (10.5 miles) and Beaver Dam Creek WMA (15.4 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When can you hunt deer on Laurel Hill WMA in 2026-27?
TWRA's 2026-27 guide lists these deer hunts for Laurel Hill WMA: Deer (Archery), Sept. 19–Oct. 15; Deer (Gun - Young Sportsman), Oct. 17–18; Deer (Muzzleloader), Oct. 22–25; Deer (Gun), Nov. 13–15; Deer (Gun), Nov. 27–29; Deer (Gun), Dec. 4–6. Each hunt's limits and rules are above.
How many deer were killed on Laurel Hill WMA last season?
Hunters checked in 111 deer from Laurel Hill WMA in the 2025-26 season: 63 antlered bucks, 9 antlerless males and 39 females, by TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox. The 11-season average is 121.
What county is Laurel Hill WMA in?
Lawrence County (14,021 acres) and Lewis County (252 acres), measured on TWRA's boundary.
What permit do you need to hunt Laurel Hill WMA?
TWRA's guide lists these for the area: WMA Small Game permit; WMA Waterfowl/Small Game permit; Big Game (Non-Quota/WMA) or quota permit; High Impact Conservation Permit (riding). Lifetime and Annual Sportsman License holders are exempt from WMA permits (guide, page 11).
Get a Tennessee hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Tennessee are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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.
Tennessee hunting All Tennessee WMAs Lawrence County deer harvest Lewis County deer harvest