NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI) — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has announced that applications for the 2026 Early Season (Tier 2) Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Waterfowl Hunts will be accepted from September 23 through October 13.
Applications must be submitted online through GoOutdoorsTennessee.com, the TWRA mobile app, regional TWRA offices, or authorized license agents. Mailed applications will not be accepted. Applicants must be at least 16 years old to participate.
TWRA says hunters may submit only one application, but each application can include up to 48 unique hunt choices. Duplicate hunt selections are not allowed. Parties applying for waterfowl hunts must include at least four members and no more than eight.
Detailed instructions, hunt locations, and quota hunt information are available on the agency’s Quota Hunts webpage.
Hunters selected in the drawing will receive notification by email and must log in to claim their permits by 11:59 p.m. CDT on October 26. Each member of a successful party must individually claim their permit. Once claimed, permits will be available for printing.
TWRA notes that party members who fail to claim their permits will lose their individual hunting privileges but may still participate if accompanied by a permit holder at the blind. If no members of a selected party claim permits, the hunting site will be forfeited and reassigned through a leftover drawing process.
Leftover drawings are scheduled for Monday, November 9, at 6 p.m. local time. Drawing locations are listed in the 2026-27 Tennessee Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping Guide.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency manages and conserves the state’s fish and wildlife resources while promoting public safety through wildlife law enforcement and boating safety education programs.
