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Public hunting area · East Tennessee
Big Springs PHA
A public hunting area in Sullivan County. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) manages it.
Photo: Brian Stansberry (CC BY 3.0)
Getting to Big Springs PHA
Parking, trailheads and gates near Big Springs PHA
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 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.
Hunting on Big Springs PHA
Small Public Hunting Area (about 62 acres in TWRA's GIS layer, labeled South Holston Access) in Sullivan County near South Holston Lake.
Hunting access: No WMA permit required; general WMA regulations apply and seasons follow North Cherokee WMA dates.
Species open on Big Springs PHA include deer, turkey, dove, small game, bear, feral hogs and coyote. Sullivan County holds the bulk of the area and falls in deer Unit 6.
Before going, open the agency page for this area, which lists dates, permits and the map.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Big Springs PHA
What is open on Big Springs PHA in 2026-27
Species open on this ground, their statewide windows, and the local deer and county rules.
Deer
Under statewide rules the 2026-27 seasons fall between Aug 28, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027. This area’s own dates may be narrower than that.
Turkey
Under statewide rules the 2026-27 seasons fall between Sep 26, 2026 to May 16, 2027. This area’s own dates may be narrower than that.
Dove
Under statewide rules the 2026-27 seasons fall between Sep 1, 2026 to Jul 11, 2027. This area’s own dates may be narrower than that.
Small game
Under statewide rules the 2026-27 seasons fall between Aug 22, 2026 to Jun 13, 2027. Applies to squirrel, rabbit and any other small game this area opens. This area’s own dates may be narrower than that.
Bear
Under statewide rules the 2026-27 seasons fall between Sep 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027. The bear hunting zone sets the rules, and some areas are closed to bear. This area’s own dates may be narrower than that.
Feral hogs
The TWRA guide entry for this area sets whether and how hogs may be taken.
Coyote
Under statewide rules the 2026-27 seasons fall between Sep 26, 2026 to Aug 8, 2027. This area’s own dates may be narrower than that.
Unit 6 bag limits
Archery hunters may take 4 antlerless deer, the muzzleloader and straight-wall week allows 2, gun season 2, and Young Sportsman 2 across its four days. The August hunt allows none, and changing counties inside the unit does not add more. Statewide, hunters may take 2 antlered deer a season and 1 a day.
Bear hunting, BHZ1
Sullivan County falls in BHZ1: Carter, Cocke (north of I-40), Greene, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, Washington.
Blaze orange
The law calls for 500 square inches of blaze orange or fluorescent pink, worn on the upper body and head, for big game. Turkey and archery-only hunts are the exceptions.
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.
Open seasons for Big Springs PHA
Sullivan County hunters follow zone BHZ1 bear rules. With a Deer Bait Privilege License, bait is legal on private land in Sullivan 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.
Big Springs PHA on the map
Orange marks Big Springs PHA, set at the rough center taken from the TWRA hunting map. Public hunting areas within about 70 miles are marked in gold. Closest towns: Elizabethton (12 mi), Johnson City (16 mi), Mountain City (20 mi).
Watauga Ranger District, Cherokee NF
In Carter County and Johnson County, roughly 10 miles off as the crow flies.
North Cherokee National Forest & WMA
In Carter County and Johnson County, roughly 21 miles off as the crow flies.
Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area
In Carter County, roughly 25 miles off as the crow flies. Covers 693 acres.
Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF
In Unicoi County and Cocke County, roughly 38 miles off as the crow flies.
Businesses that serve Big Springs PHA hunters
Each one is in Sullivan County or a county next to it.
Distances are straight-line estimates. Hours change by season, so call ahead. Full services directory.
How many deer come out of the Big Springs PHA area
Read these as county numbers, since the area’s own harvest is not reported separately. By reported deer harvest, Sullivan County places #7 among 95 counties.
| County | Deer 2023-24 | Deer 2024-25 | Deer 2025-26 | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sullivan County | 2,732 | 2,577 | 2,953 | #7 of 95 |
Total reported deer harvest by county, WMA harvest included, from TWRA Hunter’s Toolbox reports. Seasons run July 1 to June 30.
Questions about Big Springs PHA
How large is Big Springs PHA?
The managing agency does not publish an acreage for Big Springs PHA.
What county is Big Springs PHA in?
It lies in Sullivan County, which TWRA counts as East Tennessee. See the official listing for maps and entry points.
What animals can you hunt on Big Springs PHA?
Deer, turkey, dove, small game, bear, feral hogs and coyote are listed. Follow the area's own dates, which may be narrower than statewide.
How many deer can I take on Big Springs PHA?
Unit 6, because the area is mainly in Sullivan County. Gun season allows 2 antlerless deer, muzzleloader and straight-wall week 2, archery 4 and the four Young Sportsman days 2 combined. No antlerless deer may be taken in the August hunt, and hunting a second county in the unit does not add to the total.
What paperwork do I need for Big Springs PHA?
No WMA permit required; general WMA regulations apply and seasons follow North Cherokee WMA dates. Permits here come from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). A Tennessee hunting license is still needed.
Which public areas are closest to Big Springs PHA?
Try Watauga Ranger District, Cherokee NF (about 10 miles), North Cherokee National Forest & WMA (about 21 miles) and Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area (about 25 miles).
Are there quota hunts on Big Springs PHA?
No quota hunts are listed for this area in the current guide. Check the area listing each year, since that can change.
Where do I check in a deer or turkey?
Deer and turkey are checked in by midnight of the day of harvest, before they leave the state, by app (TWRA On The Go), online or at a check station.
Is Big Springs PHA in the CWD zone?
Not for 2026-27: Sullivan County is outside the CWD Management Zone and not CWD-positive.
Where can I drop off a deer near Big Springs PHA?
Close options include H&H Market, Pierce's Custom Butcher Shop and Gap Creek Custom Meat Processing. Many open only during deer season, so call first.
Get ready for Big Springs PHA
Before you hunt, compare the 2026-27 TWRA guide with the Big Springs PHA listing. Both change from season to season.