Home › Tennessee › Towns › Cookeville
Plateau Tennessee
Hunting Near Cookeville, TN
Public hunting land within driving distance of Cookeville, with the 2026-27 season dates that apply and the processors and shops closest to town.
Photo: Brian Stansberry (CC BY 3.0)
Public hunting land near Cookeville
The closest listed public hunting area to Cookeville is Hampton Crossroads PHA, about 7 miles away. Distances are straight-line miles from the center of Cookeville; road miles run longer.
| Area | Distance | Type | Acres | Species | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hampton Crossroads PHA | 7 mi | Public area | n/a | deer, turkey, small game | White |
| Anderson Pond PHA | 8 mi | Public area | n/a | deer, turkey, small game | White |
| Blackburn Fork WMA | 12 mi | WMA | 600 | deer, turkey, small game | Jackson |
| The Boils WMA | 14 mi | WMA | 119 | deer, turkey, small game | Jackson |
| Long Branch PHA | 18 mi | Public area | n/a | deer, turkey, small game | DeKalb |
| Edgar Evins State Park | 19 mi | WMA | 6,000 | deer, turkey, small game | DeKalb |
| Cordell Hull WMA | 19 mi | WMA | 25,000 | deer, turkey, small game | Jackson, Smith |
| Cordell Hull Waterfowl Refuge | 20 mi | WMA | 600 | deer, turkey, small game | Jackson |
| Standing Stone State Forest & WMA | 21 mi | WMA | 8,309 | deer, turkey, small game, hogs | Overton, Clay |
| Alpine Mountain WMA | 22 mi | WMA | 1,642 | deer, turkey, small game, bear, hogs | Overton |
| Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness WMA | 25 mi | WMA | 17,000 | deer, turkey, small game, bear, hogs | White, Van Buren |
| Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA | 25 mi | State Park | 6,500 | deer, turkey, small game, bear, hogs | White, Van Buren |
| Big Bottom Unit, Bridgestone Firestone WMA | 26 mi | WMA | n/a | deer, turkey, small game, hogs | Van Buren, White |
| Jackson Swamp WMA | 26 mi | WMA | 203 | deer, turkey, dove, small game | Overton |
Gear for hunting near Cookeville
Picks from the deer rifle hunting checklist. Buttons search Amazon for current prices.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Blaze orange vest
Not needed on archery-only hunts, but Tennessee requires 500 sq in of orange or pink when an archery-only deer season overlaps a big game gun season such as bear, and during combined muzzleloader or gun seasons.
Blaze orange hat
The 500 sq in orange or pink requirement covers the head as well as the upper body, so a hat is part of meeting the rule.
Full-body safety harness
Tree stand falls cause many serious hunting injuries; a full-body harness worn from the ground up keeps a slip from becoming a fall.
Binoculars
Glassing the edges helps you spot deer early enough to get ready for a shot.
Closest wildlife areas to Cookeville
The four nearest public areas on the list, with links to each area’s seasons, map and rules.
Hunting seasons near Cookeville for 2026-27
Deer limits around Cookeville
Putnam County is in Unit 3. 3 per day in Young Sportsman, archery, muzzleloader, straight-wall rifle and gun seasons. None in August hunt.
CWD status for Putnam County
Not CWD-positive and outside the management zone. Baiting on private land needs the Deer Bait Privilege License.
Licenses
Residents 16 to 64 can cover every hunt with the $165 Annual Sportsman license, which includes WMA permits. Hunter education is required for anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1969.
Statewide dates from the 2026-27 TWRA guide, checked October 9, 2026.
What you can hunt in Putnam County near Cookeville right now
Every 2026-27 statewide season that applies in Putnam County, with what is open today marked. Tennessee hunting laws covers legal weapons, baiting, trespass and what you cannot hunt.
