Williamsport WMA

MAURY COUNTY • 1,722 ACRES
ON HWY. 50 APPROXIMATELY 10 MI. WEST OF COLUMBIA

Special Use - No riding during scheduled Big Game hunts. Hooved animal riding, bicycling and Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use permitted only by individuals possessing a valid hunting and fishing license and WMA permit or a High Impact Habitat Conservation Permit.

Open one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset on quota hunt days. Possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. No camping allowed.

Big Game, Small Game, and Trapping - Same as statewide seasons, except big game seasons have specific dates and closed thereafter. Night hunting not allowed. Closed to fall turkey hunting.

Dove - Same as statewide season, except open only on Sept. 1, 2023 and every Saturday during the first segment. Designated fields only. Shooting from staked positions only on Sept. 1, 2023. On Sept. 1, 2023, staked positions will be assigned by a drawing held on site at 10 a.m (CST). Hunters must be present at drawing and must check out at the conclusion of the hunt. Successful applicants must be at the staked position at legal shooting hours.

Deer (Archery) - Three hunts: Sept. 16 - 18, 23 - 25, 2023, Oct. 7 - 9, 2023. Two deer, either sex, but only one can be antlered (bonus deer).

Deer (Gun - Young Sportsman) - Two hunts: Oct. 22-23, Oct. 29-30. Two deer, only one can be antlered (bonus deer).

Deer (Muzzleloader) - One hunt: Nov. 4 - 6, 2023. Hunter quota 100. Two deer, but only one can be antlered (bonus deer).

Deer (Gun) - Four hunts: Nov. 18 - 20, 25 - 27, 2023, Dec. 2 - 4, 9 - 11, 2023. Hunter quota 100. Two deer, but only one can be antlered (bonus deer).

Turkey (Young Sportsman) - One hunt: April 6 - 7, 2024. One bearded bird.

Turkey - One hunt: April 13 - 26, 2024. One bearded bird.

Quail - Nov. 4, 2023 - Jan. 15, 2024.

Crow - Sept. 1, 2023 - Feb. 29, 2024. All crow hunting is limited to Saturdays during the month of September during the first segment of dove season, thereafter on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Dog training - Sept. 1, 2023 - March 15, 2024, daylight hours only.

Site Description: Williamsport Lakes was transferred to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency from Occidental Chemical Corporation in the Fall of 1997.  The area totals 1,800 acres and is comprised of 4 fishing lakes and 2 wetlands.  Occidental mined phosphorus from the surrounding land and used the lakes as settling ponds for the mud they washed off the phosphorus rocks.

The fishing is outstanding as a trophy bass lake in which a size limit of 20 inches on largemouth bass is in place.  Springtime is good for shellcracker and bluegill. 

These lakes range in size from 80 acres down to 12 acres.  There is one family fishing lake where it is required to have a child fishing at the age of 16 and under.

Hunting is excellent at Williamsport lakes also.  Typically, sportsmen will harvest around 50 deer each year and at least a dozen wild turkeys. 

Williamsport also is noted for its dove field which is located on the east boundary.  The dove field is situated near powerlines and planted in wheat and sunflowers each season.  The dove field is located on Leiper’s creek rd.  The field also serves as a great hunting location in the deer season as the deer often will eat the green wheat that was planted for the doves. 

Wildlife to Watch: This WMA is also noted for its bird species.  A pair of bald eagles have nested at the lakes for a number of years and in the fall, you can see both the parents and that year’s young eaglets fishing in the lakes.  Ducks will often be found on the fishing lakes and during migration, gulls, loons and other migratory birds will stopover to rest and feed.