North Cherokee WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 rules and map
North Cherokee WMA is 338,943 acres of TWRA hunting land in Carter, Unicoi, Cocke, Johnson, Sullivan, Greene and Washington counties, measured on TWRA's boundary, in its Region 4. Hunters checked in 433 deer from the area in the 2025-26 season, 321 antlered bucks among them (TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox). TWRA's 2026-27 guide for the area: Deer, Dates are same as statewide season except as noted.
Data updated October 2026. Rules: TWRA's 2026-27 guide, page 113. Harvest: TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox, 2015-16 to 2025-26.
North Cherokee WMAOther TWRA hunting landsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 338,943 acres, measured on TWRA's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Carter County, Unicoi County, Cocke County, Johnson County, Sullivan County, Greene County, Washington County |
| TWRA region | Region 4 |
| Deer management unit | Unit 6 |
| Permits | Big Game (Non-Quota/WMA) or quota permit |
| Deer checked in, 2025-26 | 433 (321 antlered bucks, 12 antlerless males, 100 females) |
| Area manager | Region IV Office (423) 587-7037 |
| Nearest towns | Hunter (next to it), Unicoi (next to it), Erwin (next to it) and Elizabethton (2 mi) |
What are the 2026-27 hunting rules on North Cherokee 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.
Some roads normally open to public travel may be closed from Dec. 15–March 31. Wild hogs may be taken on any big game hunt with the methods/firearms legal for that hunt, except wild hogs may not be taken in the bear reserves during bear season. Shooting ranges - Open daylight hours only See tnwildlife.org for details. Safety Zone - On the Cherokee WMA, hunting or discharging a firearm is prohibited within 150 yards of a developed recreation area, campsite, residence, building, occupied area, across or on a National Forest system road. Contact the appropriate U.S. Forest Service office for more information. Horseback riding - Horseback riding on properties owned by the U.S. Forest Service shall be the same as U.S. Forest Service regulations. Contact the U.S. Forest Service (423-476-9700). On those properties owned or leased by the TWRA, horseback riding is only allowed upon roads opened for vehicle travel. No riding off road into openings, fields, trails or through streams. Electric Bikes - All electric bicycles are classified as motorized vehicles under 36CFR212 and therefore are not permitted: on gated roads restricting motorized vehicles; on trails or areas designated as non-motorized; or in Wilderness Areas. For more information, please contact U.S. Forest Service (423) 476-9700.
- Dog Training: Dog training prohibited unless otherwise specified. The use or possession of any electronic tracking devices from March 1–Aug. 15 is prohibited. On property owned or leased by the TWRA, ATV and OHV operation is prohibited. Only pointing breed dogs are permitted in the bear reserve one (1) day before and during bear hunts that allow the use of dogs. During bear hunts that do not allow the use of hounds, small game hunters in the bear reserves are limited to two (2) dogs per vehicle.
- Dove, Grouse, Quail, Rabbit, Snipe, Squirrel, Trapping: Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Small game hunters (except raccoon and opossum hunters between sunset and sunrise) must wear 500 square inches of blaze orange/pink during big game muzzleloader and gun hunts. Beaver and coyote may be taken on any hunt with weapon legal for that hunt. Groundhog, fox and skunk may be taken on any small game hunt with weapon legal for that hunt. Fox closed in Washington County. Bobcat may be taken on any scheduled big game or small game hunt that coincides with the statewide bobcat season with methods/firearms legal for the scheduled hunt. No dogs allowed. Spring squirrel season is closed.
- Deer: Dates are same as statewide season except as noted. Antlered bag limit is two (2) and counts toward statewide bag limit.
- Deer (Archery): Bag limit of four (4) antlerless (counts toward statewide bag limit).
- Deer (Muzzleloader): Bag limit of one (1) antlerless (counts toward statewide bag limit).
- Deer (Gun - Young Sportsman): Bag limit of two (2) antlerless (counts toward statewide bag limit).
- Deer (Gun): Closed to antlerless hunting.
- Turkey: Same as statewide season.
