E. TN public duck hunting

[Kritter Gitter]

Well, since none of my group got drawn to go out to W. TN this year, anybody got tips on where to hunt when you don't have a boat to access the area? Myself and my nephews are trying to figure some places we can hunt. Any help is appreciated! Im in the N.E. part of the state near Kingsport, Johnson City, Bristol.

 

[Chickencoop96]

What part of East TN?

 

[Kritter Gitter]

Anywhere from Rogersville to Bristol

 

[RUGER]

Well, since none of my group got drawn to go out to W. TN this year,

According to facebook you need to call your commissioner because you are the only one from East TN that didn't get drawn. LOL

 

[Chickencoop96]

Anywhere from Rogersville to Bristol

I don't really know of anywhere specifically between Rogersville and Bristol but i know that Cherokee NF runs from the north side of GSMNP all the way up to Mountain City. but just be mindful of the season dates up there. If you're willing to make a drive you've got North Cumberland and royal blue along I-75 going up Caryville MTN (I've seen good deer up there) Also you have the Big South Fork, which is a little further from there. You might even could try Catoosa on one of their open hunts?

 

[younggun308]

TVA Undeveloped Recreation maps come in clutch. Going to be properties concentrated on rivers. Some may even have sloughs. You just have to spend a good while e-scouting, and then following that up with real scouting to see if ducks are remotely interested in the spot and if so, where.

Should at least be able to find a good woodie hole, which if there's a push turns into something more.

 

[Kritter Gitter]

According to facebook you need to call your commissioner because you are the only one from East TN that didn't get drawn. LOL

Wouldn't surprise me a bit!!

 

[Kritter Gitter]

I don't really know of anywhere specifically between Rogersville and Bristol but i know that Cherokee NF runs from the north side of GSMNP all the way up to Mountain City. but just be mindful of the season dates up there. If you're willing to make a drive you've got North Cumberland and royal blue along I-75 going up Caryville MTN (I've seen good deer up there) Also you have the Big South Fork, which is a little further from there. You might even could try Catoosa on one of their open hunts?

I guess I should have specified, duck hunting, sorry.

 

[Chickencoop96]

I guess I should have specified, duck hunting, sorry.

Woops I Completely misread LMAO. Chota unit down my way does a hunt early fall for duck but I don't think they have any after that.

 

[Displaced_Vol]

I know you said you don't have a boat, but if it were me that would be a priority. So much water in east TN that requires it. I'd do whatever I could to get me a duck boat and then pray for good cold winters. Doesn't help in the immediate I know but something to chew on.

 

[Biggun4214]

According to facebook you need to call your commissioner because you are the only one from East TN that didn't get drawn. LOL

Nope. We didn't get drawn either.

 

[Biggun4214]

I know you said you don't have a boat, but if it were me that would be a priority. So much water in east TN that requires it. I'd do whatever I could to get me a duck boat and then pray for good cold winters. Doesn't help in the immediate I know but something to chew on.

All the good duck hunting places on Douglas and Cherokee are usually taken by fishermen

 

[Invmp12]

Well, since none of my group got drawn to go out to W. TN this year, anybody got tips on where to hunt when you don't have a boat to access the area? Myself and my nephews are trying to figure some places we can hunt. Any help is appreciated! Im in the N.E. part of the state near Kingsport, Johnson City, Bristol.

If you still want to make the trip to W Tn. you an hunt the Maness Swamp Refuge. My nephew and a couple of buddies hunt it every year, Wade in, and kill several. Maness Swamp is connected to a larger block called the Obion River Refuge. Not a lot of competition either. Just sayin

 

[Kritter Gitter]

I know you said you don't have a boat, but if it were me that would be a priority. So much water in east TN that requires it. I'd do whatever I could to get me a duck boat and then pray for good cold winters. Doesn't help in the immediate I know but something to chew on.

Well, ive got a bass boat. Guess I could just hold my gun like a rod and tie some decoys behind it!

 

[Trey13]

If you still want to make the trip to W Tn. you an hunt the Maness Swamp Refuge. My nephew and a couple of buddies hunt it every year, Wade in, and kill several. Maness Swamp is connected to a larger block called the Obion River Refuge. Not a lot of competition either. Just sayin

Does this place get crowded? Is it worth a 5 hour trip?

 

[Levee Jumper]

Related but not really. Some of the better holes on the Forked Deer and the Obion have been on the struggle bus the last 3 days. Literally 5, 6, 2, 1, 0 from several people I know. Hunting from daylight to 3:00 P.M.

 

[drake799]

You can't just walk in at maness anymore can you. Thought it went to a draw as well few years ago

 

[flyinpro]

Welcome to the area. I in Maryville but occasionally hunt some TVA land around the lakes & rivers. as another said above, look over those TVA maps and you can find some spots. I do think you need a boat to find the better spots. Good luck.

 

[m r too ducks]

At one time, long ago, you could hunt the TVA property on South Holston River up around Bristol by walking in. However, now the fly fisherman will stand in your decoys and act like you are in the wrong. Many times, we have been set up well before daylight just to have them come walking in at the wrong time. Even flashing lights at them didn't stop them from walking right in. Several bad encounters like that turned me against fly fishermen with a dislike I still carry till this day and that was 20 years ago. That said, I would avoid South Holston River.

 

[TheLBLman]

Attempting to duck hunt in East TN
can be akin to attempting to trout fish
in West TN.