Home › Tennessee › Counties › Marion County
Plateau Tennessee
Marion County Hunting
Harvest history, public land, deer unit rules for 2026-27 and nearby processors for hunters working Marion County.
Photo: bryce_edwards (CC BY 2.0)
At 37th of 95 counties, Marion County produced 1,746 reported deer in 2025-26 from 502 square miles of land and 14 square miles of water. Divided by land area, that is near 3.5 deer per square mile. The county made up 1.1% of all deer checked in Tennessee that season.
Public hunting land in and near Marion County
Inside the county line you have 4 public areas; another 8 sit within roughly 45 miles. On the map, orange means inside the county.
Prentice Cooper State Forest & WMA
Game on the listing: deer, turkey, small game. Acreage 26,945.
Hicks Gap State Natural Area
Game on the listing: deer, turkey, small game. Acreage 350.
Head of the Crow State Park Huntable Lands
Straight-line distance about 17 miles, in Franklin County.
North Chickamauga Creek WMA
Straight-line distance about 19 miles, in Sequatchie County and Hamilton County. 5,400 acres.
Bear Hollow Mountain WMA
Straight-line distance about 25 miles, in Franklin County. 22,000 acres.
How many deer and turkeys Marion County produces
1,746 deer were checked in 2025-26, which is 14% fewer than the season before. Its average since 2016-17 is 1,674. Counts ranged from 1,420 (2021-22) up to 2,041 (2024-25). Wildlife management area hunters checked 297 of them. Spring turkey hunters checked 352 gobblers in 2026 spring, 38th in the state.
Source: TWRA Hunter’s Toolbox harvest reports, county totals including WMA harvest. Deer seasons run July 1 to June 30. Recent seasons can still be revised slightly by TWRA.
Marion County: what is in season
Marion County hunters follow zone Transitional bear rules. With a Deer Bait Privilege License, bait is legal on private land in Marion County.
- 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.
Seasons and limits in Marion County, 2026-27
Deer limits in Unit 5
Antlerless limits: Young Sportsman 2 for the four days, archery 4, the muzzleloader and straight-wall week 2, gun 2, none in August. Crossing into another county in the same unit does not reset the count. Bucks are limited to 2 a season statewide and 1 a day.
Marion County archery, muzzleloader and gun
Archery opens Sep 26. Muzzleloader runs Nov 7 to Nov 20, 2026. Gun season runs Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027. These are statewide dates for 2026-27.
Marion County: baiting allowed
Deer baiting on private land is legal here with the Deer Bait Privilege License, new for 2026-27. One site per 5 acres, 500 yards apart, scattered only.
Marion County fall turkey rules
Fall turkey runs alongside deer archery, with a shotgun window of Oct 17 to 30, 2026 and a single male turkey limit.
Marion County bear rules
Transitional counties: Anderson (east of I-75, south of Old Lake City Hwy and Dutch Valley Rd), Bradley, Campbell (south of Hwy 63, east of I-75), Claiborne (east of 25E, south of Hwy 63), Grundy, Marion, Hamblen, Hamilton, Grainger, Jefferson (west of Hwy 411), Knox, Loudon, McMinn (west of Hwy 411), Sequatchie, Union.
From the 2026-27 TWRA hunting guide, checked October 28, 2026. Read the guide.
Sunrise, sunset and legal light in Marion County
Start shooting 30 minutes before sunrise and stop 30 minutes after sunset for deer and small game; for turkeys and migratory birds the cutoff is sunset.
Times calculated for the center of Marion County in Central time. Turkey and migratory bird hunting ends at sunset. Shooting hours for every county.
Meat processing and mounts near Marion County
Closest to home first: Marion County, then adjacent counties.
Listings come from TWRA, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, state permit lists and business pages. Call before you drive; seasonal hours vary.
Field trials, hunts and contests in Marion County
As of October 2026, 2 upcoming events.
Coming up
| Date | Event | Type | Where | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 20, 2026 | Tri State CHC Bench Show and Nite Hunt | Coon hunt | Haletown, Marion County | Event details |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Tri State CHC Bench Show and Nite Hunt | Coon hunt | Haletown, Marion County | Event details |
Burning rules in Marion County
Today's Marion County status is on the Tennessee burn ban list.
- Permit season: October 15 through May 15 each year (TCA 39-14-306(a)(1)); required for open-air fires within 500 feet of any forest, grassland or woodland.
- Who sets a ban: Under TCA 39-14-306(b), the Commissioner of Agriculture, in consultation with the State Forester and at the request of county mayors, issues county burn bans.
- Warming fires: TWRA wildlife management areas: Rule 1660-01-14-.13(5)(i) says 'No warming, camping or any type fire shall be allowed except at designated camping areas.
Practice ranges near Marion County
Checked October 2026: 2 inside the county line.
Shooting here: archery. Open to the public.
Shooting here: rifle and pistol. Open to the public.
Adjacent to Marion County
Town pages for Marion County: Hunting near Jasper.
Same county, different sport: Marion County fishing spots.
2 of the 4 bordering counties had a bigger 2025-26 deer harvest.
Marion County hunting FAQ
How many deer were killed in Marion County?
1,746 in 2025-26, which ranked 37th in Tennessee.
Is Marion County in Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6?
TWRA places Marion County in Unit 5. Antlerless limits: Young Sportsman 2 for the four days, archery 4, the muzzleloader and straight-wall week 2, gun 2, none in August. Crossing into another county in the same unit does not reset the count.
What is the CWD status of Marion County?
No, the county is clear of the CWD lists for 2026-27.
Can I bait deer in Marion County?
On private land, yes, with the $50 resident Deer Bait Privilege License; WMAs stay off limits.
Can I hunt turkey in the fall in Marion County?
Yes. Archery during the deer bow dates and shotgun Oct 17 to 30, 2026, one male bird.
Is Marion County open to bear hunting?
Yes, under Transitional, with zone-specific dates and dog seasons.
What time does shooting light end in Marion County?
See the table above for this week. The rule is sunrise minus 30 minutes to sunset plus 30 for big and small game.
Where can I get a deer processed in Marion County?
Listed processors in or next to Marion County include Savage Gulf Processing, Don's Meat Shop and Middle Valley Deer Processing.
Is there public hunting land in Marion County?
Marion County has Prentice Cooper State Forest & WMA, Franklin State Forest, Battle Creek PHA and Hicks Gap State Natural Area. Neighboring areas include Head of the Crow State Park Huntable Lands, North Chickamauga Creek WMA and Cowan Marsh PHA.
Marion County hunt planning
Area rules can differ from county rules, so read the listing for the spot you plan to hunt.
Other photos on this page: DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region (Public domain); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); Ligocsicnarf89 (CC BY 4.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); GA-Kayaker (CC BY 2.0).