quota hunt leftovers

[Carlos Viagra]

there are still a bunch of tags available for those that want to look. I went through the internet on my computer and here is what I see. I looked at the list and didn't see any I wanted, so i didn't look until I saw this thread.

Catoosa- Bicolor (Antler Restrictions)	Gun	11/20/2025 - 11/22/2025	1 ANTLERED DEER
Catoosa- Genesis (Antler Restrictions)	Muzzleloader	10/23/2025 - 10/25/2025	1 ANTLERED DEER
Catoosa- Genesis (Antler Restrictions)	Gun	11/20/2025 - 11/22/2025	1 ANTLERED DEER
Cheatham (Antler Restrictions)	Muzzleloader	11/7/2025 - 11/9/2025	2 DEER, 1 ANTLERED, 1 ANTLERLESS
Cheatham (Antler Restrictions)	Gun	11/22/2025 - 11/29/2025	2 DEER, 1 ANTLERED, 1 ANTLERLESS
Chuck Swan State Forest	Archery	10/3/2025 - 10/4/2025	1 ANTLERED DEER
Laurel Hill (Antler Restrictions)	Muzzleloader	10/16/2025 - 10/19/2025	1 ANTLERED DEER

I wonder why there's so many leftover permits left this year?
I've never seen so many- especially for LH and Catoosa.

At Catoosa there was only one hunt that didn't have leftover permits.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

I wonder why there's so many leftover permits left this year?
I've never seen so many- especially for LH and Catoosa.

At Catoosa there was only one hunt that didn't have leftover permits.

These things seem to go in cycles, as people chase the latest greatest WMA's. I remember when I would draw 2 Oak Ridge buck tags and buy a leftover, every year. OR now takes points for a buck tag. Williamsport used to be a given for 2 good tags, now you'll get 1 good tag and a mid-December tag, at best. Catoosa could also be hunters aging out. It's always been a big communal hunt with large camps. These camps appear to be less important for younger hunters.

 

[Realtree56]

I grabbed an oak ridge December doe hunt, went back in and tried to get another but it said I had reached the maximum amount of attempts… oh well

 

[Carlos Viagra]

These things seem to go in cycles, as people chase the latest greatest WMA's. I remember when I would draw 2 Oak Ridge buck tags and buy a leftover, every year. OR now takes points for a buck tag. Williamsport used to be a given for 2 good tags, now you'll get 1 good tag and a mid-December tag, at best. Catoosa could also be hunters aging out. It's always been a big communal hunt with large camps. These camps appear to be less important for younger hunters.

I know quite a few guys I always camped and hunted with there since the early 2000's have quit going for one reason or another.

 

[killingtime 41]

Hopefully there will less people at the catoosa camp ground. It's been as full as a tick on the gun hunts. God willing I'll be there. And hope to god for cold weather and no pouring rain.

 

[Billboy]

I started hunting Catoosa back in the 80's when I was 10. Hunted there religiously until the early 2000's. Finally gave up when all my favorite spots were clear-cut and hordes of hunters would walk in on us. Great memories there though!

 

[ETN Deer]

I grabbed an oak ridge December doe hunt, went back in and tried to get another but it said I had reached the maximum amount of attempts… oh well

Same for me, good luck on the hunt!

 

[Tnshooter15]

I started hunting Catoosa back in the 80's when I was 10. Hunted there religiously until the early 2000's. Finally gave up when all my favorite spots were clear-cut and hordes of hunters would walk in on us. Great memories there though!

I killed a truck load of deer during that time. I quit going when I showed up one morning and my tree was gone. I hadn't been to my spot since the previous year. If I remember right I killed 19 out of that tree and never saw another hunter

 

[DeerCamp]

Also picked up Laurel Hill for me and the wife. Never been there but it's not a super far drive.

 

[30-06 type of guy]

Go look at the numbers in past years for the LH muzzy hunt. I'd bet that's why. Honestly 90% of the ppl can't kill a legal buck during the November hunts.

 

[Bone Collector]

I wonder why there's so many leftover permits left this year?
I've never seen so many- especially for LH and Catoosa.

At Catoosa there was only one hunt that didn't have leftover permits.

i feel like there are always left overs for those hunts. I feel like it was more this year, but they are always on the list. Prentice Cooper is another with leftovers.
I think the main issue is folks caught onto the fact that every year there are left overs, so they are stacking points for a harder to draw hunt and hoping to slip in and get a leftover.

 

[deerfever]

I picked up a November Catoosa hunt, I wish they would cut the draw numbers in half for those hunts. As you have read people say over and over, woods cut out all over the place and people everywhere. I really believe it could be a quality draw if they just cut some of the people on each hunt. You could always just add another muzzleloader or gun hunt if you wanted to allow the same number of people the opportunity to hunt the area.

 

[Bone Collector]

I picked up a November Catoosa hunt, I wish they would cut the draw numbers in half for those hunts. As you have read people say over and over, woods cut out all over the place and people everywhere. I really believe it could be a quality draw if they just cut some of the people on each hunt. You could always just add another muzzleloader or gun hunt if you wanted to allow the same number of people the opportunity to hunt the area.

that would make sense. literally leftovers for at least 1 or 2 of the hunts every year. If you reduced the #'s people would try to draw it if they wanted it, as they will figure out real quick there won't be any leftovers that they can snag after the draw.

 

[DMD]

I picked one up for Catoosa.

