Prentice Cooper State Forest and WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 rules and map
Prentice Cooper State Forest and WMA is 27,300 acres of TWRA hunting land in Marion, Hamilton and Sequatchie counties, measured on TWRA's boundary, in its Region 3. Hunters checked in 220 deer from the area in the 2025-26 season, 145 antlered bucks among them (TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox). The first deer hunt in TWRA's 2026-27 guide for the area: Deer (Archery), Sept. 19–21. Hunter quota 400.
Data updated October 2026. Rules: TWRA's 2026-27 guide, page 110. Harvest: TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox, 2015-16 to 2025-26.
Prentice Cooper State Forest and WMAOther TWRA hunting landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 27,300 acres, measured on TWRA's boundary; the guide lists 24,000 |
|---|---|
| County | Marion County, Hamilton County, Sequatchie County |
| TWRA region | Region 3 |
| Deer management unit | Unit 4, Unit 5 |
| Permits | WMA Small Game permit; WMA Waterfowl/Small Game permit; Big Game (Non-Quota/WMA) or quota permit |
| Deer checked in, 2025-26 | 220 (145 antlered bucks, 17 antlerless males, 58 females) |
| Area manager | Marty Griffith (423) 658-0298 |
| Nearest towns | Signal Mountain (next to it), Powells Crossroads (next to it) and Walden (2 mi) |
What are the 2026-27 hunting rules on Prentice Cooper State Forest and 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.
Unauthorized entry or presence is prohibited between sunset and sunrise. Organized competition events for motorized vehicles is prohibited. The maximum noise limit for all motorized vehicles is 86 dBa, as measured 50 feet from the exhaust, except as otherwise permitted. The maximum speed limit is 25 mph or less if otherwise posted. All side roads and trails will be closed to motorized vehicles Dec. 20– March 15. Big game hunters are required to check in big game at the WMA check station when station is in operation. Closed to all hunting March 1–the fourth Friday in August, except during spring turkey and spring squirrel seasons. Contact the area manager for wheelchair accessible deer and turkey blinds.
Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Small game hunting and dog training will close at sunset the day before and during scheduled big game hunts unless otherwise indicated. Closed to quail hunting. Small game hunting ends on the last day of February.
- Fox, Opossum, Raccoon: First Friday in Nov.–end of Feb., except hunting will be limited to Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights only. Bag limit is one (1) per party per night.
- Deer (Archery): Sept. 19–21. Hunter quota 400. Two (2) deer, no more than one (1) antlered (bonus deer).
- Deer (Archery): Sept. 22–25. Two (2) deer, no more than one (1) antlered (bonus deer).
- Deer (Muzzleloader): Oct. 8–10. Hunter quota 250. Two (2) deer, no more than one (1) antlered (bonus deer).
- Deer (Muzzleloader): Oct. 29–31. Hunter quota 250. Two (2) deer, no more than one (1) antlered (bonus deer).
- Deer (Gun - Young Sportsman): Oct. 24–25. Two (2) deer, no more than one (1) antlered (bonus deer).
- Deer (Gun): Nov. 6–8. One (1) deer, antlered only (bonus deer).
- Deer (Gun): Nov. 28–Dec. 3. Two (2) deer, antlered only (bonus deer).
- Turkey: Six (6) hunts: April 6-8, 9-11, 14-16, 22-24, 27-29, April 30-May 2. One (1) male bearded turkey per day. Counts toward statewide bag limit.
- Trapping: Dec. 2–12.
- Dog training: Sept. 1–March 15.
- Shooting Range: Open Thursday, Friday, Saturdays only, during daylight hours. Closed during big game hunts. Permit required.
- Camping: Hunter check station campground open year-round, except closed Jan.1 through Feb. 28 (No Access to WMA During Big Game Hunts). Davis Pond campground - open year-round, except closed during big game hunts (Must be at campground by sunset, no riding around privileges after sunset). Tennessee Wall Campground - open year-round (no access to area during big game hunts).
Source: TWRA 2026-27 Tennessee Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Guide, page 110; 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 Prentice Cooper State Forest and WMA?
Hunters checked in 220 deer from Prentice Cooper State Forest and WMA in the 2025-26 season. Over the 11 seasons the Toolbox shows, the area averaged 185 deer a season, from 129 in 2015-16 to 280 in 2024-25.
| Season | Deer checked in | Males | Antlered | Antlerless males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 220 | 162 | 145 | 17 | 58 |
| 2024-25 | 280 | 195 | 179 | 16 | 85 |
| 2023-24 | 242 | 190 | 179 | 11 | 52 |
| 2022-23 | 201 | 160 | 151 | 9 | 41 |
| 2021-22 | 160 | 137 | 131 | 6 | 23 |
| 2020-21 | 174 | 142 | 135 | 7 | 32 |
| 2019-20 | 201 | 159 | 150 | 9 | 42 |
| 2018-19 | 147 | 109 | 100 | 9 | 38 |
| 2017-18 | 146 | 97 | 49 | ||
| 2016-17 | 137 | 94 | 43 | ||
| 2015-16 | 129 | 88 | 41 |
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 Prentice Cooper State Forest and WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | Deer unit | County deer off WMAs, 2025-26 | Rank of 95 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | 25,378 | 5 | 1,449 | 44th |
| Hamilton County | 1,806 | 5 | 2,013 | 20th |
| Sequatchie County | 116 | 4 | 864 | 78th |
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 Prentice Cooper State Forest and WMA?
Highways through the area: TN 27. Nearest towns: Signal Mountain (next to it), Powells Crossroads (next to it), Walden (2 miles) and Red Bank (3 miles). Directions and the area map are on TWRA's page for Prentice Cooper State Forest and WMA.
The closest other TWRA hunting lands with a page here: North Chickamauga Creek WMA (6.2 miles), Chickamauga WMA (14.3 miles), Bear Hollow Mountain WMA (23.7 miles) and Hiwassee Refuge (25.3 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When can you hunt deer on Prentice Cooper State Forest and WMA in 2026-27?
TWRA's 2026-27 guide lists these deer hunts for Prentice Cooper State Forest and WMA: Deer (Archery), Sept. 19–21; Deer (Archery), Sept. 22–25; Deer (Muzzleloader), Oct. 8–10; Deer (Muzzleloader), Oct. 29–31; Deer (Gun - Young Sportsman), Oct. 24–25; Deer (Gun), Nov. 6–8; Deer (Gun), Nov. 28–Dec. 3. Each hunt's limits and rules are above.
How many deer were killed on Prentice Cooper State Forest and WMA last season?
Hunters checked in 220 deer from Prentice Cooper State Forest and WMA in the 2025-26 season: 145 antlered bucks, 17 antlerless males and 58 females, by TWRA's Hunter's Toolbox. The 11-season average is 185.
What county is Prentice Cooper State Forest and WMA in?
Marion County (25,378 acres), Hamilton County (1,806 acres) and Sequatchie County (116 acres), measured on TWRA's boundary.
What permit do you need to hunt Prentice Cooper State Forest and WMA?
TWRA's guide lists these for the area: WMA Small Game permit; WMA Waterfowl/Small Game permit; 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
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 Marion County deer harvest Hamilton County deer harvest Sequatchie County deer harvest