Meeman-Shelby Forest WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 rules and map
Meeman-Shelby Forest WMA is 8,990 acres of TWRA hunting land in Shelby County, measured on TWRA's boundary, in its Region 1. Hunters checked in 16 deer from the area in the 2025-26 season, 14 antlered bucks among them (TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox). For the area's seasons, TWRA's guide says: Open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday within statewide seasons, except as noted.
Data updated October 2026. Rules: TWRA's 2026-27 guide, page 94. Harvest: TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox, 2015-16 to 2025-26.
Meeman-Shelby Forest WMAOther TWRA hunting landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 8,990 acres, measured on TWRA's boundary; the guide lists 13,000 |
|---|---|
| County | Shelby County |
| TWRA region | Region 1 |
| Deer management unit | Unit 1 |
| Permits | WMA Small Game permit; WMA Waterfowl/Small Game permit; Big Game (Non-Quota/WMA) or quota permit |
| Deer checked in, 2025-26 | 16 (14 antlered bucks, 0 antlerless males, 2 females) |
| Area manager | Chris Park (731) 738-0233 |
| Nearest towns | Millington (7 mi), Munford (13 mi) and Memphis (13 mi) |
What are the 2026-27 hunting rules on Meeman-Shelby Forest 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.
All hunters are required to register and obtain a free permit at the park headquarters (901) 876-5215. Rimfire rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader and archery equipment only. Centerfire rifles and handguns are prohibited. Wild hogs may be taken during deer season by licensed deer hunters.
Open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday within statewide seasons, except as noted. Closed to Spring squirrel hunting. Small game hunters must meet blaze orange/ pink requirements. Closed to Fall turkey hunting.
- Special Squirrel Hunt (Youth): Aug. 15.
- Waterfowl: Waterfowl Hunting (Draw Zone) - All areas south of Pleasant View Road (Check Station Road) is draw area. All land north of Pleasant Land View (Check Station Road) and south of North Road (Boat Ramp Road) is non-draw area. Hunting during waterfowl season(s) occurring from Nov.–Feb. will be allocated by computer draw and is restricted to temporary blind sites. Hunters are restricted to numbered stakes as specified by special instructions supplied by TWRA annually. Decoys may be left out over the specified hunt but must be removed upon completion of the hunt on the last day. Hunts will be drawn for opening days of the late waterfowl season for each Thurs–Sat of the season including the Sat. youth hunts, and Sunday Veteran and Active Military hunts. Hunting will be limited to designated areas. Waterfowl Hunting Non-Draw Zone. Same as statewide seasons on opening day(s) and Thurs–Sat.
- Turkey (Young-Sportsman): March 27. One male bearded turkey.
- Turkey: April 3–April 24. Hunt days are Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. One (1) male bearded turkey, counts toward statewide bag limit.
- Trapping: Beaver trapping by special permit only. Trapping of all other species prohibited.
- Dog training: Open Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, Sept. 1–March 15.
- Field Trials: Sept. 1–April 30.
- Camping: State park managed campgrounds.
Source: TWRA 2026-27 Tennessee Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Guide, page 94; 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 Meeman-Shelby Forest WMA?
Hunters checked in 16 deer from Meeman-Shelby Forest WMA in the 2025-26 season. Over the 11 seasons the Toolbox shows, the area averaged 23 deer a season, from 14 in 2021-22 to 30 in 2022-23.
| Season | Deer checked in | Males | Antlered | Antlerless males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 2 |
| 2024-25 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 2 |
| 2023-24 | 22 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 7 |
| 2022-23 | 30 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 5 |
| 2021-22 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 4 |
| 2020-21 | 29 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 8 |
| 2019-20 | 24 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 5 |
| 2018-19 | 28 | 25 | 21 | 4 | 3 |
| 2017-18 | 28 | 25 | 3 | ||
| 2016-17 | 19 | 17 | 2 | ||
| 2015-16 | 22 | 16 | 6 |
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 Meeman-Shelby Forest WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | Deer unit | County deer off WMAs, 2025-26 | Rank of 95 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County | 8,978 | 1 | 1,253 | 53rd |
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 Meeman-Shelby Forest WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: TN 3 and US 51. Nearest towns: Millington (7 miles), Munford (13 miles), Memphis (13 miles) and Bartlett (13 miles). Directions and the area map are on TWRA's page for Meeman-Shelby Forest WMA.
The closest other TWRA hunting lands with a page here: Eagle Lake Refuge (next to it), Presidents Island WMA (11 miles), John Tully WMA (20 miles) and Wolf River WMA and Ghost River State Natural Area (27.1 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When can you hunt deer on Meeman-Shelby Forest WMA in 2026-27?
TWRA's guide says: Open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday within statewide seasons, except as noted. That means the statewide dates: archery from September 26, 2026, muzzleloader from November 7 and gun from November 21, 2026 to January 3, 2027.
How many deer were killed on Meeman-Shelby Forest WMA last season?
Hunters checked in 16 deer from Meeman-Shelby Forest WMA in the 2025-26 season: 14 antlered bucks, 0 antlerless males and 2 females, by TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox. The 11-season average is 23.
What county is Meeman-Shelby Forest WMA in?
All of it is in Shelby County, by TWRA's boundary, in deer management Unit 1.
What permit do you need to hunt Meeman-Shelby Forest 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. Lifetime and Annual Sportsman License holders are exempt from WMA permits (guide, page 11).
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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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