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June 25, 2025
By Josh Honeycutt
A big mountain buck slips silently through the oaks, casually feeding on fallen acorns. The muscular whitetail wears his impressive rack like a crown. He’s miles from the nearest road and walking trail but his wariness remains acute.
The demanding terrain he calls home keeps away most of the casual weekend warriors, yet this deer has survived previous encounters with hunters and has learned many of their tricks along the way. Perhaps it will be you who finally takes him down, if you have what it takes and are willing to hunt Tennessee’s Cherokee National Forest.
VAST TERRITORY Spanning more than 650,000 acres of mountainous terrain adjoined by national forests in neighboring Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia, Cherokee National Forest boasts many miles of uninterrupted timber. It is divided into two sections, one north and the other south of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Though federally owned, much of Cherokee is managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) as a wildlife management area (WMA).
Some hunters focus on the northern districts while others prefer the southern districts. Either way, you’re embarking on a taxing endeavor that rewards successful deer hunters with an affirmation of their woodsmanship and hunting skills.
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STEP UP TO THE CHALLENGE If you’re looking for a big-woods type of hunt filled with sightings of deer with top-grade antlers, Cherokee National Forest might not be for you. But if you’ve already scratched that trophy-buck itch and now want to find out if you are capable of tracking down a shooter whitetail in a rugged, mountainous landscape like the greats of deer-hunting lore, you should accept the challenge. Be forewarned, the hunting here requires extensive scouting. Oftentimes, you’ll have to hoof it a few miles from the closest parking area to find whitetails. During cold weather, it pays to key on south-facing slopes that offer solar and thermal bedding cover. Locating food sources away from areas with heavier hunting pressure is also wise.
BARKING UP THE RIGHT TREES While hundreds of tree species exist throughout the Cherokee National Forest, deer hunters should focus on mast-crop choices, including black oak, blackjack oak, chestnut oak, chinkapin oak, pignut hickory, post oak, shingle oak, southern red oak, scarlet oak, shagbark hickory, white oak, willow oak and others. Also key on the occasional apple, crabapple, mulberry, pawpaw, pear, persimmon, wild plum and other soft-mast trees. From a browse perspective, top options include dogwood, redbud, red maple, silver maple, sugar maple, trident maple and northern white cedar, not to mention the hundreds of shrubs and vines that deer commonly eat.
BACK TO ITS GLORY DAYS Historically, maturing timber led to degraded habitat and declining wildlife populations in much of Cherokee National Forest. Fortunately, there have been and still are projects underway to manage the habitat and improve the landscape for wildlife. Last year, for example, the U.S. Forest Service proposed its Pond Mountain Project in the Watauga Ranger District, which impacts 8,548 acres. Approved by the National Deer Association and others, projects like this will help bring Cherokee back to its former glory.
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SEASON LIMITS Of course, hunters can still find deer, including some strapping specimens, in Cherokee National Forest. Those who plan to hunt here should use TWRA’s interactive GIS mapping, which makes it easy to discern what is public land and what isn’t.
For the most part, deer hunting season dates are the same as the statewide seasons. On the North Cherokee WMA, consider an archery hunt (the bag limit of four antlerless deer counts toward the statewide bag limit), a muzzleloader hunt (bag limit of one antlerless deer, which counts toward the statewide bag limit) or a rifle hunt (closed to antlerless hunting).
By the way, you might also encounter wild hogs, which may be taken on any big-game hunt with the methods/firearms legal for that hunt according to the TWRA. There’s one exception: Wild hogs may not be taken in bear reserves during bear season.
Regulations are different on the South Cherokee WMA. During archery season, hunters may harvest one deer, antlered or antlerless, which counts toward the statewide bag limit. During muzzleloader season, harvests are restricted to antlered deer, which also count toward the statewide bag limit. The same rule applies to the youth firearm season. And during deer firearm season, two deer (antlered only) maybe be taken. Again, they count toward the statewide bag limit. Wild hogs, for which there are no bag limits, may be taken during any deer hunt.
Shutterstock photo REGS AND SAFETY MEASURES Be sure to review all TWRA statewide and Cherokee WMA hunting rules and regulations when planning your trip. And remember you can’t hunt or discharge a firearm within 150 yards of any building, campsite, developed recreation area or other occupied area.
Finally, much of this land is treacherous terrain that can be unforgiving if caution isn’t exercised. Prioritize safety and responsible hunting to ensure an enjoyable, worry-free outing.
WHILE YOU’RE THERE With more than 30 campgrounds, it isn’t hard to find a place to stay in Cherokee National Forest, if you plan ahead. Many local attractions can be easily incorporated into your itinerary, too. Bald River Falls, for instance, offers a scenic waterfall and incredible views. Additionally, there are close to 700 miles of hiking trails, plus fishing on the Tellico River and other streams. And depending on the season, seven rivers offer great views and whitewater rafting.
Cherokee National Forest Size: 650,000 acres Location: Eastern Tennessee Seasons & Regs: tn.gov/twra This article was featured in the 2024 issue of Public Land Hunter magazine.
