Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, encompasing over 51,000 acres, is located on Kentucky Lake in northwest Tennessee. The refuges three units: Big Sandy, Duck River and Busseltown stretch for 65 miles along the Tennessee River. Established in 1945, the refuge is one of the older refuges in the country. It is managed as an important resting and feeding area for wintering waterfowl. The refuge also provides habitat for numerous resident wildlife species and other migratory birds.

The refuge consists of a diversity of habitats including open reservoir waters, bottomland hardwoods, high quality oaks/hickory forests, freshwater marsh, agricultural lands and some of the largest and highest quality moist soil managed impoundments in the nation. The diversity of habitats found on the refuge units provide ample feeding, nesting and resting areas for 293 bird species, 51 types of mammals, 89 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 142 species of fish. A hotspot for fish diversity, this refuge can boast a greater fish species diversity than any other inland national wildlife refuge in the country.