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WMA · East Tennessee
Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA
A wildlife management area in Claiborne County and Campbell County. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) manages it.
Photo: Brian Stansberry (CC BY 3.0)
Getting to Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA
Hunting on Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA
Unit of North Cumberland WMA reached from Hwy 90 via Rock Creek Ridge Road, in the Claiborne and Campbell county mountains. Elk on North Cumberland are hunted by quota permit only.
Hunting access: North Cumberland WMA rules apply (WMA permit, statewide seasons with WMA bag limits, closed March 1 to the fourth Friday in August except spring turkey, North Cumberland OHV permit for trails), plus an antler restriction: bucks must have at least 4 points on one antler or a 15-inch outside spread.
This tract is part of North Cumberland WMA, so its rules apply here too.
Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA is open for deer, turkey, small game, bear, feral hogs and coyote under its listing. The main county is Claiborne County, which sits in deer Unit 4.
Before going, open the agency page for this area, which lists dates, permits and the map.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA
What is open on Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA in 2026-27
Species open on this ground, their statewide windows, and the local deer and county 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. Applies to squirrel, rabbit and any other small game this area opens. Area dates can be shorter than statewide dates.
Bear
Statewide 2026-27 dates run Sep 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027. The bear hunting zone sets the rules, and some areas are closed to bear. Area dates can be shorter than statewide dates.
Feral hogs
The TWRA guide entry for this area sets whether and how hogs may be taken.
Coyote
Statewide 2026-27 dates run Sep 26, 2026 to Aug 8, 2027. Area dates can be shorter than statewide dates.
Unit 4 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, BHZ4
Claiborne County falls in BHZ4: 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).
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 Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA
Bear hunting here falls under zone BHZ4 and Transitional. The elk hunt reaches Claiborne County. Claiborne 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
- Bear
- Elk
- Feral hogYear-round
TWRA 2026-27 guide, checked October 28, 2026.
Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA on the map
Orange marks Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA, set at the rough center taken from the TWRA hunting map. Public hunting areas within about 70 miles are marked in gold. Closest towns: LaFollette (17 mi), Tazewell (19 mi), Clinton (33 mi).
Otey Mills Refuge (North Cumberland WMA)
Around 10 miles as the crow flies, over in Claiborne County.
Chuck Swan State Forest & WMA
Around 14 miles as the crow flies, over in Union County and Campbell County. Covers 24,705 acres.
North Cumberland WMA
Around 32 miles as the crow flies, over in Campbell County and Scott County. Covers 205,000 acres.
Businesses that serve Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA hunters
Each one is in Claiborne County and Campbell 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 Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA area
Read these as county numbers, since the area’s own harvest is not reported separately. By reported deer harvest, Claiborne County places #45 among 95 counties.
| County | Deer 2023-24 | Deer 2024-25 | Deer 2025-26 | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claiborne County | 1,340 | 1,415 | 1,502 | #45 of 95 |
| 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.
Questions about Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA
How large is Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA?
The managing agency does not publish an acreage for Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA.
What county is Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA in?
It lies in Claiborne County and Campbell County, which TWRA counts as East Tennessee. See the official listing for maps and entry points.
What animals can you hunt on Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA?
Deer, turkey, 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 Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA?
Unit 4, because the area is mainly in Claiborne 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 permit do I need for Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA?
Anyone 16 through 64 hunting a TWRA wildlife management area needs a WMA permit (or an annual sportsman license) in addition to the hunting licenses. Federal refuges and certain areas set extra permits.
Which public areas are closest to Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA?
Try Otey Mills Refuge (North Cumberland WMA) (about 10 miles), Chuck Swan State Forest & WMA (about 14 miles) and Cove Creek WMA (about 22 miles).
Are there quota hunts on Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA?
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 Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA in the CWD zone?
Not for 2026-27: Claiborne County is outside the CWD Management Zone and not CWD-positive.
Where can I drop off a deer near Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA?
Close options include Down Home Processing Inc, Cunningham Slaughter House and Helms Custom Slaughtering. Many open only during deer season, so call first.
Get ready for Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA
Before you hunt, compare the 2026-27 TWRA guide with the Ed Carter Unit, North Cumberland WMA listing. Both change from season to season.