Accessibility for Hunting and Fishing in Tennessee

Disability Hunting and Fishing Licenses

Accessible Boating & Fishing Sites

The TWRA Fisheries and Engineering teams work to design a number of wheelchair-accessible fishing piers and boat ramps on public waters to accommodate anglers of all accessibility levels.

Accessible Hunting Sites

TWRA has partnered with many organizations to provide wheelchair-accessible custom blinds for hunting on public lands.  More than a dozen deer, turkey and waterfowl blinds that include ramps and other features to make hunting from a wheelchair more convenient can be found across the state. To request the use of an accessible blind, please contact your TWRA Regional Office.

Wheelchair-bound Hunts, Zones, or Blinds

Wheelchair-bound Hunts, Zones, or blinds are open to hunters who are totally and permanently confined to a wheelchair as certified by a physician. On wheelchair-bound big game hunts, each wheelchair-bound hunter must be accompanied by a non-hunting assistant (age 16 years or older), except on Cordell Hull WMA where the assistant may also participate in hunting.

Certain WMAs have special waterfowl blind sites established for wheelchair-bound hunters which include: Camden, Cheatham Lake, North Chickamauga Creek, Old Hickory Unit !, Reelfoot, and West Sandy.  On wheelchair-bound waterfowl hunts, each wheelchair-bound hunter must be accompanied by at least one, but not more than three assistants (at least one of whom must be age 16 years or older), who may also participate in hunting.

More Information on applying for a wheelchair-bound waterfowl hunt available here: Wheelchair-bound Blinds Information and Applications

Moment of Freedom Initiative

The state’s Moment of Freedom initiative is a cooperative effort by the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, Tennessee Wildlife Resource Foundation, Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission and other partners. It is aimed at increasing outdoor opportunities for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation and works to create new wheelchair-accessible sites every year. 

Service Animals

TWRA permits service animals who are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities according to the Americans with Disabilities Act Service Animal Requirements (Service Animals | ADA.gov). 

General TWRA rules for dogs on WMAs will apply with the following exceptions:

• Service animals in a working capacity are generally allowed in all public areas of the the WMA when accompanied by a visitor with a disability.
• Service animals shall be harnessed, leashed, or tethered unless the individual’s disability prevents using these devices or these devices interfere with the service animal’s safe, effective performance of tasks. In that case, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls.
• Service animals may be denied access to certain locations or areas if their presence would significantly change the essential function of a service or program.

Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission Meetings

Commission meetings are held throughout the year across the state to set the rules of Tennessee Hunting and Fishing. Meetings are open to the public, and any individual with a disability who wishes to participate should contact the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to discuss any auxiliary aids or services needed to facilitate such participation. Such initial contact may be made no less than ten (10) days prior to the scheduled meeting date, to allow time for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to determine how it may reasonably provide such aid or service. Initial contact may be made with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency ADA Coordinator, Christy White at 615-781-6598.