TWRA Opens Waterfowl Hunt Applications to December 8
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is accepting applications for its 2026-27 Late Season and Youth/Military WMA waterfowl hunts through December 8.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Hunting
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The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) opened its application period for the 2026-27 Late Season and Youth/Military WMA Waterfowl Hunts on November 18, 2026, and it runs through December 8, 2026. Applications may be submitted online, through the TWRA mobile app, at TWRA regional offices, or through any TWRA license agent, but mailed applications are not accepted.
Why it matters
Hunters in Tennessee who want a spot on a managed waterfowl hunt must apply within the window, since the drawing determines which parties receive permits. Successful applicants must then claim their permits on time or risk losing the site.
Applicants may list up to 48 unique hunt choices, and each party must include four to eight members, with every applicant at least 16 years old. The extraction does not report how many sites or permits are available for the season.
The players
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA)
The TWRA is the state agency that manages wildlife, hunting and fishing licensing, and Wildlife Management Area hunts across Tennessee.
The details
Applicants submit a single application listing up to 48 unique hunt choices, with no repeated choices allowed. Successful applicants receive an email with login instructions to claim their permits, and any site whose party fails to claim its permit is reallocated through an in-person leftover drawing.
Timeline
November 18, 2026: Application period opens.
December 8, 2026: Application period closes.
December 21, 2026, 11:59 a.m. CST: Deadline to claim successful permits.
January 4, 2027, 6:00 p.m. local time: In-person leftover drawings held.
Seasonal Patterns
TWRA's quota-hunt lottery for Wildlife Management Areas follows an annual cycle, with this 2026-27 waterfowl application period continuing the online-first, leftover-drawing structure used for limited-access state hunts. The sequence of application, permit claim and in-person reallocation keeps limited waterfowl sites tied to a fixed late-fall calendar.
Hunters who are awarded a waterfowl permit must log in and claim it by December 21, 2026, at 11:59 a.m. CST, because unclaimed sites are forfeited. Anyone who misses the claim can still hunt if a permit holder is present at the blind, or try for a site in the January 4, 2027 leftover drawing.
The takeaway
Plan early and check your application choices carefully, because permit claims must be completed by December 21, 2026, or the site is lost. Parties should confirm every member can log in and claim their own permit before the deadline.
What happens next
The in-person leftover drawings for unclaimed waterfowl sites are scheduled for January 4, 2027, at 6:00 p.m. local time, and claims for successful permits are due by December 21, 2026.
Further reading
For related guidance, browse the Hunting section for seasons, licensing and hunt-planning tips.
More information
Apply for the TWRA online waterfowl quota hunt application at gooutdoorstennessee.com before the December 8, 2026 deadline.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Clarksville, TN Online.
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