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WMA under KDFWR seasons
A hunter's guide to Cumberland Forest WMA
Wildlife management area in Bell County and 4 more counties, about 54,137 acres, Zone 4.
Hunting gearPhoto: David Wilson (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Cumberland Forest WMA
The 2026-27 chart row for Cumberland Forest WMA
On the 2026-27 charts Cumberland Forest WMA sits in the "open for all species under statewide regulations" list rather than in a table.
From the 2026-27 quick reference charts on the KDFWR Public Land Hunting page; footnotes are KDFWR exceptions as printed. Checked November 10, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Cumberland Forest WMA
Cumberland Forest WMA: acreage, habitat and directions
Close to 54,137 acres of 5 Kentucky counties belong to Cumberland Forest WMA, a Southeast Region listing. For upkeep and posted rules, look to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. owned by the C. F. Ataya LLC, is the landowner of record. The agency layer lists a moderate management level.
From the area record for Cumberland Forest WMA:
- This area was formerly called C.F. Ataya WMA and Corrigan WMA
- Cumberland Forest consists of several tracts in different counties. One of the larger tracts is west of Middlesboro and is crossed by Highway 74.
- The area consists of reclaimed surface-mined and forested land located in several disjointed tracts in Bell, Knox and Leslie Counties. Active surface mine sites, deep mines and other mining-related facilities are off limits to the public. Good to moderate populations of squirrel, rabbits, grouse, deer, turkey and songbirds exist on the area.
- The area is open under statewide regulations for small game, turkey, and deer seasons. This property is located in Elk Hunting Units 2 and 3. The Bell County section of the property located within unit 2 is managed as a Regulated Area. Drawn elk hunters may apply to hunt this property during the Elk Hunting Unit and Regulated Area drawing. Please refer to the elk portion of our website.
- Funding for the easement came from several sources. Kentucky’s General Assembly invested $3.875 million in the project to match more than $12 million from the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, secured by KDFWR. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation also secured a $650,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The property is managed by The Nature Conservancy and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. This WMA is owned by the C. F. Ataya LLC,.
The habitat split leans to forest, at roughly 93 percent.
A boundary overlay places it in Bell, Knox and Leslie, which is not the same as the layer attribute.
Raccoon portrait
Acres: KDFWR Public Lands Search detail page ("Size: 54137 acres"). Description and habitat from the area record; checked November 10, 2026.
Posted and printed rules for Cumberland Forest WMA
Think of Cumberland Forest WMA as statewide rules first, then these area limits.
Area regulations as printed on the KDFWR area page; WMA rules in 301 KAR 3:010 and 301 KAR 2:178. Checked November 10, 2026.
Zones, counties and deer dates at Cumberland Forest WMA
Wildlife hunters look for on Cumberland Forest WMA.
Eastern gray squirrel
All of Cumberland Forest WMA lies in Deer Zone 4, so the Zone 4 limit and gun dates apply.
| County | Zone no. | Deer limit | Zone moved | CWD county | Bear zone | Elk | Small game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell County | Deer Zone 4 | 2 deer, 1 antlerless | No | No | Bear Zone 1 | Yes | Eastern |
| Harlan County | Deer Zone 4 | 2 deer, 1 antlerless | No | No | Bear Zone 1 | Yes | Eastern |
| Knox County | Deer Zone 4 | 2 deer, 1 antlerless | No | No | Bear Zone 2 | Yes | Eastern |
| Leslie County | Deer Zone 4 | 2 deer, 1 antlerless | No | No | Bear Zone 2 | Yes | Eastern |
| Whitley County | Deer Zone 4 | 2 deer, 1 antlerless | No | Yes | Bear Zone 2 | Yes | Eastern |
Deer windows for Zone 4
| Deer window | Area | From | Through | Open? | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Jan 18, 2027 | Guide p. 12 | |
| Crossbow | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 18, 2027 | Guide p. 12 | |
| Youth, senior crossbow | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Jan 18, 2027 | Guide p. 12 | |
| Youth gun | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | Guide p. 12 | |
| Early Muzzleloader | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | Guide p. 12 | |
| Modern gun | Zone 4 | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | Guide p. 12 | |
| Late Muzzleloader | Zone 4 | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | Guide p. 12 | |
| Free youth weekend | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | Guide p. 12 |
The zone calendar is the outer limit; Cumberland Forest WMA may hunt fewer days.
