Humphreys County certainly knows a thing or two about the great outdoors. With such a variety of landscapes and waterscapes to witness all within the borders of this beautiful county, it should come as no surprise that this place is absolutely filled with inspiration for a fun-filled active day.
No matter what your physical fitness level may be, no matter how you enjoy passing the time when you’re outdoors, there absolutely will be something to do in Humphreys County for you. Each place we listed here has more than enough to keep your heart pumping with adrenaline all day long.
Buffalo Ridge Refuge
Whether your outdoor interests range from hunting and fishing to bird watching and wildlife photography, there is plenty to see and do at the Buffalo Ridge Refuge in Humphreys County. Nestled along the Buffalo River and easily accessible by both Highway 13 and Interstate 40, the Buffalo Ridge Refuge includes an Education Center and Wildlife Management Area stretches out over 2000 acres.
With rolling hills and lush forest spotted with bare meadows, the Buffalo Ridge Refuge is a prime spot for all your favorite outdoor activities. The rugged wild nature seen in many places around Humphreys County makes it prime for deer while the river that runs next to it offers some of the best competitive fishing spots in the state!
If hunting runs deep in your blood and you’d like to instill a love of harvesting what the land has to offer in your kids, consider throwing their name in the hat for the Buffalo Ridge Refuge Youth Deer Hunt. The only requirements are that they must be between the ages of 10 and 16, be hunter safety-certified, and have never harvested their own deer before. It’s basically a lottery to be picked for the hunt of a lifetime on opening day of the first of two Young Sportsman Deer Hunts held at the end of October each year. Thirty lucky hunters are picked, and the event is more than just the hunt. They’ll experience a cookout the night before, camping, and even breakfast and lunch the day of the hunt. While you’ll need to provide their camping gear, tree stands are provided, three of which are handicapped accessible.
Maybe the future hunter in your family would prefer to start small? In February of each year, Buffalo Ridge Refuge hosts an Annual Young Sportsman Squirrel Hunt. Just like with the Young Sportsman Deer Hunt, breakfast and lunch are provided and begins with a mandatory safety talk. Both events are free and start bright and early in the morning, so if you’re looking for a way to bond with your buddy in the beautiful nature Humphreys County provides, this is for you.
Even if you’re not ready to bag a buck or snag a squirrel, the refuge is making plans to incorporate shooting ranges for clays, trap, and skeet shooting as well as practice archery and other hunter education facilities.
Humphreys County Waterways
Take a look at a map of Humphreys County sometime and you’ll see that the entire west coast boundary runs right down the Kentucky Lake that drains into the Tennessee River. Look a little further east and you’ll see both the Buffalo and Duck Rivers, either of which would be perfect for a day on the water. We’re talking about some award-winning fishing and record-breaking catches in the waters of Humphreys County.
Kentucky Lake was in the news in 2019 thanks to a massive 88-pound catfish, but that’s not all you’ll snag on a line there. In addition to the usual favorites like crappie, catfish, bream, and small and largemouth bass, you might be surprised to learn that there is a thriving mussel bed along the bottom. This throwback to the days before the 30s and the invention of plastic are one of the main reasons why there is such a diverse and plentiful fish population in the Kentucky Lake. Even if you’re not an expert fisherman with your own boat to navigate these waters, all you have to do is sit back, relax, and drop in a line anywhere along the shore.
The Duck River, considered to be North America’s richest river regarding the variety of freshwater animals, is also a prime spot for your next fishing excursion. The 269 miles of this winding Middle Tennessee river is one of the most beautiful waterways in the state. Thanks to exhaustive conservation efforts and its unmatched variety of freshwater animal life, it is one of three global hot spots for fish and mussel diversity. The variety doesn’t stop there as the different terrain above and below the water make it a fly fisherman’s paradise.
Now we know there’s more to watersports than just fishing and not everyone is looking to bait their own hook anyway. If that’s the case, rent a canoe or kayak from Bones Canoe and Campground on the Buffalo River and spend the day floating down a 5- or 10-mile stretch with your friends or family. Be sure to pack sunscreen and pack a cooler and just let the river take you and your cares away. The good guys at Bones also offer a shuttle service to get you to and from the drop off and pick up points as well as camping spots if you decide you want to do it all over again the next day.
Add a Little Adrenaline to Your Outdoor Adventure
Maybe fishing and kayaking and hunting just isn’t enough to really get your blood pumping. If you’ve got a little daredevil in you, might we suggest jumping out of a plane? You might be surprised to discover people like doing that a lot around here.
Located in Waverly, Music City Skydiving is considered to be the number one skydiving center in the entire state. Their claim to fame comes from having the best facilities, the best aircraft, and the most experienced instructors. You can tandem jump with one of their super experienced staff or become a student at their skydiving school so you can work your way up to jumping solo. They have Department of Defense Certified Aircraft, staff with tens of thousands of jumps between them, and a mission to provide a 5-star life changing experience.
Humphreys County was made for the great outdoors, and we hope you bookmark this page for help planning your next active day trip when you’re in our neck of the woods.
ITINERARY POINTS OF INTEREST
A haven for those that love to spend their lives in the great outdoors with events like the Youth Deer Hunts and Young Sportsman squirrel hunt each year.
Kentucky Lake was created when the Kentucky Dam was finished in 1944 and the old town of Johnsonville was flooded and is filled with catfish, crappie, and more, making it a perfect place to spend the day fishing.
This river is considered to be North America’s richest regarding the variety of freshwater animals and is also a prime spot for your next fishing excursion.
Bone’s is a family-run primitive camping and canoe rental business that would be a prime spot for a fun and active family camping trip.
With an over 8,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility; full-service rigging loft and gear store; large, wide open, flat landing areas; top-of-the-line equipment for students and experienced jumpers; and extremely high safety standards, Music City Skydiving is perfect for the first-time jumper or someone with thousands of jumps under their belt.