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Public hunting area · Middle Tennessee
Cowan Marsh PHA
Public hunting area in Franklin County, run by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
Photo: Brian Stansberry (CC BY 4.0)
Getting to Cowan Marsh PHA
Parking, trailheads and gates near Cowan Marsh PHA
- Parking areaParking · 0.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 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 Cowan Marsh PHA
Marsh with open water ringed by aquatic vegetation and small-tree thickets that draws ducks and waterbirds through winter, in Cowan, Franklin County. Mapped at about 51 acres in TWRA's GIS layer.
Access and hunt rules: No WMA permit required; general WMA regulations apply and seasons are statewide. Open year-round; parking and a gravel boat ramp are on Stewart Road one block north of Hwy 41A in Cowan (35.163889, -86.02399).
The area listing names 4 kinds of game: deer, turkey, waterfowl and small game. Most of it lies in Franklin County, part of deer Unit 3.
Maps, dates and permit requirements are on the official area page.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Cowan Marsh PHA
2026-27 seasons on Cowan Marsh PHA
What can be hunted here under the current guide, and the county rules that come with it.
Deer
The 2026-27 statewide window is Aug 28, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027. The area itself may run a shorter season.
Turkey
The 2026-27 statewide window is Sep 26, 2026 to May 16, 2027. The area itself may run a shorter season.
Waterfowl
The 2026-27 statewide window is Sep 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027. The area itself may run a shorter season.
Small game
The 2026-27 statewide window is Aug 22, 2026 to Jun 13, 2027. That includes squirrel, rabbit and other small game the area permits. The area itself may run a shorter season.
Unit 3 deer limits
Three antlerless a day is the cap across Young Sportsman, archery, muzzleloader, straight-wall rifle and gun hunts, with no antlerless deer in the August hunt. Two antlered deer per season is the statewide cap, with 1 allowed per day.
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.
Cowan Marsh PHA season check
Franklin County has no bear season. Franklin County is open to licensed baiting on private land.
- 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
- Feral hogYear-round
TWRA 2026-27 guide, checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby hunting land and the Cowan Marsh PHA map
The orange marker is Cowan Marsh PHA (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: Winchester (5 mi), Tullahoma (18 mi), Jasper (24 mi).
Head of the Crow State Park Huntable Lands
About 7 miles away (straight line) in Franklin County.
Bear Hollow Mountain WMA
About 10 miles away (straight line) in Franklin County. Listed at 22,000 acres.
Franklin State Forest
About 10 miles away (straight line) in Marion County and Franklin County. Listed at 8,824 acres.
Owl Hollow Mill WMA
About 11 miles away (straight line) in Franklin County. Listed at 3,000 acres.
Tims Ford State Park Huntable Lands
About 13 miles away (straight line) in Franklin County.
Hunting services near Cowan Marsh PHA
These are in Franklin 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 Cowan Marsh PHA
Figures cover entire counties; area-only harvest is not broken out. The ranking puts Franklin County #3 out of 95 for deer harvest.
| County | Deer 2023-24 | Deer 2024-25 | Deer 2025-26 | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 3,269 | 3,604 | 3,222 | #3 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 Cowan Marsh PHA
Which species can be hunted on Cowan Marsh PHA?
You can hunt deer, turkey, waterfowl and small game, on the dates the area listing gives rather than the statewide calendar.
Where exactly is Cowan Marsh PHA?
TWRA places Cowan Marsh PHA in its Middle region; the ground is in Franklin County. For access points and a map, use the area listing.
Which licenses cover Cowan Marsh PHA?
No WMA permit required; general WMA regulations apply and seasons are statewide. Open year-round; parking and a gravel boat ramp are on Stewart Road one block north of Hwy 41A in Cowan (35.163889, -86.02399). Any area permit is set by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), which manages it. Bring a valid Tennessee hunting license as well.
How many acres is Cowan Marsh PHA?
The agency page does not give a figure for its size.
Which antlerless unit applies on Cowan Marsh PHA?
Franklin County is in deer Unit 3. Up to 3 antlerless deer a day may be taken in archery, muzzleloader, straight-wall rifle, gun and Young Sportsman seasons. None may be taken in the August hunt.
Are hunts on Cowan Marsh PHA 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 Cowan Marsh PHA in a CWD county?
Franklin County is not on the CWD-positive list or in the CWD Management Zone for 2026-27.
Where do I take a deer from Cowan Marsh PHA for processing?
Nearby processors on our list: 3-May Deer Processing, Mac's Slaughtering & Processing and W & W Deer Processing. Call to confirm they are taking deer, as many run seasonally.
Are there other WMAs near Cowan Marsh PHA?
On the map, the closest are Head of the Crow State Park Huntable Lands (about 7 miles), Mingo Swamp WMA (about 10 miles) and Bear Hollow Mountain WMA (about 10 miles).
Before you hunt Cowan Marsh PHA
Read the 2026-27 TWRA guide and the Cowan Marsh PHA listing before each trip; dates and limits change yearly.