 

[Carlos Viagra]

i feel like there are always left overs for those hunts. I feel like it was more this year, but they are always on the list. Prentice Cooper is another with leftovers.
I think the main issue is folks caught onto the fact that every year there are left overs, so they are stacking points for a harder to draw hunt and hoping to slip in and get a leftover.

You're right- there are usually a few leftover hunts at Catoosa and sometimes LH too.

Never like this year though.
Catoosa had 306 tags leftover for the Oct 22-26 hunt.

There were also 458 tags leftover for the Nov 20-22 hunt.

That's 764 tags leftover from 2 drawings of 4000 people all together. Way more than ever before.

That's over 19% for the 2 hunts combined.
Broken down it's 15% for the MZ hunt and 23% for the rifle hunt.

 

[DMD]

You're right- there are usually a few leftover hunts at Catoosa and sometimes LH too.

Never like this year though.
Catoosa had 306 tags leftover for the Oct 22-26 hunt.

There were also 458 tags leftover for the Nov 20-22 hunt.

That's 764 tags leftover from 2 drawings of 4000 people all together. Way more than ever before.

I used to hunt Catoosa every year till about 7 or 8 years ago. It just got to the place I felt my chances of seeing a mature buck were far better on my personal lease, than at Catoosa. When they instituted the "4 on one side" rule, my buddies and I had great expectations for what it would do for Catoosa. Boy, it sure seems like we were wrong. I know there are good bucks on Catoosa, but it felt like every season, we were seeing less and less of them - both personally and among reports from other people. Over the years, I've lost a bunch of my leased land, so last year, I put in for the late October Muzzleloader hunt. I drew this year for it and a November rifle hunt and bought a leftover tag for another November hunt. I'm going to try and spend some time up there and scout and figure some places out. I used to hunt the Genesis side, but I've been trying to spend some time on the Oakdale side, as it's much closer to home. I just dipped my toes in last year. Hoping to get in at least ankle deep this year - but, I've got a lot of stuff going on right, so I don't know how much time I'll get to spend. I'll be 60 this year, I'm in very good physical condition - I'd like to spend some time getting to hard to reach places over the next several years. I've never killed a big, mature buck on Catoosa - I'd like to kill one.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

You're right- there are usually a few leftover hunts at Catoosa and sometimes LH too.

Never like this year though.
Catoosa had 306 tags leftover for the Oct 22-26 hunt.

There were also 458 tags leftover for the Nov 20-22 hunt.

That's 764 tags leftover from 2 drawings of 4000 people all together. Way more than ever before.

That's over 19% for the 2 hunts combined.
Broken down it's 15% for the MZ hunt and 23% for the rifle hunt.

You had me wondering what last year had. Catoosa had 278 tags leftover. That's a huge jump from last year. 500 people didn't all of a sudden decide not to camp, so my theory is shot to hell.

 

[Bone Collector]

You had me wondering what last year had. Catoosa had 278 tags leftover. That's a huge jump from last year. 500 people didn't all of a sudden decide not to camp, so my theory is shot to hell.


View attachment 289067

I knew I had seen Catoosa on the list last year, but wasn't sure of the #'s. that is a big jump. My guess is the same as yours. Probably over hunted.

Maybe what @deerfever mentioned should be done and they should cut down on the total # of permits.

 

[Carlos Viagra]

I used to hunt Catoosa every year till about 7 or 8 years ago. It just got to the place I felt my chances of seeing a mature buck were far better on my personal lease, than at Catoosa. When they instituted the "4 on one side" rule, my buddies and I had great expectations for what it would do for Catoosa. Boy, it sure seems like we were wrong. I know there are good bucks on Catoosa, but it felt like every season, we were seeing less and less of them - both personally and among reports from other people. Over the years, I've lost a bunch of my leased land, so last year, I put in for the late October Muzzleloader hunt. I drew this year for it and a November rifle hunt and bought a leftover tag for another November hunt. I'm going to try and spend some time up there and scout and figure some places out. I used to hunt the Genesis side, but I've been trying to spend some time on the Oakdale side, as it's much closer to home. I just dipped my toes in last year. Hoping to get in at least ankle deep this year - but, I've got a lot of stuff going on right, so I don't know how much time I'll get to spend. I'll be 60 this year, I'm in very good physical condition - I'd like to spend some time getting to hard to reach places over the next several years. I've never killed a big, mature buck on Catoosa - I'd like to kill one.

It's tough- trust me, I've spent a week scouting before; then when everyone rolls in the patterns are turned upside down.

 

[Antler Daddy]

The system is messed up!

Yesterday, I could not buy another tag for my daughter and I who drew two tags. Today, I just picked up a Catoosa ML hunt for both of us. BUT, I cant buy another tag for my son for same hunt. Ridiculous.

 

[jeff37214]

Thanks for the heads up! I just snagged a Cheatham MZ hunt.

 

[EastTNHunter]

The system is messed up!

Yesterday, I could not buy another tag for my daughter and I who drew two tags. Today, I just picked up a Catoosa ML hunt for both of us. BUT, I cant buy another tag for my son for same hunt. Ridiculous.

I'd call

 

[Antler Daddy]

Go look at the numbers in past years for the LH muzzy hunt. I'd bet that's why. Honestly 90% of the ppl can't kill a legal buck during the November hunts.

I'd call

I called.

According to permit guy, the limit is one leftover permit per person. He said you must click on the TN guide to rules to read it. It is rule 16600108.

You would think someone would simply place one sentence stating the rule where they list the permits to save everyone a lot of frustration. You know....be proactive and helpful to your customers.

 

[Antler Daddy]

Got to be an internet sleuth to understand all the simple rules
. Frustrating.