North Cumberland WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 rules and map
North Cumberland WMA is 201,251 acres of TWRA hunting land in Campbell, Scott, Claiborne, Anderson and Morgan counties, measured on TWRA's boundary, in its Region 4. Hunters checked in 419 deer from the area in the 2025-26 season, 314 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. 9–10. Hunter quota 15.
Data updated October 2026. Rules: TWRA's 2026-27 guide, page 116. Harvest: TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox, 2015-16 to 2025-26.
North Cumberland WMAOther TWRA hunting landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 201,251 acres, measured on TWRA's boundary |
|---|---|
| County | Campbell County, Scott County, Claiborne County, Anderson County, Morgan County |
| TWRA region | Region 4 |
| 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 | 419 (314 antlered bucks, 8 antlerless males, 97 females) |
| Area manager | Keith Thomas (423) 566-8557 |
| Nearest towns | Jellico (next to it), La Follette (next to it) and Jacksboro (next to it) |
What are the 2026-27 hunting rules on North Cumberland 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.
All users should be aware that hazards associated with mining (deep and strip) exist on this area. (TCA 55-52-201) All operators or passengers under the age of 18 of an off highway vehicle (OHV) are required to wear an appropriate safety helmet. OHV, hooved animal riding, bicycles and all other vehicles are restricted to roads marked “open to vehicular traffic.” Hooved animal riding and bicycling - High Impact Habitat Conservation Permit required. OHV riders - North Cumberland OHV Riding Permit or Sportsman Supplemental Permit required. See page 11 for details. Organized competition events for motorized/ nonmotorized vehicles prohibited. Public use is permitted during all hunts. During daylight hours, all users (except waterfowl hunters) outside of an enclosed vehicle or out of camp must wear 500 square inches of fluorescent orange/pink during the deer and elk gun and muzzleloader seasons. No person shall remove minerals, including coal, trees, plants (including vines), or building stones from the area without specific authorization. Camping is permitted on the entire area. Night time use by the general public and raccoon hunters is permitted area wide. Wild hogs may be taken during any hunt with hunting devices legal for that hunt. Chasing with dogs not permitted.
Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Closed to hunting March 1 through the 4th Friday in Aug., except for spring turkey. Closed to spring squirrel and fall turkey hunting. Coyote hunting with centerfire weapons only allowed during deer gun seasons by licensed deer hunters. Archery hunters will be required to meet legal blaze orange/pink requirements while hunting in the elk zones during the firearms elk hunts (see page 70).
- Beaver Trapping: restricted to designated compartments. Contact WMA manager for information. Annual harvest log must be maintained and submitted to WMA Manager by Jan. 15.
- Dog training: Sept. 1–March 15. Chasing fox, coyotes, and bobcats with dogs is not permitted.
- Spring Turkey: Only one (1) male bearded turkey allowed during the first 14 days of the statewide turkey season, not to exceed two (2) for the entire season.
- Deer (Archery): Bag limit of one (1) antlerless and one (1) antlered (counts toward statewide bag limit).
- Deer (Muzzleloader/Gun Combined): Bag limit of one (1) antlerless and one (1) antlered (counts toward statewide bag limit).
- Deer (Gun - Young Sportsman): Dates and bag limit same as statewide season. Ed Carter Unit - antlered deer must have a minimum of four (4) points on one (1) antler or a fifteen-inch minimum outside antler spread. Elk hunting by quota permit only. Information on page 70.
- Bear: Same as statewide Bear Hunt Zone 4. Archery season dates only. See page 72–73 for bear hunting details.
- Ginseng: Sept. 1–Dec. 31. Shooting range open daylight hours 7 days a week. Permit required for range.
- Camping: Allowed area wide. Do not block roads, trails, or gates.
Otey Mills Refuge of North Cumberland WMA
Closed to all forms of use and trespass except as noted during big game and small game seasons. Dog training and trapping closed. Prohibited activities: OHV riding, horseback riding, mountain bike riding, hiking, camping, and ginseng hunting. Special Deer Restriction - Scouting days for deer quota hunts are Saturdays prior to each individuals permitted hunt dates. Quota hunters are required to check out harvested big game at the Otey Mills Refuge Checking Station when in operation.
