New to Tennessee-Trying to Learn

[Bull Sprig]

Hey everyone,

Just moved to Mt Juliet from Arkansas. Trying to figure this out duck hunting system out for Tennessee. I would love to hunt old Hickory because it's close to the house, but I have heard not great things. My expectations are pretty low, I'm not trying to go out and shoot a limit every day. I'm happy just getting out with a dog a few times a week. If we get a couple ducks that's great. I'd rather hunt close to home and hunt three or four days a week then drive an hour or two and only be able to hunt once a week even if I know I'm gonna shoot six birds.

My question is it seems like there's a ton of blinds on old Hickory, these are almost all tier one so they were drawn over the summer and someone has them for the entire season? Outside of opening weekend, what portion of these blinds are likely occupied? Like 9/10 or 50% or most are open? I have no doubt that some are significantly better than others.

Another question is Can I hunt in Old Hickory unit two after 3 PM? I know it says unit one closes at 3 PM, but no mention of unit two. If I have an open evening, I don't mind getting out for an afternoon hunt, sometimes with really high-pressure those can be more productive and fun.

Last question there's mention of a tier 4 blind, that is a tier one blind that no one brushed up? Is there a way to know whether fishing game considers blinds tier one or tier 4 if the construction hasn't been done by the fourth Monday in October?

I apologize for so many questions, have done a lot of duck hunting in the past couple years and sad to be leaving Arkansas from a hunting to standpoint. I have a really good three year-old lab and trying to do right by her. If anybody has any recommendations, or wants to hunt together I'm looking for new friends/connections in a new state. I have a good dog and I'm really just looking to get the reps in for her if it all possible.

 

[Stlbaseball1]

It's understandable that you would be confused by the circus of a system TWRA has created for wma duck hunting in TN. Want to be even more confused, start studying the priority point system. If people thought it took a long time to get drawn for Presidents Island deer hunt, they ain't seen nothing yet.
Sorry I'm on the west side of the state so can't help much with OH

 

[WaterSwatter]

Hey everyone,

Just moved to Mt Juliet from Arkansas. Trying to figure this out duck hunting system out for Tennessee. I would love to hunt old Hickory because it's close to the house, but I have heard not great things. My expectations are pretty low, I'm not trying to go out and shoot a limit every day. I'm happy just getting out with a dog a few times a week. If we get a couple ducks that's great. I'd rather hunt close to home and hunt three or four days a week then drive an hour or two and only be able to hunt once a week even if I know I'm gonna shoot six birds.

My question is it seems like there's a ton of blinds on old Hickory, these are almost all tier one so they were drawn over the summer and someone has them for the entire season? Outside of opening weekend, what portion of these blinds are likely occupied? Like 9/10 or 50% or most are open? I have no doubt that some are significantly better than others.

Another question is Can I hunt in Old Hickory unit two after 3 PM? I know it says unit one closes at 3 PM, but no mention of unit two. If I have an open evening, I don't mind getting out for an afternoon hunt, sometimes with really high-pressure those can be more productive and fun.

Last question there's mention of a tier 4 blind, that is a tier one blind that no one brushed up? Is there a way to know whether fishing game considers blinds tier one or tier 4 if the construction hasn't been done by the fourth Monday in October?

I apologize for so many questions, have done a lot of duck hunting in the past couple years and sad to be leaving Arkansas from a hunting to standpoint. I have a really good three year-old lab and trying to do right by her. If anybody has any recommendations, or wants to hunt together I'm looking for new friends/connections in a new state. I have a good dog and I'm really just looking to get the reps in for her if it all possible.

You are correct in not getting your hopes up. Hunting at OH is not good. I go because it's where I've always hunted and it's with my aging father. I just enjoying getting out with him doing what we've done since I was a kid.

If you go during the week, I'd say maybe 50% or so of blinds will be open. Typically, the ones considered "good" will be occupied most days. On weekends, it is going to be a little tougher to get into a blind, especially in Unit 2. Unit 1 you could probably find an open river blind but it will be open for a reason. Some of them are absolute gar holes. I'm talking not seeing a single duck. And they'll be a bit of a haul down the river from the nearest ramp.