- Deer: August (archery only, velvet)Aug 28 to Aug 30, 2026
- Deer: ArcherySep 26 to Oct 30, 2026
- Deer: ArcheryNov 2 to Nov 6, 2026
- Deer: Young Sportsman (gun/muzzleloader/archery)Oct 31 to Nov 1, 2026
- Deer: Young Sportsman (gun/muzzleloader/archery)Jan 9 to Jan 10, 2027
- Deer: Muzzleloader/ArcheryNov 7 to Nov 20, 2026
- Deer: Straight-wall cartridge rifle (new)Nov 14 to Nov 20, 2026
- Deer: Gun/Muzzleloader/ArcheryNov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027
- Turkey: Fall archerySep 26 to Oct 30, 2026
- Turkey: Fall archeryNov 2 to Nov 6, 2026
- Turkey: Fall shotgun/archeryOct 17 to Oct 30, 2026
- Turkey: Spring Young SportsmanMar 27 to Mar 28, 2027
- Turkey: Spring general seasonApr 3 to May 16, 2027
- Ducks: Wood duck & teal (September)Sep 12 to Sep 16, 2026
- Ducks: Ducks, coot & mergansers (segment 1)Nov 28 to Nov 29, 2026
- Ducks: Ducks, coot & mergansers (segment 2)Dec 5, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027
- Waterfowl: Youth waterfowl daysFeb 6, 2027
- Waterfowl: Youth waterfowl daysFeb 13, 2027
- Waterfowl: Veterans and active military daysFeb 7, 2027
- Waterfowl: Veterans and active military daysFeb 14, 2027
- Canada goose: SeptemberSep 1 to Sep 20, 2026
- Canada goose: OctoberOct 10 to Oct 22, 2026
- Canada goose: Regular (segment 1)Nov 28 to Nov 29, 2026
- Canada goose: Regular (segment 2)Dec 5, 2026 to Feb 14, 2027
- White-fronted goose: RegularNov 28 to Nov 29, 2026
- White-fronted goose: RegularDec 5, 2026 to Feb 14, 2027
- Brant: All segmentsSep 1, 2026 to Feb 14, 2027
- Light geese: Regular (same splits as Canada goose)Sep 1, 2026 to Feb 14, 2027
- Light geese: Conservation orderFeb 15 to Mar 31, 2027
- Dove: Segment 1Sep 1 to Sep 28, 2026
- Dove: Segment 2Oct 10 to Nov 1, 2026
- Dove: Segment 3Dec 8, 2026 to Jan 15, 2027
- Woodcock: Segment 1Nov 14 to Dec 6, 2026
- Woodcock: Segment 2Jan 10 to Jan 31, 2027
- Snipe: SeasonNov 14, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027
- Rails (virginia, sora): SeasonSep 1 to Nov 9, 2026
- Gallinule and moorhen: SeasonSep 1 to Nov 9, 2026
- Crow: SegmentSep 1 to Sep 7, 2026
- Crow: SegmentSep 11 to Dec 20, 2026
- Crow: SegmentJan 1 to Feb 28, 2027
- Crow: SegmentJun 11 to Jul 11, 2027
- Squirrel: Fall/winterAug 22, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027
- Squirrel: SpringMay 8 to Jun 13, 2027
- Rabbit: SeasonNov 7, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027
- Quail: SeasonNov 7, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027
- Grouse: SeasonOct 10, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027
- Raccoon: Private landsYear-round Year-round
- Raccoon: Taking seasonSep 18, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027
- Opossum: Taking seasonSep 18, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027
- Coyote: DaytimeYear-round Year-round
- Coyote: Night season (with bobcat)Jan 16 to Mar 14, 2027
- Coyote: Night season (with bobcat)Jun 5 to Aug 8, 2027
- Bobcat: Private landsSep 26 to Nov 19, 2026
- Bobcat: SeasonNov 20, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027
- Bear: Archery onlySep 26 to Oct 23, 2026
- Bear: Young Sportsman (still hunt)Oct 31 to Nov 1, 2026
- Bear: Late seasonDec 12 to Dec 13, 2026
- Feral hog: Private land controlYear-round Year-round
From the 2026-27 TWRA guide, checked October 9, 2026. WMAs can set shorter dates; check the area listing.
Legal shooting light in Cookeville this week
Big and small game: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
Calculated for Cookeville in Central time.
Processors, taxidermists and shops near Cookeville
Shooting ranges near Cookeville
The three closest listed ranges, straight-line miles from town.
Pistol, rifle and trap. Open to the public.
Hunting near Cookeville questions
Where is the closest public hunting land to Cookeville?
Hampton Crossroads PHA is about 7 miles from Cookeville in a straight line.
How many public hunting areas are near Cookeville?
14 listed areas are within 30 miles of Cookeville, and 14 within 75 miles.
What county is Cookeville in?
Cookeville is in Putnam County. Putnam County hunting has harvest numbers and county rules.
What deer unit is Cookeville in?
Putnam County is in Unit 3 for 2026-27. Units set the antlerless limits.
When does deer season open near Cookeville?
Archery opens Sep 26, 2026 and gun season runs Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 statewide.
Can I hunt turkey in fall near Cookeville?
Yes. Fall archery and the Oct 17 to 30 shotgun season are open in Putnam County, 1 male turkey for the fall.
Where can I take a deer to be processed near Cookeville?
Nearby listings include Sircy's Deer Processing, Harris Meats and Processing and Mountin Whitetails.
Do I need a WMA permit?
Yes, for hunters 16 to 64 on TWRA wildlife management areas, unless you hold an Annual Sportsman license, which includes it.
Plan a hunt from Cookeville
Nearby towns: Hunting near Sparta, Hunting near Livingston, Hunting near Carthage.