- Deer/Bear Archery: Oct. 9–10. Hunter quota 15. Bag Limit-one (1) antlered deer and one (1) bear. Antlered deer must have a minimum of four (4) points on one (1) antler or a 15 inch minimum outside antler spread. Deer and bear count toward statewide bag limit.
- Deer Archery: Dec. 4–5. Hunter quota 15. Bag limit-one (1) antlered deer. Antlered deer must have a minimum of four (4) points on one (1) antler or a 15 inch minimum outside antler spread. Deer count toward statewide bag limit.
- Young Sportsman Deer Archery: Nov. 14–15. Hunter quota 15. Bag limit - one (1) deer either sex, Antlered deer must have a minimum of four (4) points on one (1) antler or a 15 inch minimum outside antler spread. Antlered deer count toward statewide bag limit.
- Small Game: Jan. 1–Feb. 28; closed to quail and spring squirrel seasons. Walk in access only.
- Spring Turkey: Youth/Adult only- same as statewide season. Walk in access only.
Source: TWRA 2026-27 Tennessee Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Guide, page 116; 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 North Cumberland WMA?
Hunters checked in 419 deer from North Cumberland WMA in the 2025-26 season. Over the 11 seasons the Toolbox shows, the area averaged 363 deer a season, from 198 in 2015-16 to 515 in 2020-21.
| Season | Deer checked in | Males | Antlered | Antlerless males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 419 | 322 | 314 | 8 | 97 |
| 2024-25 | 365 | 281 | 270 | 11 | 84 |
| 2023-24 | 334 | 263 | 249 | 14 | 71 |
| 2022-23 | 371 | 275 | 263 | 12 | 96 |
| 2021-22 | 425 | 327 | 307 | 20 | 98 |
| 2020-21 | 515 | 390 | 376 | 14 | 125 |
| 2019-20 | 403 | 284 | 279 | 5 | 119 |
| 2018-19 | 341 | 254 | 230 | 24 | 87 |
| 2017-18 | 294 | 228 | 66 | ||
| 2016-17 | 324 | 244 | 80 | ||
| 2015-16 | 198 | 120 | 78 |
Source: TWRA Hunter's Toolbox, Deer Harvests by County / WMA, adding its rows for North Cumberland WMA, North Cumberland WMA Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA High Cliff Unit, North Cumberland WMA New River Unit, North Cumberland WMA Royal Blue Unit, North Cumberland WMA Sundquist Unit and North Cumberland WMA Otey Mills Refuge Unit, 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 Cumberland WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | Deer unit | County deer off WMAs, 2025-26 | Rank of 95 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campbell County | 93,559 | 4 | 1,020 | 69th |
| Scott County | 49,612 | 4 | 905 | 77th |
| Claiborne County | 34,898 | 4 | 1,332 | 49th |
| Anderson County | 21,984 | 4 | 853 | 79th |
| Morgan County | 1,196 | 4 | 1,088 | 66th |
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 Cumberland WMA?
Highways through the area: TN 9, TN 132, TN 116 and TN 297. Nearest towns: Jellico (next to it), La Follette (next to it), Jacksboro (next to it) and Caryville (2 miles). Directions and the area map are on TWRA's page for North Cumberland WMA.
The closest other TWRA hunting lands with a page here: Chuck Swan State Forest and WMA (5.2 miles), Cove Creek WMA (6.4 miles), Catoosa WMA (9 miles) and Mount Roosevelt WMA (16.7 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When can you hunt deer on North Cumberland WMA in 2026-27?
TWRA's 2026-27 guide lists these deer hunts for North Cumberland WMA: Deer/Bear Archery, Oct. 9–10; Deer Archery, Dec. 4–5; Young Sportsman Deer Archery, Nov. 14–15. Each hunt's limits and rules are above.
How many deer were killed on North Cumberland WMA last season?
Hunters checked in 419 deer from North Cumberland WMA in the 2025-26 season: 314 antlered bucks, 8 antlerless males and 97 females, by TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox. The 11-season average is 363.
What county is North Cumberland WMA in?
Campbell County (93,559 acres), Scott County (49,612 acres), Claiborne County (34,898 acres), Anderson County (21,984 acres) and Morgan County (1,196 acres), measured on TWRA's boundary.
What permit do you need to hunt North Cumberland 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
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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.
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