Catoosa WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 rules and map
Catoosa WMA is 79,216 acres of TWRA hunting land in Cumberland, Morgan and Fentress counties, measured on TWRA's boundary, in its Region 3. Hunters checked in 296 deer from the area in the 2025-26 season, 206 antlered bucks among them (TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox). The first deer hunt in TWRA's 2026-27 guide for the area: Deer/Bear (Archery), Oct. 3–Oct. 11. Archery equipment only.
Data updated October 2026. Rules: TWRA's 2026-27 guide, page 104. Harvest: TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox, 2015-16 to 2025-26.
Catoosa WMAOther TWRA hunting landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 79,216 acres, measured on TWRA's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Cumberland County, Morgan County, Fentress County |
| TWRA region | Region 3 |
| Deer management unit | Unit 4 |
| Permits | WMA Small Game permit; Big Game (Non-Quota/WMA) or quota permit; High Impact Conservation Permit (riding) |
| Deer checked in, 2025-26 | 296 (206 antlered bucks, 12 antlerless males, 78 females) |
| Area manager | Don Chance (931) 456-2479 |
| Nearest towns | Oakdale (next to it), Wartburg (2 mi) and Harriman (4 mi) |
What are the 2026-27 hunting rules on Catoosa WMA?
TWRA's 2026-27 guide prints these rules and seasons for the area. Where it says statewide seasons, the statewide dates and the county's deer management unit limits apply.
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. OHVs permitted from the fourth Saturday in August through the second Sunday in June. OHVs, bicyclists, and hooved animal riders may not enter the area except through gated TWRA access points. During big game hunts, the area is open only to legal big game hunting participants except fishing access is permited during Catoosa turkey season. Guides prohibited on all hunts. Deer hunters and hog control participants are required to check out deer and wild hogs at WMA check stations when in operation. Hunters are required to tag their harvest with paper transportation tags prior to transporting it to the nearest check station. Hunters are encouraged to be cautious when handling harvested hogs due to multiple documented cases of Brucellosis at Catoosa. Catoosa WMA will be closed to all users February 1–last Friday in March, except for the following; 1. Cumberland Trail Corridor users and walk in anglers 2. Walk in hunters and trappers will be permitted Feb. 1 thru the last day of February. Closed to all hunting March 1–fourth Friday in August, except during turkey and spring squirrel seasons. During all deer, turkey and wild hog control hunts, all users within the Cumberland Trail corridor must wear blaze orange/pink and remain within 100 feet on either side of the trail. Unauthorized entry or presence is prohibited between sunrise and sunset. Wild hogs may be taken during any deer hunt by legal deer hunters.
Same as statewide seasons, except closes at sunset the day before and during scheduled big game hunts, unless otherwise noted. Dogs are not permitted during the spring squirrel season. Trapping and small game hunting closed during wild hog control season. Closed to quail hunting and dog training. Rifles and handguns using center-fire ammunition are legal for hunting beaver, bobcat, fox, coyote, groundhog and crow only during statewide big game seasons and the hunter must be a licensed legal big game hunter. During big game hunts, coyotes may be taken with any weapon legal for that hunt. Chasing fox, coyote or bobcat with dogs is not permitted.
- Opossum, Raccoon: Nov. 1 to sunrise Dec. 31, except closes at sunset on the day before and during scheduled big game hunts.
- Deer: On all hunts, antlered deer must have a minimum of four (4) points on one (1) antler or a fifteen inch minimum outside antler spread. Wild hogs may be taken during any deer hunt by legal deer hunters.
- Deer/Bear (Archery): Oct. 3–Oct. 11. Archery equipment only. Area check stations operated. Entire area open. Two (2) deer no more than one (1) antlered (deer counts towards statewide bag limit). Bears may be taken with any weapon legal for the hunt. One (1) bear, counts toward statewide bag limit.
- Deer (Gun - Young Sportsman): Oct. 24–25. Two (2) deer, no more than one (1) antlered (counts toward statewide bag limit).
- Deer (Muzzleloader): Oct. 29–31. Station quota per hunt: Genesis 1,000; Bicolor 1,000. One (1) deer, antlered only (counts toward statewide bag limit).
- Deer (Gun): Nov. 12–14. Station quota: Genesis 1,000; Bicolor 1,000. One (1) deer, antlered only (counts toward statewide bag limit).
- Deer (Gun): Nov. 19–21. Station quota: Genesis 1,000; Bicolor 1,000. One (1) deer, antlered only (counts toward statewide bag limit).
- Deer (Gun): Dec. 3–5. Non-quota. Entire area open. One (1) deer, antlered only (counts toward statewide bag limit).
- Wild Hog (Control Season - Dogs Permitted): Dec. 9–13, 16–20. Entire area open. No limit, either sex. All participants in the hog control season must wear on the upper portion of their body and head a minimum of 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange/pink, visible front and back. Participants may use any legal weapon and ammunition that is legal for taking deer, bear or elk. Legal hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Checking stations open on Catoosa–all hogs must be transported whole to the checking stations for data collection.
- Bullfrog: April 1–Sept. 1. No hunting during turkey hunts.
- Turkey (Young Sportsman): March 27–28. One (1) male bearded turkey. Counts toward statewide bag limit.
- Turkey: April 3–May 2. One male bearded turkey per day, counts toward statewide bag limit of 2.
- Trapping: Dec. 15–last day of Feb.
