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East Tennessee
Hunting Near Newport, TN
Public hunting land within driving distance of Newport, with the 2026-27 season dates that apply and the processors and shops closest to town.
Photo: Affiliate (CC BY 2.0)
Newport public land by distance
At about 8 miles, Rankin WMA is the first public area you reach from Newport. Inside 30 miles there are roughly 7,243 public acres across 7 areas. For the most room, Chuck Swan State Forest & WMA has 24,705 acres about 49 miles out. Mileage is measured from the middle of Newport in a straight line.
| Area | Distance | Type | Acres | Species | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rankin WMA | 8 mi | WMA | 1,975 | deer; turkey; waterfowl; small game; hogs | Cocke, Hamblen |
| Henderson Island Refuge | 13 mi | WMA | 525 | deer; turkey; small game; bear | Jefferson |
| Mullins Island PHA | 14 mi | Public area | n/a | deer; turkey; small game | Cocke |
| Martha Sundquist State Forest | 15 mi | State Forest | 2,001 | bear | Cocke |
| Lick Creek Bottoms WMA | 15 mi | WMA | 1,400 | deer; turkey; dove; small game | Greene |
| Nolichucky WMA | 21 mi | WMA | 1,000 | deer; turkey; waterfowl; small game | Greene |
| Buffalo Springs WMA | 26 mi | WMA | 342 | deer; turkey; dove; small game; bear | Grainger |
| Unaka Ranger District, Cherokee NF | 34 mi | National Forest | n/a | deer; turkey; dove; small game; bear | Unicoi, Cocke |
| Forks of the River WMA | 36 mi | WMA | 648 | deer; turkey; dove; small game; bear | Knox |
| Henderson Swamp PHA | 41 mi | WMA | n/a | deer; turkey; dove; small game; bear | Washington |
| Whites Mill Refuge | 41 mi | WMA | 53 | waterfowl | Blount |
| Fort Loudoun WMA | 42 mi | WMA | 492 | waterfowl | Knox |
| Kyles Ford WMA | 43 mi | WMA | 1,000 | deer; turkey; small game; bear | Hancock, Hawkins |
| Chuck Swan State Forest & WMA | 49 mi | WMA | 24,705 | deer; turkey; waterfowl; dove; small game | Union, Campbell |
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Newport
Short drives from Newport
Start with these four, then check each one’s page for dates and rules.
2026-27 seasons for Newport hunters
Newport deer bag
Cocke County falls under Unit 6. Here the antlerless bag is set per segment, 4 in archery and 2 each in the youth hunt, the muzzleloader and straight-wall week, and gun season. Limits are per unit, not per county.
Cocke County CWD rules
CWD rules do not cover this county, so licensed baiting on private land is allowed.
Licenses and hunter ed
Residents 16 to 64 can cover every hunt with the $165 Annual Sportsman license, which includes WMA permits. Hunter education is required for anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1969.
Statewide dates from the 2026-27 TWRA guide, checked October 28, 2026.
Cocke County near Newport season check
For bear, Cocke County counts as zone BHZ1 and BHZ2. Deer baiting on private land in Cocke County needs the bait license.
- 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.
Newport legal light by day
Deer and small game hours run a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset.
Calculated for Newport in Eastern time.
Where to process a deer near Newport
Sorted by county, starting with Cocke.
Shooting ranges near Newport
The three closest listed ranges, straight-line miles from town.
Call ahead about access. Listed for trap.
Open to the public. Listed for rifle and pistol.
Open to the public. Listed for pistol / rifle / shotgun.
Newport: quick answers
When does gun season start near Newport?
Gun season is Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, after archery opens Sep 26, 2026.
Can I take a turkey in the fall near Newport?
Yes. Fall archery and the Oct 17 to 30 shotgun season are open in Cocke County, 1 male turkey for the fall.
What deer processors are close to Newport?
Mantooth's Custom Meat Cutting, Carter Custom Meats and Sellars Meat Cutting are listed nearby.
Do WMAs near Newport need a permit?
For ages 16 to 64, yes. Annual Sportsman holders already have it.
What is the deer harvest near Newport?
TWRA counted 826 deer from Cocke County in 2025-26.
Which public hunting area is nearest Newport?
About 8 miles to Rankin WMA.
How much public land is around Newport?
Within 30 miles: 7. Within 75 miles: 14.
Newport is in what county?
County rules for Cocke County apply. Cocke County hunting has more on the county.
What are the doe limits near Newport?
Unit 6. Doe limits in Tennessee are set by unit.
Before you hunt near Newport
Hunting from a nearby town? Hunting near Morristown, Hunting near Sevierville, Hunting near Gatlinburg.
Other photos on this page: Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); (stephan) (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (CC BY 2.0).