Hunting

In response to the discovery of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a deer in Tennessee, close to the Kentucky border, both states have issued alerts warning hunters of the risks associated with CWD and with the guidance for deer harvesting in the area. See updates and guidelines on CWD in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Important Links:

Hunting Season Calendar:

All harvested deer and turkeys must be reported BEFORE leaving Land Between the Lakes

During business hours hunters must check in their harvested deer and turkeys at the North/South Welcome Stations or Central Hunter Check Station.
After hours or when the check station is not staffed, hunters must self-check their harvested deer and turkeys at a Welcome Station or at the Central Hunter Check Station by completing a Harvest Self Check Out Card. They can be found in the brochure rack located at the check stations.
In addition to Land Between the Lakes reporting, hunters must also comply with all Kentucky or Tennessee harvest reporting regulations, i.e. telecheck.

Hunting with Land Between the Lakes

Hunting is a popular recreational activity and is an integral part of our wildlife management program at Land Between the Lakes. In the absence of large predators, hunting helps to maintain healthy populations of such species as white-tailed deer.

With thousands of acres teeming with game and over 300 miles of undeveloped shoreline, Land Between the Lakes offers an impressive variety of hunting opportunities and more than 250 days a year of in-season hunting. Hunters will find white-tailed deer, wild turkey, squirrels, and other forest game species abundant.

We offer annual spring turkey and squirrel hunts, fall/winter hunts for deer, waterfowl, and a variety of small game species. Hunters can also enjoy a variety of camping choices, from the convenience of our developed campgrounds to the rustic adventure of camping in our back-country areas. Many hunters bring their families and stay in one of the area resorts.

For more detailed hunting information, email us at [email protected].

Hunter Use Permits: Valid March 1 - February 28

All hunters age 16 and over must have a Land Between the Lakes Hunter Use Permit and applicable state licenses, ie; must hunt in Kentucky if hunter possesses a Kentucky state license.

The Annual Land Between the Lakes Hunter Use Permit is available at Welcome Stations, Visitor Center, and anywhere Kentucky and Tennessee State hunting licenses are sold:

To hunt deer with firearms, hunters must apply during the month of July and be drawn for a quota deer hunt permit. To hunt during the first several days of spring turkey season, hunters must apply during February and be drawn for a quota turkey hunt permit.