- Shooting Range (Genesis Checking Station): Open daily except during deer archery hunts and turkey hunts. Daylight hours only. Permit required. See tnwildlife.org for details.
- Shooting Range (Peavine Campground): Open April 1–Jan. 31, except closed during deer archery hunts and turkey hunts. Daylight hours only. Permit required. See tnwildlife.org for details.
- Camping: Allowed for big game hunters, during big game hunts in designated areas only.
Crooked Fork Unit
Rifles and handguns using center-fire ammunition are prohibited. Wild hogs may be taken during any deer hunt by legal deer hunters.
Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Closed to quail hunting. Closed to all hunting March 1 through the fourth Friday in August, except during turkey and spring squirrel seasons. Chasing fox, coyote, or bobcat with dogs is not permitted. Same as statewide seasons, except deer season is closed after Dec. 11. Archery equipment, shotguns and muzzleloaders only for deer hunting. Wild hogs may be taken during any deer hunt by legal deer hunters.
- Dog training: Dog training is closed
Pine Orchard Unit
Same as statewide season, except as noted. Same as statewide seasons Trapping - Same as statewide seasons.
- Dog training: Dog training is closed.
Source: TWRA 2026-27 Tennessee Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Guide, page 104; TWRA's page for the area. Read every rule in the guide before you go: the guide is the final word.
How many deer are taken on Catoosa WMA?
Hunters checked in 296 deer from Catoosa WMA in the 2025-26 season. Over the 11 seasons the Toolbox shows, the area averaged 235 deer a season, from 173 in 2018-19 to 329 in 2015-16.
| Season | Deer checked in | Males | Antlered | Antlerless males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 296 | 218 | 206 | 12 | 78 |
| 2024-25 | 265 | 188 | 183 | 5 | 77 |
| 2023-24 | 213 | 148 | 136 | 12 | 65 |
| 2022-23 | 236 | 157 | 147 | 10 | 79 |
| 2021-22 | 179 | 144 | 136 | 8 | 35 |
| 2020-21 | 234 | 175 | 170 | 5 | 59 |
| 2019-20 | 242 | 196 | 189 | 7 | 46 |
| 2018-19 | 173 | 136 | 129 | 7 | 37 |
| 2017-18 | 181 | 130 | 51 | ||
| 2016-17 | 235 | 160 | 75 | ||
| 2015-16 | 329 | 216 | 113 |
Source: TWRA Hunter's Toolbox, Deer Harvests by County / WMA, read October 2026. These are deer hunters reported at check-in. Before 2018-19 the Toolbox counts every male as antlerless, so only the male total is shown for those seasons.
Which county is Catoosa WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | Deer unit | County deer off WMAs, 2025-26 | Rank of 95 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County | 45,400 | 4 | 2,401 | 13th |
| Morgan County | 33,133 | 4 | 1,088 | 66th |
| Fentress County | 683 | 4 | 639 | 85th |
Acres measured by FilledTag on TWRA hunting lands layer (HuntingAllowed) and the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries. County harvest: TWRA Hunter's Toolbox, Deer Harvests by County / WMA. Units: TWRA deer management unit counties.
How do you get to Catoosa WMA?
Highways through the area: TN 298. Nearest towns: Oakdale (next to it), Wartburg (2 miles), Harriman (4 miles) and Crossville (7 miles). Directions and the area map are on TWRA's page for Catoosa WMA.
The closest other TWRA hunting lands with a page here: Keyes-Harrison WMA (next to it), Luper Mountain WMA (1.8 miles), Mount Roosevelt WMA (2.9 miles) and Skinner Mountain WMA (7.8 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When can you hunt deer on Catoosa WMA in 2026-27?
TWRA's 2026-27 guide lists these deer hunts for Catoosa WMA: Deer/Bear (Archery), Oct. 3–Oct. 11; Deer (Gun - Young Sportsman), Oct. 24–25; Deer (Muzzleloader), Oct. 29–31; Deer (Gun), Nov. 12–14; Deer (Gun), Nov. 19–21; Deer (Gun), Dec. 3–5. Each hunt's limits and rules are above.
How many deer were killed on Catoosa WMA last season?
Hunters checked in 296 deer from Catoosa WMA in the 2025-26 season: 206 antlered bucks, 12 antlerless males and 78 females, by TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox. The 11-season average is 235.
What county is Catoosa WMA in?
Cumberland County (45,400 acres), Morgan County (33,133 acres) and Fentress County (683 acres), measured on TWRA's boundary.
What permit do you need to hunt Catoosa WMA?
TWRA's guide lists these for the area: WMA Small Game permit; Big Game (Non-Quota/WMA) or quota permit; High Impact Conservation Permit (riding). Lifetime and Annual Sportsman License holders are exempt from WMA permits (guide, page 11).
Get a Tennessee hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Tennessee are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Tennessee included.
Where these numbers come from
- Area rules, seasons, size and manager: TWRA 2026-27 Tennessee Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Guide.
- Deer harvest on the area and by county: TWRA Hunter's Toolbox, Deer Harvests by County / WMA.
- Boundary: TWRA hunting lands layer (HuntingAllowed). Counties, highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries; U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer. National forest and refuges: U.S. Forest Service national forest ownership; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries.
FilledTag is not part of Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Numbers are copied from TWRA or measured from public maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
Tennessee hunting All Tennessee WMAs Cumberland County deer harvest Morgan County deer harvest Fentress County deer harvest