Zones from 301 KAR 2:172 and the KDFWR deer zone layer; dates from the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting &
Cumberland Forest WMA: disease zone, bear and elk
CWD zone notes
The CWD Surveillance Zone takes in Whitley County, which puts Cumberland Forest WMA under its carcass limits.
Bear zone status
For bear, Cumberland Forest WMA counts as Bear Zones 1 and 2 ground; no draw is involved.
| Bear season | Zone | Dates | Today | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase only | Bear Zones 1, 2, 3 | Jun 1–Aug 31 Sep 9–30 | Guide p. 18 | |
| Archery, crossbow | Bear Zone 1 | Oct 24–26 | Guide p. 18 | |
| With dogs | Bear Zone 1 | Oct 19–23 | Guide p. 18 | |
| Firearm | Bear Zone 1 | Dec 12–14 | Guide p. 18 | |
| Archery, crossbow | Bear Zone 2 | Oct 24–28 | Guide p. 18 | |
| With dogs | Bear Zone 2 | Oct 19–23 Oct 29–Nov 6 | Guide p. 18 | |
| Firearm | Bear Zone 2 | Dec 12–16 | Guide p. 18 |
Elk permits
Cumberland Forest WMA is elk zone ground in Elk Hunting Unit 2 and Elk Hunting Unit 3; no permit, no elk. The 2026 draw issued 500 elk permits in all.
| Elk season | Days | Open? | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bull, firearms | Sep 26–30 Oct 3–7 | Guide p. 22 | |
| Cow, firearms | Nov 28–Dec 2 Jan 2–6 | Guide p. 22 | |
| Archery, crossbow | Sep 12–25 Dec 5–11 | Guide p. 22 | |
| Youth quota | Sep 12–Jan 6 | Guide p. 22 |
CWD from the KDFWR CWD Surveillance Zone; bear from 301 KAR 2:300; elk from 301 KAR 2:132; checked November 10, 2026. CWD zone · bear zones · elk zone.
Cumberland Forest WMA pinned beside its neighbours
Kentucky Ridge State Forest lies 4 miles north, the closest alternative. Within reach: 4 wildlife management areas, 1 state forest and 1 hunting access area.
| Area | Kind | Acres | County | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Ridge State Forest | State forest | 11,794 | Bell | 4 miles | north |
| Fortner-Davis WMA | WMA | 1,358 | Bell | 6 miles | northeast |
| Kentucky Ridge Forest WMA | WMA | 3,505 | Bell | 9 miles | north |
| Shillalah Creek WMA | WMA | 2,535 | Bell | 18 miles | east |
| Asher Hunting Access Area | Access area | 13,145 | Bell | 22 miles | northeast |
| Martins Fork WMA and State Natural Area | WMA | 1,599 | Harlan | 22 miles | east |
Point: KDFWR Public Hunting Areas layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Deer and turkey checked near Cumberland Forest WMA
These 2025-26 county harvest counts are context for Cumberland Forest WMA, not area results. The busiest county here was Whitley County: 1,086 deer, rank 53 statewide.
| County | Deer total | Statewide rank | Spring birds | Bears checked | Elk checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell County | 661 | 89th | 164 | 15 | 41 |
| Harlan County | 509 | 104th | 135 | 49 | 12 |
| Knox County | 804 | 78th | 234 | 3 | – |
| Leslie County | 565 | 98th | 153 | 38 | 30 |
| Whitley County | 1,086 | 53rd | 396 | 5 | – |
KDFWR Harvest Results app (Telecheck, license years); spring turkey by calendar spring; checked November 10, 2026.
