Natchez Trace State Forest and WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 rules and map
Natchez Trace State Forest and WMA is 43,857 acres of TWRA hunting land in Henderson, Carroll and Benton counties, measured on TWRA's boundary, in its Region 1. Hunters checked in 196 deer from the area in the 2025-26 season, 90 antlered bucks among them (TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox). For the area's seasons, TWRA's guide says: Same as statewide seasons, except as noted.
Data updated October 2026. Rules: TWRA's 2026-27 guide, page 95. Harvest: TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox, 2015-16 to 2025-26.
Natchez Trace State Forest and WMAOther TWRA hunting landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 43,857 acres, measured on TWRA's boundary; the guide lists 48,000 |
|---|---|
| County | Henderson County, Carroll County, Benton County |
| TWRA region | Region 1 |
| Deer management unit | Unit 1 |
| Permits | WMA Small Game permit; Big Game (Non-Quota/WMA) or quota permit |
| Deer checked in, 2025-26 | 196 (90 antlered bucks, 14 antlerless males, 92 females) |
| Area manager | Evan Gaskin (731) 201-1190 |
| Nearest towns | Parker's Crossroads (2 mi), Lexington (5 mi) and Clarksburg (5 mi) |
What are the 2026-27 hunting rules on Natchez Trace State Forest and 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.
Horses permitted on roads and trails open to motorized traffic and other trails or routes established for their use. Riding off roads into fields, woods, or on foot trails is prohibited unless otherwise provided. All motorized vehicles must be muffler equipped to suppress noise and be spark-arrestor equipped to prevent fires. Operation of motorized vehicles is confined to roads not designated as closed. Off-road vehicles are restricted to roads open to other motorized traffic (except where prohibited by state or federal statue) and designated trails only. ORVs may be operated during daylight hours and at other times when participating in authorized activities. Driving off roads into woods, fields, or utility right-of-ways is prohibited for all motorized vehicles.
Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Closed to Fall turkey hunting.
- Turkey: Two (2) quota hunts (Tues–Wed and Fri–Sun) each week of Spring turkey season. Two hunt zones: North of I-40 and South of I-40. Hunter quota 48 per zone. One (1) male bearded turkey per hunt, counts toward statewide bag limit.
- Turkey (Young Sportsman): Same as statewide season.
- Shooting Range: see tnwildlife.org for details. See page 86.
- Camping: Natchez Trace State Park managed campgrounds and cabins. Must contact State Park office.
Source: TWRA 2026-27 Tennessee Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Guide, page 95; 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 Natchez Trace State Forest and WMA?
Hunters checked in 196 deer from Natchez Trace State Forest and WMA in the 2025-26 season. Over the 11 seasons the Toolbox shows, the area averaged 225 deer a season, from 144 in 2019-20 to 276 in 2023-24.
| Season | Deer checked in | Males | Antlered | Antlerless males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 196 | 104 | 90 | 14 | 92 |
| 2024-25 | 229 | 131 | 116 | 15 | 98 |
| 2023-24 | 276 | 181 | 161 | 20 | 95 |
| 2022-23 | 245 | 135 | 115 | 20 | 110 |
| 2021-22 | 228 | 146 | 121 | 25 | 82 |
| 2020-21 | 262 | 137 | 117 | 20 | 125 |
| 2019-20 | 144 | 93 | 83 | 10 | 51 |
| 2018-19 | 211 | 116 | 98 | 18 | 95 |
| 2017-18 | 266 | 137 | 129 | ||
| 2016-17 | 217 | 112 | 105 | ||
| 2015-16 | 200 | 106 | 94 |
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 Natchez Trace State Forest and WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | Deer unit | County deer off WMAs, 2025-26 | Rank of 95 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henderson County | 25,673 | 1 | 1,653 | 35th |
| Carroll County | 15,397 | 1 | 2,538 | 11th |
| Benton County | 2,787 | 1 | 1,316 | 50th |
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 Natchez Trace State Forest and WMA?
Highways through the area: TN 114 and I-40. Nearest towns: Parker's Crossroads (2 miles), Lexington (5 miles), Clarksburg (5 miles) and Bruceton (6 miles). Directions and the area map are on TWRA's page for Natchez Trace State Forest and WMA.
The closest other TWRA hunting lands with a page here: Beech River WMA (5.3 miles), Camden WMA (7.7 miles), Big Sandy WMA (16.4 miles) and Spring Creek WMA (17.3 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When can you hunt deer on Natchez Trace State Forest and WMA in 2026-27?
TWRA's guide says: Same as 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 Natchez Trace State Forest and WMA last season?
Hunters checked in 196 deer from Natchez Trace State Forest and WMA in the 2025-26 season: 90 antlered bucks, 14 antlerless males and 92 females, by TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox. The 11-season average is 225.
What county is Natchez Trace State Forest and WMA in?
Henderson County (25,673 acres), Carroll County (15,397 acres) and Benton County (2,787 acres), measured on TWRA's boundary.
What permit do you need to hunt Natchez Trace State Forest and WMA?
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).
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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.
Tennessee hunting All Tennessee WMAs Henderson County deer harvest Carroll County deer harvest Benton County deer harvest