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State Forest · Plateau Tennessee
Franklin State Forest
State forest, 8,824 acres, in Marion County and Franklin County. Management falls to the Tennessee Division of Forestry.
Photo: Brian Stansberry (CC BY 3.0)
Getting to Franklin State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Franklin State Forest
- Parking areaParking · 5.5 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Franklin State Forest overview
Cumberland Plateau forest (about 90% hardwood) in Franklin and Marion counties off Hwy 156 south of Monteagle. TWRA lists it as open with statewide seasons; backcountry camping requires a written permit from the district forester.
Franklin State Forest is listed for deer, turkey and small game. For deer limits, Marion County puts it in Unit 5.
Read the official Franklin State Forest listing for its map, current dates and any permits.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Franklin State Forest
Seasons and limits at Franklin State Forest
The game listed for this area, with 2026-27 statewide dates and the county rules that apply.
Deer
Statewide, 2026-27 hunting for this species spans Aug 28, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027. Area seasons are sometimes shorter than the statewide ones.
Turkey
Statewide, 2026-27 hunting for this species spans Sep 26, 2026 to May 16, 2027. Area seasons are sometimes shorter than the statewide ones.
Small game
Statewide, 2026-27 hunting for this species spans Aug 22, 2026 to Jun 13, 2027. Squirrel, rabbit and similar small game count here when the area allows them. Area seasons are sometimes shorter than the statewide ones.
Deer bag, Unit 5
Antlerless limits: Young Sportsman 2 total over its four days, archery 4, muzzleloader plus straight-wall week 2, gun 2, and none in the August hunt. Moving to another county in the unit does not raise the limit. Antlered limit is 2 per season statewide, 1 per day.
Wearing orange
Fluorescent orange or pink, 500 square inches on the head and upper body, is required for big game except in archery-only and turkey seasons.
Statewide dates and limits from the 2026-27 TWRA hunting guide, checked October 28, 2026. Each WMA has its own dates and rules in the guide; the area listing wins where it differs.
What you can hunt in Franklin State Forest right now
Bear hunting here falls under zone Transitional. Marion County is open to licensed baiting on private land.
- Deer
- Turkey
- Ducks
- Waterfowl
- Canada goose
- White-fronted goose
- Brant
- Light geese
- Dove
- Woodcock
- Snipe
- Rails (virginia, sora)
- Gallinule and moorhen
- Crow
- Squirrel
- Rabbit
- Quail
- Grouse
- RaccoonYear-round
- Opossum
- CoyoteYear-round
- Bobcat
- Bear
- Feral hogYear-round
TWRA 2026-27 guide, checked October 28, 2026.
Map of Franklin State Forest and nearby public land
Franklin State Forest shows as the orange marker, placed at its approximate center from the TWRA hunting map. In gold are the other public areas no more than about 70 miles away. Nearest towns: Jasper (14 mi), Winchester (16 mi), Tullahoma (28 mi).
Head of the Crow State Park Huntable Lands
Roughly 3 straight-line miles from Franklin State Forest, in Franklin County.
Battle Creek PHA
Roughly 9 straight-line miles from Franklin State Forest, in Marion County.
Cowan Marsh PHA
Roughly 10 straight-line miles from Franklin State Forest, in Franklin County.
Bear Hollow Mountain WMA
Roughly 11 straight-line miles from Franklin State Forest, in Franklin County. 22,000 acres.
Mingo Swamp WMA
Roughly 20 straight-line miles from Franklin State Forest, in Franklin County. 460 acres.
Owl Hollow Mill WMA
Roughly 21 straight-line miles from Franklin State Forest, in Franklin County. 3,000 acres.
Where to process, mount and resupply near Franklin State Forest
Drawn from Marion County and Franklin County plus the next counties over.
Distances are straight-line estimates. Hours change by season, so call ahead. Full services directory.
Recent deer harvest near Franklin State Forest
Numbers are for each county as a whole rather than this tract. Marion County ranks #37 of 95 counties for reported deer harvest.
| County | Deer 2023-24 | Deer 2024-25 | Deer 2025-26 | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | 1,817 | 2,041 | 1,746 | #37 of 95 |
| Franklin County | 3,269 | 3,604 | 3,222 | #3 of 95 |
Total reported deer harvest by county, WMA harvest included, from TWRA Hunter’s Toolbox reports. Seasons run July 1 to June 30.
Franklin State Forest questions
Where is Franklin State Forest?
Franklin State Forest is in Marion County and Franklin County, in TWRA's Plateau Tennessee region. The agency page shows the map and where to get in.
Does Franklin State Forest need its own permit?
Look to the Tennessee Division of Forestry for area permit rules, and hunt with a current Tennessee license.
What is huntable at Franklin State Forest?
Listed game: deer, turkey and small game. Expect area dates that can trim the statewide seasons.
Is there a draw for hunting Franklin State Forest?
No quota hunts are on the books for this area this year, but the listing can change.
What is the size of Franklin State Forest?
About 8,824 acres, according to the managing agency.
Do CWD rules apply on Franklin State Forest?
No. For 2026-27, Marion County is neither CWD-positive nor in the Management Zone.
What are the deer limits on Franklin State Forest?
It follows Unit 5, the deer unit for Marion County. The antlerless bag here is set per season: 4 in archery, 2 in muzzleloader and straight-wall week, 2 in gun, 2 total for Young Sportsman, and 0 in the August hunt. Limits do not reset when you hunt another county in the same unit.
Which processors are close to Franklin State Forest?
Try 3-May Deer Processing, Mac's Slaughtering & Processing and W & W Deer Processing. Call ahead, since many work only in season.
Where else can I hunt near Franklin State Forest?
Closest public areas by straight line: Head of the Crow State Park Huntable Lands (about 3 miles), Battle Creek PHA (about 9 miles) and Cowan Marsh PHA (about 10 miles).
How soon do I have to check in my deer?
Use the TWRA On The Go app, the online system or a check station. The deadline is midnight on the harvest day, and it must happen before the animal crosses the state line.
Planning a trip to Franklin State Forest
Area rules and limits are revised each year, so confirm them in the 2026-27 TWRA guide and the area listing.