Lower Hatchie NWR Waterfowl Quota Hunt

Lower Hatchie NWR Waterfowl Quota Hunt

A Quota Permit is required to hunt waterfowl on Champion Lake and Little Champion Lake during the waterfowl season on the refuge.  Permits will be limited to 8 per weekend on Champion Lake and 4 per weekend on Little Champion Lake. Successful applicants are eligible for only one hunt per lake. Signed refuge permits, a signed and affixed Federal Duck Stamp, and applicable State licenses are required. 

*Please keep in mind that we have had major issues with the mailing system.  If you plan on applying for this hunt, apply early so we will be sure to receive your card in time.  We accept cards DURING the month of September.  If you postmark your card on Sept 30th, it will most likely not make it in time for the drawing.  The drawing is conducted during the first week of October.

Quota Hunt Application Procedures 

To apply for a quota hunt permit, type or plainly print your:

• Name
• Address 
• Phone number w/ area code 
• Hunt weekend and location preference (Indicate one weekend preference and lake preference during the waterfowl season, by date, for the Champion Lake and Little Champion Lake waterfowl hunts. Submission of more than one postcard per lake will result in disqualification of the applicant(s).)

Unofficial postcards will be discarded prior to drawing.  If your local post office no longer sells them, please try the next closest post office.  If you cannot find the US Postal Service postcard, please reach out to Ranger Tara Dowdy at 731-538-2481 for further instructions.  

Place your postcard INSIDE AN ENVELOPE and send to:  

  Reelfoot NWR 

  4343 Highway 157

  Union City, TN 38261

  Attn: Lower Hatchie Waterfowl Hunt 

Postcards for the waterfowl hunts on Champion Lake and Little Champion Lake are accepted during the month of September.  A total of up to 4 hunters may apply on the same postcard. One hunter’s information on the front of the postcard and up to 3 additional hunters’ information on the back.

Youth Waterfowl Hunts will be drawn separately. On a postcard include Youth Hunt and Lake Preference. See Youth Supervision Section for supervisory requirements. Only persons drawn for the hunt are allowed to participate in the hunt (No hunt guests are permitted).  Both the youth hunter and his/her supervising adult must apply together on the same postcard to be selected for a quota hunt. If selected, the youth hunter must be under direct supervision by the adult during the hunt.  Please write "supervisor" and/or "youth" next to each name on the card.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, your notifications or permits, please contact Ranger Tara at 731-538-2481.  For questions regarding access or specific questions about the refuge, please reach out to Xavier Cathey at 731-635-7621.

DRAWN HUNTERS:

If you are drawn for a hunt, you will be sent a notification with instructions on payment for your permit.  Money orders and cashiers checks only - We do not accept personal checks or cash.  You may put each hunter's payment on one money order/cashiers checks.  This also applies for both lake locations.  (Example:  If you are drawn for both Champion and Little Champion and/or a youth hunt, you may put them together on one money order or cashiers check).  Once payment is collected, you will receive your permit, Public Use Regulations brochure, letterhead with instructions and a map of your hunting area.  

Permits are non-transferable.  Only the persons possessing a valid, signed permit are allowed on the hunt. If a hunter is unable to go, you may not have another hunter take his/her place.  Guests are prohibited, even if they are not taking a firearm.  

NOT-DRAWN HUNTERS:

If you are not drawn for the hunt, you will receive your original postcard back through the mail with a sticker on the back stating you were not drawn.  It is important that you fill your card out correctly (self addressed - like you are mailing it to yourself) for this reason.  When applying for the hunt, if your card is not filled out properly with your address in the front/center, OR if you do not put your card in an envelope so that the postage is not used, you will not receive your "not-drawn" notification.  If you have questions on how to fill out your card properly, please refer to the image on this page, or by calling Ranger Tara Dowdy at 731-538-2481.

HOW THE DRAWING IS CONDUCTED:

Each hunt card is added to the FIRST preferred hunt date/location specified on the application postcard.  There is no need in adding anything other than the first preferred date/location.  There is a drawing for each weekend and each hunt location.  If you are not drawn for your preferred hunt, your card is then set aside with all other hunters who were not drawn for their preferred hunt to be given a "second chance" for any remaining open weekends.  If you receive a notification that you were drawn but it wasn't for your preferred hunt, that means you were not drawn for your preferred hunt but given a second chance at the remaining openings.