How it hunts
Meeman-Shelby Forest is the closest public duck ground to Memphis: flooded cypress and bottomland timber along the Mississippi. It is split into a draw zone and a non-draw zone, and the hunting lives or dies with the river stage.
Everything depends on the river
The bottoms only hold huntable water when the Mississippi backs into them. In low-water years there may be very little. Check the Memphis river gauge and whether the Island 40 gate is open before you drive out.
Learn the two zones
If you weren't drawn, you can only hunt the non-draw strip, and only on its open days. Wandering south of Check Station Road is a quick way to get a ticket.
Expect company on open days
It's about 20 minutes from Memphis, so the non-draw zone gets busy. Thursdays usually beat Saturdays.
Play the refuge traffic
Eagle Lake Refuge next door holds rafted ducks all winter. Set up for birds moving in and out of it, and never cross into the refuge.
Bring a small boat and waders
The bottoms are flooded cypress and timber with rough road access. A kayak or small johnboat plus waders, a compass or GPS, and a plan to pull every decoy will cover you.
Getting there and ramps
Meeman-Shelby Forest WMA and State ParkOpen to duck hunting
- Park headquarters: take TN-388 north to its end, go left 1 mile to the four-way stop at the Shelby Forest General Store, turn right 1 mile, then left into the park.Source: TWRA Meeman-Shelby Forest WMA · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
- Eagle Lake and the WMA bottoms: from Benjestown Rd take Island No. 40 Rd. A gate leads to a rough gravel road; it opens on an irregular schedule and closes during high water.Source: TWRA Meeman-Shelby Forest WMA · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
- The Mississippi River ramp is free, and the Poplar Tree Lake ramp is open year-round. The park notes that One Way Road past the campground is closed due to erosion.Source: Tennessee State Parks, Meeman-Shelby boating · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
Eagle Lake RefugeClosed to duck hunting
Access details are on the area page.
- South of Check Station Rd is draw-only. The non-draw zone (north of Check Station Rd, south of Boat Ramp Rd) is open on opening day(s) and Thursday–Saturday in season.Source: TWRA Meeman-Shelby Forest WMA · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
- The Mississippi River ramp in the park is free.Source: Tennessee State Parks, Meeman-Shelby boating · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
Rules
- All hunters must register and get a free permit at park headquarters.Source: TWRA Meeman-Shelby Forest WMA · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
- Tennessee duck season: Nov 28–29 and Dec 5, 2026–Jan 31, 2027.Source: TWRA migratory birds · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
- Eagle Lake Refuge is closed to waterfowl hunting and closed to all use Nov 15 through the end of February (Bomprezzi Unit excepted).Source: TWRA Eagle Lake Refuge · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
Not confirmed yet
- Draw permit fees are not listed on TWRA's pages.
Water levels
Best water level: No agency publishes a duck stage
Source: NWS MEMT1 · checked Oct 22, 2026
- Today2.6
- Fri2.1
- Sat1.4
- Sun0.3
- Mon-0.5
Check the rules and the water
Confirm this season’s rules on our state law pages or the agency’s own site, check draw and permit deadlines, and look at today’s river levels on the migration map. Areas can close or flood on short notice.
