Reelfoot NWR Turkey Quota Hunt

 Seasons:

1st Hunt:  April 18-20, 2025

2nd Hunt:  April 25-27, 2025

Bag Limit: 1 bearded turkey, counts towards State limit.

Permits: Quota hunt, see below for application procedure.

Application Procedures

*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 January.  If you postmark your card on January 31st, it will most likely not make it in time for the drawing.  The drawing is conducted during the first week of February.

To apply for a permit, applicants must submit a self-addressed U.S Postal Service postcard, as well as an application fee, to the Refuge Ranger during the month of January. The quota hunt application fee is $15 per person (cashier's check or money order only, payable to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). Fees must be submitted with your application for the quota hunt permit.  If drawn for a hunt, no other fees will be assessed. The senders name and address should be on the front-center of the post card. A party of up to four hunters may apply on the same postcard-one hunter on the front, and up to three more hunters on the back with the following information for each participant;

•  Name 
•  Address 
•  Phone Number 
•  Hunt Location (Long Point or Grassy Island) 
•  Hunt Date (EXAMPLE-Hunt 2, April__-__) 

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

Place your application card, along with your application fee of $15.00 inside an envelope and mail to:

Reelfoot NWR

4343 Hwy 157

Union City, TN 38261

Attention:  Reelfoot Turkey Quota Hunt

Incomplete or duplicate applications will be disqualified. All permits will be selected by random drawings. Quota hunts limited to 30 permits for each season (15 permits per hunt unit).

Hunters on the Grassy Island Unit must meet the license requirements for Tennessee, and hunters on the Long Point Unit must meet the license requirement for either Tennessee or Kentucky.

Juveniles

Both the juvenile and his/her supervising adult must apply together on the same postcard in order to be eligible for a refuge permit. If selected, the juvenile must be under direct supervision of the adult during the hunt.  Please write "supervisor" and/or "youth" next to each name on the card.

DRAWN HUNTERS:

You will be mailed your permit after the drawing is conducted.  You should receive your permit no later than the 2nd week of February, if not sooner.

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.

 If you need more information please contact the refuge at 731/538-2481.