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National Forest · East Tennessee
Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF
National forest in Unicoi County, Cocke County, Greene County and Washington County, run by the U.S. Forest Service.
Photo: MateoTimateo (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Getting to Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF
Hunting Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF
Southern half of the northern Cherokee National Forest, from the Unaka Mountains and Nolichucky River south through the Bald Mountains (Bald Mountain Ridge Scenic Area, Sampson Mountain Wilderness) to the French Broad and Pigeon rivers. TWRA's bear reserve layer places the Unicoi and Andrew Johnson bear reserves here. District office: 4900 Asheville Hwy (SR 70), Greeneville.
Access and hunt rules: Hunted as part of TWRA's North Cherokee WMA: a Cherokee WMA non-quota big game permit or Sportsman License is needed for big game hunts, deer dates follow statewide seasons with a two-antlered-buck limit, and bear follows Bear Hunt Zone 1 dates. Only pointing-breed dogs are allowed in bear reserves during dog bear hunts.
Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF falls inside North Cherokee National Forest & WMA, whose rules hunters here must also follow.
Hunters come to Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF for deer, turkey, dove, small game, bear, feral hogs and coyote. Deer rules follow Unit 6 because the area is mainly in Unicoi County.
Maps, dates and permit requirements are on the official area page.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF
2026-27 seasons on Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF
What can be hunted here under the current guide, and the county rules that come with it.
Deer
Statewide season dates for 2026-27: Aug 28, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027. The area listing can cut that window down.
Turkey
Statewide season dates for 2026-27: Sep 26, 2026 to May 16, 2027. The area listing can cut that window down.
Dove
Statewide season dates for 2026-27: Sep 1, 2026 to Jul 11, 2027. The area listing can cut that window down.
Small game
Statewide season dates for 2026-27: Aug 22, 2026 to Jun 13, 2027. That includes squirrel, rabbit and other small game the area permits. The area listing can cut that window down.
Bear
Statewide season dates for 2026-27: Sep 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027. Bear seasons follow the zone, though some areas shut bear hunting off. The area listing can cut that window down.
Feral hogs
Feral hogs can be taken only where and when this area’s TWRA listing allows.
Coyote
Statewide season dates for 2026-27: Sep 26, 2026 to Aug 8, 2027. The area listing can cut that window down.
Unit 6 deer limits
Young Sportsman days carry a combined antlerless limit of 2, archery 4, the muzzleloader and straight-wall week 2, and gun 2. None are allowed in the August hunt, and the limit applies across the unit rather than per county. Two antlered deer per season is the statewide cap, with 1 allowed per day.
BHZ1 bear rules
The bear zone for Unicoi County is BHZ1: Carter, Cocke (north of I-40), Greene, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, Washington.
Hunter orange
Wear at least 500 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink above the waist and on the head when hunting big game; archery-only and turkey hunts are exempt.
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.
Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF season check
Unicoi County hunters follow zone BHZ1 bear rules. With a Deer Bait Privilege License, bait is legal on private land in Unicoi 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.
Nearby hunting land and the Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF map
The orange marker is Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF (approximate center from the TWRA hunting map). Each gold marker is another public hunting area inside a 70 mile radius. Nearby towns by straight-line distance: Erwin (12 mi), Greeneville (13 mi), Johnson City (22 mi).
North Cherokee National Forest & WMA
Carter County and Johnson County, about 19 miles from here in a straight line.
Lick Creek Bottoms WMA
Greene County, about 26 miles from here in a straight line. Listed at 1,400 acres.
Martha Sundquist State Forest
Cocke County, about 30 miles from here in a straight line. Listed at 2,001 acres.
Hunting services near Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF
These are in Unicoi County, Cocke County, Greene County and Washington County or an adjoining county.
Distances are straight-line estimates. Hours change by season, so call ahead. Full services directory.
Deer harvest in the counties around Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF
Figures cover entire counties; area-only harvest is not broken out. The ranking puts Unicoi County #92 out of 95 for deer harvest.
| County | Deer 2023-24 | Deer 2024-25 | Deer 2025-26 | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unicoi County | 372 | 420 | 464 | #92 of 95 |
| Cocke County | 773 | 780 | 826 | #81 of 95 |
| Greene County | 1,557 | 1,760 | 2,031 | #24 of 95 |
| Washington County | 1,112 | 1,405 | 1,553 | #44 of 95 |
Total reported deer harvest by county, WMA harvest included, from TWRA Hunter’s Toolbox reports. Seasons run July 1 to June 30.
What hunters ask about Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF
Which species can be hunted on Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF?
You can hunt deer, turkey, dove, small game, bear, feral hogs and coyote, on the dates the area listing gives rather than the statewide calendar.
Where exactly is Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF?
TWRA places Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF in its East region; the ground is in Unicoi County, Cocke County, Greene County and Washington County. For access points and a map, use the area listing.
Which licenses cover Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF?
Hunted as part of TWRA's North Cherokee WMA: a Cherokee WMA non-quota big game permit or Sportsman License is needed for big game hunts, deer dates follow statewide seasons with a two-antlered-buck limit, and bear follows Bear Hunt Zone 1 dates. Only pointing-breed dogs are allowed in bear reserves during dog bear hunts. Any area permit is set by the U.S. Forest Service, which manages it. Bring a valid Tennessee hunting license as well.
How many acres is Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF?
The agency page does not give a figure for its size.
Which antlerless unit applies on Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF?
Unicoi County is in deer Unit 6. 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.
Are hunts on Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF drawn by quota?
The guide shows no quota hunts here at present; confirm in the area listing each season.
What is the deadline to check in big game?
Big game must be checked in the same day, by midnight, through TWRA On The Go, online or at a station, and before leaving the state.
Is Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF in a CWD county?
Unicoi County is not on the CWD-positive list or in the CWD Management Zone for 2026-27.
Where do I take a deer from Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF for processing?
Nearby processors on our list: Snapp Ferry Packing and Hamilton Meats. Call to confirm they are taking deer, as many run seasonally.
Are there other WMAs near Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF?
On the map, the closest are Henderson Swamp PHA (about 13 miles), Nolichucky WMA (about 14 miles) and North Cherokee National Forest & WMA (about 19 miles).
Before you hunt Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF
Read the 2026-27 TWRA guide and the Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF listing before each trip; dates and limits change yearly.