http://www.tva.gov/

http://state.tn.us/environment/tdg/county/

JF Griffin - Index

JF Griffin - magazine - Index

the northeastern portion of the WMA. These
fields combine sharecrop grain farming, native
grasses and wildlife food and cover plots.
Rabbits can be hunted but quail cannot.
PeA ridGe wMA
dekalb County
1,550 ACres
About 400 acres of this area are in open
lands and are being managed to provide small
game hunting opportunities. Presently the
habitat is better for rabbits than for quail.
JACkson swAMP wMA
overton County
203 ACres
Although this small WMA was acquired to
protect a unique 1-acre swamp, most of the
area provides some good upland. Only rabbits
may be hunted.
YuCHi refuGe
rhea County
2,364 ACres
This area is open only to rabbit hunting.
REGION IV
East Tennessee
Much of east Tennessee is very limited for
quail hunting due to extensive forest habitat.
However, some areas can be very productive
for rabbit hunting. However, densities are
relatively low and for the greatest chance of
success it is recommended that beagles be
used. The greatest success will be had if jump
dogs are used.
CHerokee nATionAl foresT/wMA
625,000 ACres
The Cherokee WMA extends through the
counties along the eastern border of the state,
but is interrupted midway by the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park. Few quail hunting
opportunities are found here. Rabbits are
more common, but are still mainly restricted
to occasional permanent fields throughout
the forest. The Appalachian cottontail may
also be encountered in high elevation mountain
balds and mountain laurel thickets.
norTH CuMBerlAnd wMA
Anderson, scott, Campbell and Morgan
counties
146,000 ACres
This vast complex of land consists of former
coal mine lands, and rabbits are most
often encountered in reclaimed strip mine
pits and benches. The North Cumberland
and Cove Creek WMAs are presently closed
to quail hunting, as areas are being renovated
for a quail restoration effort. These areas have
a forest management staff, and as tracts are
harvested to improve future forest conditions
these areas will also likely attract quail and
rabbits for the first several years. Old mine
benches are good areas for rabbits. An added
bonus to this area is the possibility of seeing
some elk!
TelliCo lAke wMA,
McGHee-CArson uniT
Monroe County
325 ACres
This area is used primarily for dog training.
Quail hunting is prohibited; dog training
only is allowed. Rabbit hunting is targeted
for Young Sportsmen only, but accompanying
adults may hunt also. These youth rabbit
hunts are allowed on each Saturday and
Sunday during the statewide season, but are
closed during scheduled field trials and big
game hunts.
rAnkin wMA
Cocke County
1,225 ACres
Available habitat may vary considerably
dependant upon the water level of Douglas
Lake. Quail habitat is only marginal, but
some years rabbit hunting is very good. The
best rabbit habitat is along the railroad and
the southern edge of the property.
CHuCk swAn wMA
union and Campbell counties
24,444 ACres
About 10% of this forested WMA is huntable
rabbit habitat. This WMA is presently
closed to quail hunting. Some pockets of
good rabbit habitat can be found, but rabbit
dogs must be broken from running deer to
have any kind of enjoyable or successful hunt
in this high deer population area.
forks of THe river wMA
knox County
350 ACres
Most of this area provides good habitat,
but this area is heavily hunted due to its small
size and proximity to Knoxville.
kYker BoTToMs refuGe
Blount County
350 ACres
Quail and rabbit hunting is youth only
(accompanying adults may participate in the
hunt). Hunting is very limited in February.
Check the WMA section for current season
details.
liCk Creek BoTToMs
Greene County
1,400 ACres
Both quail and rabbits may be hunted.
Tennessee vAlleY AuTHoriTY
(TvA) PuBliC lAnds
TVA manages more than 46,000 acres
of public hunting lands around its East
Tennessee Reservoirs. These lands are open
to public hunting consistent with applicable
Tennessee and federal regulations, and no
special permits are required. Individual tracts
of TVA reservoir land vary considerably in
size and habitat conditions. For the most
part these lands are forested, however, some
open land conditions to exist. Information
on available TVA lands can be found at
www.tva.gov.
Persons scouting for public lands to hunt
will need to refer to the Wildlife Management
Areas and Public Hunting sections of this
guide for information on current regulations,
changes in availability of public lands,
required permits and costs, WMA locations,
dog training opportunities, and names and
phone numbers of contacts for further information.
PHA land maps are provided with
the purchase of PHA permits. Topographic
maps for the entire state may be purchased
from www.state.tn.us/environment/tdg/county/.
Although not required by law, wearing
hunter orange while quail and rabbit hunting
is strongly advised for safety, particularly
while deer seasons are open. ✪
2008 Hunting & Trapping Guide 37