Unit 2 you can hunt until sun down. Only Unit 1 has a 3pm restriction.

They rarely cancel blinds and make them Tier 4 for non-build. I'd assume all blinds are Tier 1. However, there is a Unit 3 where you can hunt anywhere you want from a boat blind or on the bank. It's a bit of a drive from MJ, though. It's up in Trousdale county. I've only hunted it a few times and it's nothing great.

 

[TNGunsmoke]

Tier 4 blind spots would not necessarily have a blind on them. It might be (and probably is) just a stake that you have to hunt out of a boat from. And they are first come/first serve, and mostly just a place to say you got to hunt, not necessarily kill a bunch of birds from. But if the stars align just right, you could get lucky.

 

[WaterSwatter]

There are no Tier 4 spots on OH. There used to be temporary stakes indicated by letters but those are now in the regular draw. The only thing that may happen is no one builds a blind and you can hunt the spot from your boat. The local agency isn't very good at cancelling blinds and making them Tier 4 around here.

 

[Iglow]

Mom said if you can't say something good, don't say anything so I won't. It's like that.

 

[WilcoKen]

Old Hickory is pretty much crap. Unit 2 you will have fisherman and pleasure boaters to contend with at times. I've had a jet skier come by in Jan. And for me, I can't stand duck hunting with million$ houses in sight. With the growth explosion here you see houses everywhere now.

OH used to be decent but has gotten worse and worse each year. Hard cold fronts can be ok but if we get a good cold front the blinds will fill up--No matter what day of week it is. Lots of pressure on Old Hickory. But if you just want to get out and mess around you should be able to hop a blind on a warm day and hope for a wood duck to fly by.

 

[Iglow]

Bull sprig, there are so many people here now and more coming by the hour, if you'd asked this question 30 years ago I could have had at least some advise but with 100 people a day moving here it's just bad to hopeless. Get a map of middle Tn and a string that marks 60 miles. Put a pencil on one end and a pin in the other then put the pin on downtown nashville and draw a 120 mile circle. Then draw an X through that area and look outside it for anything outdoor related.
I'm not being mean, I'm trying to help by being realistic and save you time , frustration and disappointment.

 

[WaterSwatter]

Bull sprig, there are so many people here now and more coming by the hour, if you'd asked this question 30 years ago I could have had at least some advise but with 100 people a day moving here it's just bad to hopeless. Get a map of middle Tn and a string that marks 60 miles. Put a pencil on one end and a pin in the other then put the pin on downtown nashville and draw a 120 mile circle. Then draw an X through that area and look outside it for anything outdoor related.
I'm not being mean, I'm trying to help by being realistic and save you time , frustration and disappointment.

Sad but true.

 

[GUNNERX2]

You might want to put in for a tier 2 blind. The early segment has already drawn but the middle and late segments are coming up later in the year. Finding an empty blind during the week is not too difficult but they are empty for a reason...not seeing any birds is at the top of the list. The food holes are the most likely to be occupied. As the season winds down, there are more opportunities as folks get tired of going even if they are killing a few birds. TWRA will cancel blinds due to not repairing or building a blind. I know of several instances in the last couple of years of them doing so.

 

[West_Tn]

You might want to put in for a tier 2 blind. The early segment has already drawn but the middle and late segments are coming up later in the year.

Have to find 3 people to put in with you though or not eligible.

 

[GUNNERX2]

Have to find 3 people to put in with you though or not eligible.

True.

 

[Bull Sprig]

Thanks for the input guys, not exactly what I was hoping to hear, but unfortunately seems to be a general trend with public land these days (worse around big cities I imagine)

So you apply as a group of 4 or more for tier 2 blinds? Is it group applications for tier 1 as well? (just thinking about next year)

 

[West_Tn]

Thanks for the input guys, not exactly what I was hoping to hear, but unfortunately seems to be a general trend with public land these days (worse around big cities I imagine)

So you apply as a group of 4 or more for tier 2 blinds? Is it group applications for tier 1 as well? (just thinking about next year)

Yes you have to have a party of at least 4 to enter both drawings. Can have up to 8. You will acquire priority points for the tier 2 drawing when you are unsuccessful. No priority points for the season long blinds though.