- Opossum, Raccoon: Oct. 2–last day in February. Season closed in bear reserves: Oct. 2–23, Oct. 30–Nov. 1, Nov. 8–16, Nov. 20–24, Nov. 29–Dec. 16.
- Bear: Same as Bear Hunt Zone 1 season, except closed Sept. 26–Oct. 2. Closed to the restrictive bear hunt in the Kettlefoot and Laurel Fork Bear Reserves.
- Bear Dog Training Season: Sept. 8–Oct. 3. No bears may be harvested. No weapons may be possessed. No training in bear reserves or during spring season.
- Camping: please refer to US Forest Service district offices.
Source: TWRA 2026-27 Tennessee Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Guide, page 113. Read every rule in the guide before you go: the guide is the final word.
How many deer are taken on North Cherokee WMA?
Hunters checked in 433 deer from North Cherokee WMA in the 2025-26 season. Over the 11 seasons the Toolbox shows, the area averaged 411 deer a season, from 236 in 2015-16 to 523 in 2020-21.
| Season | Deer checked in | Males | Antlered | Antlerless males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 433 | 333 | 321 | 12 | 100 |
| 2024-25 | 348 | 261 | 252 | 9 | 87 |
| 2023-24 | 461 | 363 | 351 | 12 | 98 |
| 2022-23 | 389 | 300 | 280 | 20 | 89 |
| 2021-22 | 512 | 386 | 366 | 20 | 126 |
| 2020-21 | 523 | 405 | 392 | 13 | 118 |
| 2019-20 | 386 | 278 | 269 | 9 | 108 |
| 2018-19 | 385 | 273 | 254 | 19 | 112 |
| 2017-18 | 497 | 364 | 133 | ||
| 2016-17 | 354 | 269 | 85 | ||
| 2015-16 | 236 | 174 | 62 |
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 North Cherokee WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | Deer unit | County deer off WMAs, 2025-26 | Rank of 95 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter County | 81,562 | 6 | 1,314 | 51st |
| Unicoi County | 56,505 | 6 | 381 | 92nd |
| Cocke County | 55,134 | 6 | 775 | 81st |
| Johnson County | 52,027 | 6 | 960 | 73rd |
| Sullivan County | 38,276 | 6 | 2,808 | 5th |
| Greene County | 36,132 | 6 | 1,957 | 22nd |
| Washington County | 17,949 | 6 | 1,491 | 41st |
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 North Cherokee WMA?
Highways through the area: TN 34, US 421, US 321 and TN 107. Nearest towns: Hunter (next to it), Unicoi (next to it), Erwin (next to it), Elizabethton (2 miles) and Mountain City (3 miles).
The closest other TWRA hunting lands with a page here: Nolichucky WMA (2.4 miles), Rankin WMA (7.8 miles), Lick Creek Bottoms WMA (12.2 miles) and Henderson Island Refuge (15.7 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When can you hunt deer on North Cherokee WMA in 2026-27?
TWRA's 2026-27 guide for North Cherokee WMA: Deer: Dates are same as statewide season except as noted. Deer (Archery): Bag limit of four (4) antlerless (counts toward statewide bag limit). Deer (Muzzleloader): Bag limit of one (1) antlerless (counts toward statewide bag limit).
How many deer were killed on North Cherokee WMA last season?
Hunters checked in 433 deer from North Cherokee WMA in the 2025-26 season: 321 antlered bucks, 12 antlerless males and 100 females, by TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox. The 11-season average is 411.
What county is North Cherokee WMA in?
Carter County (81,562 acres), Unicoi County (56,505 acres), Cocke County (55,134 acres), Johnson County (52,027 acres), Sullivan County (38,276 acres), Greene County (36,132 acres) and Washington County (17,949 acres), measured on TWRA's boundary.
What permit do you need to hunt North Cherokee WMA?
TWRA's guide lists these for the area: Big Game (Non-Quota/WMA) or quota permit. Lifetime and Annual Sportsman License holders are exempt from WMA permits (guide, page 11).
Get a Tennessee hunt plan when they open
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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 Carter County deer harvest Unicoi County deer harvest Cocke County deer harvest