Fuel, processing and supplies near Cumberland Forest WMA
A straight line from Cumberland Forest WMA to Middlesborough measures about 5 miles, the shortest of any town here. The shortest trip to a KDFWR office is Williamsburg, 20 miles. For the Southeast Region, call (606) 344-0585 or write to FW.SoutheastRegion@ky.gov.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesborough | Bell | 8,899 | 5 miles | east |
| Pineville | Bell | 1,566 | 10 miles | northeast |
| Artemus | Knox | – | 14 miles | north |
| Barbourville | Knox | 3,081 | 17 miles | north |
| Pleasant View | Whitley | – | 18 miles | west |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); KDFWR offices from the KDFWR contact page and the regional biologists map; businesses from services.json listings (call ahead); straight-line miles. Checked November 10, 2026.
Truck bed list for Cumberland Forest WMA hunters
Cumberland Forest WMA gear here follows the game on this page; nothing loads until you tap a button.
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Climbing stand
Plenty of Kentucky deer hunters would not head to the stand without a climbing stand.
Clock times for legal light on Cumberland Forest WMA
Cumberland Forest WMA duck, goose and dove hunters stop at sunset rather than half an hour after it, which is why the bird column closes earlier.
| Day | Note | Sunup | Sundown | Game hours | Duck hours | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Deer archery opens | 7:09 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. | EDT |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Deer crossbow opens | 7:20 a.m. | 7:39 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 8:09 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 7:39 p.m. | EDT |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Bull elk week | 7:25 a.m. | 7:28 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 7:58 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth gun opens | 7:37 a.m. | 7:07 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 7:37 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 7:07 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Early muzzleloader | 7:43 a.m. | 6:58 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 6:58 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Bear Zone 1 archery | 7:50 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 6:49 p.m. | EDT |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Zone 4 gun opener | 7:11 a.m. | 5:28 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:58 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. | EST |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:24 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | EST |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Zone 4 gun closes | 7:27 a.m. | 5:21 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:51 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Bear Zone 1 firearm; late muzzleloader | 7:38 a.m. | 5:20 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:43 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Free youth weekend | 7:46 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | EST |
Hours rules from the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting &
Cumberland Forest WMA: three nearby ranges
Three ranges ring Cumberland Forest WMA; Whitman Branch Shooting Range is closest at 33 miles.
From the KDFWR range layer and permit list, club sites and directory listings, checked November 10, 2026.
Fox squirrel foragingPhoto: grendelkhan (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Eastern gray squirrel eating a peanut on the grassPhoto: Joe Haupt (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Questions people ask before hunting Cumberland Forest WMA
Does the CWD zone include Cumberland Forest WMA?
Yes, via Whitley County.
Are there deer quota hunts on Cumberland Forest WMA?
None are listed for it in the 2026-27 KDFWR deer quota table.
Does the elk zone take in Cumberland Forest WMA?
Yes, in Elk Hunting Unit 2 and Elk Hunting Unit 3; elk hunting is by drawn permit.
Is there a bear quota for Cumberland Forest WMA?
No; Kentucky has no bear quota and bear permits are over the counter.
Is there a town near Cumberland Forest WMA?
Yes, Middlesborough, some 5 miles away.
Who runs Cumberland Forest WMA, and how large is it?
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, about 54,137 acres.
Is there a phone line for Cumberland Forest WMA questions?
(606) 275-3247 reaches the area; KDFWR's Southeast Region desk is (606) 344-0585.
How late can I hunt deer on Cumberland Forest WMA?
Until thirty minutes after sunset, local clock time.
Is Cumberland Forest WMA on a special season schedule?
No special schedule; statewide dates and limits apply.
Zone number for deer at Cumberland Forest WMA?
Cumberland Forest WMA hunts as Zone 4 ground this season.
The night before a hunt on Cumberland Forest WMA
Recheck your quota hunt dates, zone limits and season windows for Cumberland Forest WMA before packing up.
Sources: KDFWR area page · KDFWR page · KDFWR map layer · KDFWR PDF; seasons from the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting &
Other photos on this page: Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0); DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0).