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State Park · Plateau Tennessee
Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA
White County and Van Buren County: 6,500 acres of state park under the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
Photo: MateoTimateo (CC BY-SA 4.0)
About Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA
About 6,500 of the park's 9,566 acres are huntable, on the Caney Fork gorge country in White and Van Buren counties. The park adjoins Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness WMA and its Big Bottom Unit, which have different rules, and some trails cross between them.
Rules on the ground: Follows Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness WMA seasons, except closed to dog hunting, dog training and quail. No hunting within 100 feet of trails, roads, parking lots and campsites; camping in designated sites by reservation only.
Species open on Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA include deer, turkey, small game, bear and feral hogs. White County holds the bulk of the area and falls in deer Unit 3.
Official Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA page has the area map, hunt dates and any permit rules.
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Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA: 2026-27 dates and rules
Statewide dates for each listed species, plus the limits tied to White County.
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.
Small game
Under statewide rules the 2026-27 seasons fall between Aug 22, 2026 to Jun 13, 2027. Squirrel and rabbit are the usual quarry, along with other small game the area lists. 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. Bear hunting depends on the zone, and some areas do not allow it at all. This area’s own dates may be narrower than that.
Feral hogs
Hog take is limited to what this area’s listing in the TWRA guide spells out.
Deer limits for Unit 3
Archery, muzzleloader, straight-wall rifle, gun and Young Sportsman hunters may each take 3 antlerless deer per day here. The August hunt has no antlerless allowance. The antlered bag is 1 a day and 2 for the season, statewide.
BHZ4 for bear
For bear, White County is part of 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)).
Fluorescent orange
Unless the hunt is archery-only or for turkey, big game hunters must show 500 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink on the torso and head.
Statewide dates and limits from the 2026-27 TWRA hunting guide, checked October 12, 2026. Each WMA has its own dates and rules in the guide; the area listing wins where it differs.
Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA: what is in season
Bear hunting here falls under zone BHZ4. White 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
- Feral hogYear-round
TWRA 2026-27 guide, checked October 12, 2026.
Where Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA is, and what is nearby
The orange pin sits near the middle of Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA, based on the TWRA hunting map. Gold markers are other public hunting areas within about 70 miles. The nearest towns are Spencer (11 mi), Sparta (12 mi), Pikeville (16 mi).
Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness WMA
In White County and Van Buren County, roughly 2 miles off as the crow flies. Size: 17,000 acres.
Big Bottom Unit, Bridgestone Firestone WMA
In Van Buren County and White County, roughly 4 miles off as the crow flies.
Bledsoe State Forest
In Bledsoe County and Cumberland County, roughly 9 miles off as the crow flies. Size: 8,289 acres.
Fall Creek Falls State Natural Area
In Van Buren County and Bledsoe County, roughly 11 miles off as the crow flies. Size: 16,181 acres.
Fall Creek Falls State Park
In Bledsoe County and Van Buren County, roughly 13 miles off as the crow flies. Size: 20,000 acres.
Deer processing and shops around Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA
Sorted by county: White County and Van Buren County first, then its neighbors.
Distances are straight-line estimates. Hours change by season, so call ahead. Full services directory.
County deer numbers for Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA
Each row is a full county total and includes land outside this area. White County sits at #52 of 95 in the state deer harvest ranking.
| County | Deer 2023-24 | Deer 2024-25 | Deer 2025-26 | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White County | 1,264 | 1,578 | 1,427 | #52 of 95 |
| Van Buren County | 1,073 | 1,386 | 1,214 | #66 of 95 |
Total reported deer harvest by county, WMA harvest included, from TWRA Hunter’s Toolbox reports. Seasons run July 1 to June 30.
Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA FAQ
Do I need a permit to hunt Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA?
Follows Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness WMA seasons, except closed to dog hunting, dog training and quail. No hunting within 100 feet of trails, roads, parking lots and campsites; camping in designated sites by reservation only. The managing agency is the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation; its page covers any permit. Carry your Tennessee license too.
Which game does Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA allow?
The area is listed for deer, turkey, small game, bear and feral hogs. Each species follows the dates in the area's own listing, which can be shorter than statewide seasons.
Where is Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA located?
You will find it in White County and Van Buren County, part of the Plateau Tennessee region. Access points are marked on the map at the area page.
Does Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA have quota hunts?
The current guide lists none for this area, though that can change from year to year.
Which deer unit does Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA fall under?
The deer unit is Unit 3, set by White County. 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.
How much land does Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA cover?
Roughly 6,500 acres, per the managing agency's page.
Where can I get a deer processed near Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA?
Processors in the area: Cope Custom Slaughtering, Oakes Processing and H&R Custom Slaughter. Phone before you drive over; plenty are seasonal.
Are there CWD restrictions at Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA?
White County is clear of the CWD-positive list and the Management Zone this season (2026-27).
Do I have to check in game taken here?
Report it by midnight that day through TWRA On The Go, online or at a check station. It has to be checked before the animal leaves Tennessee.
What other public ground is around Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA?
The three nearest are Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness WMA (about 2 miles), Big Bottom Unit, Bridgestone Firestone WMA (about 4 miles) and Bledsoe State Forest (about 9 miles).
Heading to Scott's Gulf Centennial Wilderness State Park PHA
Dates and bag limits shift each season. The 2026-27 TWRA guide and the area listing have the current version.