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WMA · East Tennessee
Cove Creek WMA
In Campbell County, 2,450 acres of public ground managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) as a wildlife management area.
Photo: Brian Stansberry (CC BY 2.5)
Getting to Cove Creek WMA
Parking, trailheads and gates near Cove Creek WMA
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 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.
Cove Creek WMA at a glance
A mostly forested ridge peninsula between Big Creek and Cove Creek, with a gravel road to a Norris Lake boat ramp, in Campbell County. Bear follows the statewide Bear Transition Zone; closed to fall turkey.
The TWRA listing for Cove Creek WMA covers deer, turkey, small game and bear. Its primary county, Campbell, is in deer Unit 4.
For the area map, hunt dates and permit rules, see the official Cove Creek WMA page.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Cove Creek WMA
Hunting seasons for Cove Creek WMA
Each card below covers one listed species or one rule that applies to this county.
Deer
For 2026-27 the statewide seasons cover Aug 28, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027. Expect the area listing to trim some of those days.
Turkey
For 2026-27 the statewide seasons cover Sep 26, 2026 to May 16, 2027. Expect the area listing to trim some of those days.
Small game
For 2026-27 the statewide seasons cover Aug 22, 2026 to Jun 13, 2027. Small game here means squirrel, rabbit and the others the area listing allows. Expect the area listing to trim some of those days.
Bear
For 2026-27 the statewide seasons cover Sep 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027. Zone rules govern bear, and a few areas close to bear hunting entirely. Expect the area listing to trim some of those days.
How many deer in Unit 4
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. No more than 1 antlered deer a day, or 2 a season, anywhere in the state.
Bear zone: BHZ4
BHZ4 covers Campbell County. Zone description: Anderson (west of I-75, north of Old Lake City Hwy and Dutch Valley Rd), Campbell (north of Hwy 63, west of I-75), Claiborne (west of 25E, north of Hwy 63), Cumberland, Fentress, Morgan, Overton (east of Hwy 111), Pickett, Putnam (east of Hwy 111), Scott, Van Buren (east of Hwy 111), White (east of Hwy 111).
Orange or pink rule
Big game hunters wear 500 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink on the upper body and head, except during archery-only and turkey hunts.
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.
Seasons open around Cove Creek WMA
Campbell County hunters follow zone BHZ4 and Transitional bear rules. Elk quota hunts include Campbell County. With a Deer Bait Privilege License, bait is legal on private land in Campbell 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
- Elk
- Feral hogYear-round
TWRA 2026-27 guide, checked October 28, 2026.
Public land around Cove Creek WMA
Cove Creek WMA is the orange point; its position is an approximate center from TWRA mapping. Other public hunting areas within roughly 70 miles appear in gold. Towns closest to the area: LaFollette (8 mi), Clinton (11 mi), Knoxville (21 mi).
Chuck Swan State Forest & WMA
Lies in Union County and Campbell County, around 10 miles away by straight line. 24,705 acres in all.
North Cumberland WMA
Lies in Campbell County and Scott County, around 15 miles away by straight line. 205,000 acres in all.
Oak Ridge WMA
Lies in Anderson County and Roane County, around 22 miles away by straight line. 37,000 acres in all.
Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA
Lies in Claiborne County and Campbell County, around 22 miles away by straight line.
Forks of the River WMA
Lies in Knox County, around 25 miles away by straight line. 648 acres in all.
Local services for a hunt on Cove Creek WMA
Businesses in Campbell County and the neighboring counties.
Distances are straight-line estimates. Hours change by season, so call ahead. Full services directory.
Deer checked in around Cove Creek WMA
County totals, not numbers from this area alone. Statewide, Campbell County is #51 of 95 for deer checked in.
| County | Deer 2023-24 | Deer 2024-25 | Deer 2025-26 | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campbell County | 1,208 | 1,306 | 1,433 | #51 of 95 |
Total reported deer harvest by county, WMA harvest included, from TWRA Hunter’s Toolbox reports. Seasons run July 1 to June 30.
Common questions on Cove Creek WMA
Which part of Tennessee is Cove Creek WMA in?
Campbell County, in the East Tennessee region used by TWRA. The official area page has maps and access points: TWRA listing.
What can I hunt on Cove Creek WMA?
Its listing covers deer, turkey, small game and bear. Dates come from the area listing and may be shorter than statewide.
Which deer unit is Cove Creek WMA in?
Campbell County, and so this area, is in Unit 4. 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.
Does CWD affect hunting on Cove Creek WMA?
No CWD county rules apply in Campbell County for 2026-27; it is outside the zone.
Which licenses cover Cove Creek WMA?
For ages 16 to 64, carry a WMA permit or annual sportsman license along with the right hunting licenses. Some areas, and federal refuges, have permits of their own.
Do any hunts on Cove Creek WMA need a quota permit?
None appear in the current guide for this area. Recheck the listing each season.
What acreage does Cove Creek WMA have?
Its listed size is about 2,450 acres.
What other public land is near Cove Creek WMA?
The closest listed areas are Chuck Swan State Forest & WMA (about 10 miles), North Cumberland WMA (about 15 miles) and Oak Ridge WMA (about 22 miles).
When must I check in a deer or turkey?
Check in big game by midnight on the day of harvest through the TWRA On The Go app, online or at a check station, and before the animal leaves the state.
Who processes deer near Cove Creek WMA?
The nearest listed processors are Coldwater Farms, Helms Custom Slaughtering and Adam's Taxidermy & Processing. Most keep seasonal hours, so check by phone.
Cove Creek WMA trip planning
Confirm the 2026-27 dates and any area rules in the TWRA guide and the Cove Creek WMA listing ahead of your hunt.