WMA Questions

[DitchPickle88]

These may be dumb questions, but I was planning to hunt a local WMA with some guys and I have two questions.

1) This particular WMA states that there is a "Deer (gun)" hunt window from November 15-30. This seems to be contrary to statewide regulations. Am I in my rights to go hunting the morning of November 15th with a rifle?

2) If I were to hunt with a buddy, would this be considered a "party hunt"? I've seen that term thrown around on some TWRA documents.

Please forgive my lack of knowledge, I just want to make sure myself and the guys I'm with are 100% legal.

 

[Iroquois]

The answer is yes to both. Some WMA's are managed differently and will have different dates other than the "Statewide Season". The "Parry Hunt" is designed just as you described. Make sure there is not a " Quota Hunt Tag" required for the WMA as well. Hope this helps

 

[Buzzard Breath]

These may be dumb questions, but I was planning to hunt a local WMA with some guys and I have two questions.

1) This particular WMA states that there is a "Deer (gun)" hunt window from November 15-30. This seems to be contrary to statewide regulations. Am I in my rights to go hunting the morning of November 15th with a rifle?

2) If I were to hunt with a buddy, would this be considered a "party hunt"? I've seen that term thrown around on some TWRA documents.

Please forgive my lack of knowledge, I just want to make sure myself and the guys I'm with are 100% legal.

I'm assuming this is S Cherokee. Its a huge place, mentioning it by name isn't hot-spotting.

1. Yes. You can rifle hunt the morning of Nov 15th.

2. No. S Cherokee has bear party hunts that are organized groups of hunters that all apply for tags together. It's a quota hunt. You would need to join one of these groups to participate.

 

[DitchPickle88]

I'm assuming this is S Cherokee. Its a huge place, mentioning it by name isn't hot-spotting.

1. Yes. You can rifle hunt the morning of Nov 15th.

2. No. S Cherokee has bear party hunts that are organized groups of hunters that all apply for tags together. It's a quota hunt. You would need to join one of these groups to participate.

Very helpful. Yes it is South Cherokee. So if we were to just be targeting hogs and maybe deer, we could hunt in group?

 

[Buzzard Breath]

I'm assuming this is S Cherokee. Its a huge place, mentioning it by name isn't hot-spotting.

1. Yes. You can rifle hunt the morning of Nov 15th.

2. No. S Cherokee has bear party hunts that are organized groups of hunters that all apply for tags together. It's a quota hunt. You would need to join one of these groups to participate.

Another version of party hunting is where a group of hunters collectively fill available tags. As long as you and your buddy aren't filling each other's bag limits and you each use your own tag on your own deer, you're not party hunting.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

Very helpful. Yes it is South Cherokee. So if we were to just be targeting hogs and maybe deer, we could hunt in group?

As long as it's not during a party hunt in a party hunt area, you're good to go. If it's the Nov 15-30 hunt, there's no party hunt going on and you and your buddy can hunt together.

Good luck. Mountain hunting can get addictive.

 

[DitchPickle88]

As long as it's not during a party hunt in a party hunt area, you're good to go. If it's the Nov 15-30 hunt, there's no party hunt going on and you and your buddy can hunt together.

Good luck. Mountain hunting can get addictive.

Thanks for the info.

I went out once last year and have been thinking about getting back out ever since. It's such a cool area and getting a deer or a hog would just be the icing on the cake.

 

[Joe2Kool]

Seems like your questions were answered above. Additionally, be aware that all WMAs have their own rules and regulations. Season dates, bag limits, quota/non-quota, ATV use, weapons, and lots of other stuff that could be different than "statewide seasons and regulations"

Good luck!

 

[DitchPickle88]

Seems like your questions were answered above. Additionally, be aware that all WMAs have their own rules and regulations. Season dates, bag limits, quota/non-quota, ATV use, weapons, and lots of other stuff that could be different than "statewide seasons and regulations"

Good luck!

Thanks for the heads up. I've been fortunate enough to hunt private most my life, but taking a public land deer or hog in some very mountainous terrain is a challenge I really want to take on.

 

[Joe2Kool]

I've taken both on the North C. Both very rewarding. Note pigs are legal with any weapon that there is a season for. So a 22 WMR in the ear of a pig during fall squirrel season is a good combination!

 

[Joe2Kool]

I wanted to check if this was still true before I posted, but take a look the 2025/26 Hunting Regulations Guide.

On pg 62, groundhogs are classified as small game with a year-round season.
On page 48, rimfires are legal for small game.
On pg 116 under North Cumberland WMA, "wild hogs can be taken during any hunt with hunting devices legal for that hunt."
Also on pg 116, the North C is "Except for spring turkey, closed March 1st through the 4th Friday in August."

So, you can hunt groundhogs (or striped skunk, or armadillo) on the North C almost year-round with a 22 WMR, and kill a pig if you see one!

I posted the page numbers so you can see it for yourself.

EDIT: Squirrel season runs from late August thru March as well. And rimfires are legal for squirrels as well.

 

[Dragonskin]

Sorry to jump in here, just had a quick question and this thread seems the best to ask.

Brand new hunter (as of last year) which only hunted TVA public land around Knoxville, TN. How do the WMA's work? North Cumberland for example, do I have to apply for a big game quota to hunt it during Muzzleloader/Rifle seasons? Or does a standard Big Game - Gun license cover it?

 

[Weegee]

Each WMA is different, but most of them don't require any kind of drawn tag. Start here and check the regs for the WMA you want to hunt: https://www.tn.gov/twra/wildlife-management-areas.html
(Edited to post correct hyperlink)

 

[lol]

Very helpful. Yes it is South Cherokee. So if we were to just be targeting hogs and maybe deer, we could hunt in group?

You got a thermal?

 

[DitchPickle88]

You got a thermal?

Unfortunately, no.

 

[Joe2Kool]

Sorry to jump in here, just had a quick question and this thread seems the best to ask.

Brand new hunter (as of last year) which only hunted TVA public land around Knoxville, TN. How do the WMA's work? North Cumberland for example, do I have to apply for a big game quota to hunt it during Muzzleloader/Rifle seasons? Or does a standard Big Game - Gun license cover it?

As mentioned above, every WMA has different regulations. Some are quota only. Some are same as statewide. Some have quota hunts and open hunts. Get the regulations guide.

I frequently hunt the NC. No quota application permitted. And camping is allowed. For deer and turkey, it's very similar to statewide seasons. Similar as in there is no fall season for turkeys. And for deer, the seasons are the same, but different bag limits.

Be prepared for a workout on those mountains!

 

[Hawk103161]

You got a thermal?

I do..Why? lol

 

[Rem7600]

These may be dumb questions, but I was planning to hunt a local WMA with some guys and I have two questions.

1) This particular WMA states that there is a "Deer (gun)" hunt window from November 15-30. This seems to be contrary to statewide regulations. Am I in my rights to go hunting the morning of November 15th with a rifle?

2) If I were to hunt with a buddy, would this be considered a "party hunt"? I've seen that term thrown around on some TWRA documents.

Please forgive my lack of knowledge, I just want to make sure myself and the guys I'm with are 100% legal.

Quota hunts are applied for well before season, might get a rare available tag online now, if any were leftover

 

[Dully]

If you don't have a sportsman license,don't you need a special license to hunt some wma

 

[Joe2Kool]

Forgot to mention ATVs. Some WMAs are a free-for-all. Some don't allow them at all. And some allow them on gravel roads that are suitable for any truck. Again, check the regulations manual for the WMA you're interested in.