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Public hunting area · Plateau Tennessee
Battle Creek PHA
Public hunting area in Marion County. Managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
Photo: AppalachianCentrist (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Getting to Battle Creek PHA
Parking, trailheads and gates near Battle Creek PHA
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 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.
What to know about Battle Creek PHA
Small Public Hunting Area in Marion County, mapped at about 79 acres in TWRA's GIS layer.
How hunting works here: No WMA permit required; general WMA regulations apply and seasons are statewide.
Battle Creek PHA is open for deer, turkey and small game under its listing. The main county is Marion County, which sits in deer Unit 5.
The managing agency’s page for Battle Creek PHA carries the map, dates and permit details.
Battle Creek PHA seasons and rules for 2026-27
Listed species and the 2026-27 statewide seasons, followed by county-level rules.
Deer
Statewide 2026-27 dates run Aug 28, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027. Area dates can be shorter than statewide dates.
Turkey
Statewide 2026-27 dates run Sep 26, 2026 to May 16, 2027. Area dates can be shorter than statewide dates.
Small game
Statewide 2026-27 dates run Aug 22, 2026 to Jun 13, 2027. Covers squirrel, rabbit and other small game where the area allows them. Area dates can be shorter than statewide dates.
Deer limits in Unit 5
Expect per-season antlerless caps rather than a daily one: archery 4, muzzleloader with straight-wall 2, gun 2, Young Sportsman 2 for all four days. The August hunt is closed to antlerless, and the limit covers the whole unit, not each county. Bucks: 1 per day and 2 per season under statewide rules.
Blaze orange rule
Outside archery-only and turkey hunts, big game hunters need 500 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink on the head and upper body.
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.
In season at Battle Creek PHA today
Marion County is in bear hunting zone Transitional. Private land baiting is allowed in Marion County with the bait license.
- 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.
Battle Creek PHA map and neighboring areas
Look for the orange marker for Battle Creek PHA, an approximate center drawn from the TWRA hunting map. Gold points show the other public land within about 70 miles. For supplies, the nearest towns are Jasper (5 mi), Winchester (24 mi), Chattanooga (26 mi).
Franklin State Forest
Around 9 miles as the crow flies, over in Marion County and Franklin County. About 8,824 acres.
Head of the Crow State Park Huntable Lands
Around 12 miles as the crow flies, over in Franklin County.
Hicks Gap State Natural Area
Around 15 miles as the crow flies, over in Marion County. About 350 acres.
Prentice Cooper State Forest & WMA
Around 16 miles as the crow flies, over in Marion County and Hamilton County. About 26,945 acres.
Bear Hollow Mountain WMA
Around 18 miles as the crow flies, over in Franklin County. About 22,000 acres.
Processors, taxidermists and shops near Battle Creek PHA
Listings from Marion County and the counties that border it.
Distances are straight-line estimates. Hours change by season, so call ahead. Full services directory.
Battle Creek PHA area deer harvest by county
These are whole-county totals, not harvest from this area by itself. Of 95 counties, Marion ranks #37 for reported deer.
| County | Deer 2023-24 | Deer 2024-25 | Deer 2025-26 | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | 1,817 | 2,041 | 1,746 | #37 of 95 |
Total reported deer harvest by county, WMA harvest included, from TWRA Hunter’s Toolbox reports. Seasons run July 1 to June 30.
Hunting Battle Creek PHA: questions
How do I find Battle Creek PHA?
The area is in Plateau Tennessee, in Marion County. Maps and access points are on the official area page.
How big is Battle Creek PHA?
There is no published acreage from the agency.
What game is open on Battle Creek PHA?
Deer, turkey and small game. The area sets its own dates for each, sometimes tighter than the statewide ones.
Is a special permit required on Battle Creek PHA?
No WMA permit required; general WMA regulations apply and seasons are statewide. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) runs Battle Creek PHA, so its page lists any area permit. A valid Tennessee license is required either way.
Is Battle Creek PHA a quota hunt area?
Not in the current guide. Quota hunts can be added, so look at the listing every year.
What deer unit covers Battle Creek PHA?
Deer limits come from Unit 5, which covers Marion County. 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.
Can I bait or move whole carcasses from Battle Creek PHA?
As of 2026-27, Marion County is not a CWD county and is not in the Management Zone.
What public hunting land is close to Battle Creek PHA?
Nearest on this site: Franklin State Forest (about 9 miles), Head of the Crow State Park Huntable Lands (about 12 miles) and Hicks Gap State Natural Area (about 15 miles).
Is there a deer processor near Battle Creek PHA?
Processors listed nearby include 3-May Deer Processing, Mac's Slaughtering & Processing and W & W Deer Processing. Hours shift with the season, so call before heading in.
How do I check in a deer or turkey?
By midnight on the day it is taken, using the TWRA On The Go app, the website or a check station, and always before it leaves Tennessee.
Plan a hunt on Battle Creek PHA
Seasons, limits and area rules change every year. Check the 2026-27 TWRA guide and the Battle Creek PHA listing before you go.