37 S.

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South Cherokee WMA - Ocoee and Tellico Bear Reserves

2026-27 season, part of South Cherokee WMA. Ocoee: bounded on the north by Ocoee Lake and Ocoee River, on the south by the Tennessee/Georgia line, and on the east and west by the National Forest boundary. Tellico: in Monroe County north of the Tellico-Robbinsville Road, east of Forest Service Road 35, south of Forest Service Road 26 and west of the ridge from Farr Gap through Little Fodderstack to Big Fodderstack and the North Carolina line. Check the area map for exact boundaries.

Check before you hunt. Confirm these dates in 2026-2027 Tennessee Fishing, Hunting & Trapping Guide. Seasons, closures and area rules can change.

Deer, bear, turkey, and hogs

Closed Oct 3–4, Oct 10–16, Nov 2–6, Nov 30 – Dec 13, Dec 31 – Jan 3.

In the guide: “Bear reserves are closed to all big game hunting when the bear season (dogs permitted) is open on the South Cherokee.”

Deer, dove, ducks and geese, small game, grouse, woodcock, raccoon, furbearers, coyote, and hogs

Closed Aug 1–22, Mar 1 – Jul 31.

In the guide: “Closed to all hunting March 1 through August 22, except turkey season.”

Deer

Sep 19 – Oct 1

Archery.

In the guide: “Deer/Bear (Archery): Sept. 19–Oct. 1. One (1) deer, antlered or antlerless. One (1) bear either sex outside the bear reserve.”

Oct 24–25

Firearms. Only for youth hunters.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun - Young Sportsman): Oct. 24–25. One (1) deer, antlered or antlerless.”

Oct 26 – Nov 1

Muzzleloader, buck only.

In the guide: “Deer (Muzzleloader): Oct. 26–Nov. 1. One (1) deer, antlered only.”

Nov 21–29, Dec 14–28

Firearms, buck only.

In the guide: “Deer (Gun): Nov. 21–29, Dec. 14–28. Two (2) deer, antlered only.”

Bear

Closed this season.

In the guide: “Bear reserves are closed to bear hunting.”

Turkey

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Spring young sportsman: Mar 27–28
  • Spring: Apr 3 – May 16

In the guide: “Turkey: Same as statewide spring turkey season.”

Small game, grouse, woodcock, dove, and ducks and geese

Closed Oct 2–4, Oct 9–16, Nov 1–6, Nov 29 – Dec 13, Dec 30 – Jan 3.

In the guide: “Small game hunting in bear reserves and party hunt area is prohibited one (1) day before and during bear (dogs permitted) hunts.”

Small game, grouse, woodcock, ducks and geese, and dove

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Squirrel: Aug 23 – Oct 1, Oct 5–8, Oct 17–31, Nov 7–28, Dec 14–29, Jan 4 – Feb 28
  • Rabbit: Nov 7–28, Dec 14–29, Jan 4 – Feb 28
  • Quail: Nov 7–28, Dec 14–29, Jan 4–15
  • Grouse: Oct 17–31, Nov 7–28, Dec 14–29, Jan 4 – Feb 28
  • Woodcock: Nov 14–28, Jan 10–31
  • Ducks and teal: Sep 12–16, Nov 28, Dec 14–29, Jan 4–31
  • Geese: Sep 1–20, Oct 17–22, Nov 28, Dec 14–29, Jan 4 – Feb 14
  • Dove: Sep 1–28, Oct 17–31, Dec 14–29, Jan 4–15

In the guide: “Grouse, Rabbit, Woodcock, Squirrel, Waterfowl, Snipe, Dove: Same as statewide, except as noted. Spring squirrel season is closed.”

Raccoon

Jan 4–31

Any legal weapon.

In the guide: “Opossum, Raccoon: Inside Tellico and Ocoee Bear Reserves Jan. 4–31.”

Area rules

Bear hunting is not permitted in the reserves. Inside the reserves, raccoon hunting is Jan. 4–31, two dogs per vehicle, .22 short and long rifles only.

Nearby areas

Fourth Fractional Township around 15 miles away

Charlotte Ann Finnell Neal WMA around 20 miles away

Kyker Bottoms Refuge around 35 miles away

Chickamauga WMA around 35 miles away

Yuchi Refuge around 35 miles away

Most WMAs are open with statewide seasons except as noted in their listing; on those, the season dates, bag limits and legal weapons of the county the WMA is in apply. WMAs marked BG, SG or WF need a Big Game, Small Game or Waterfowl WMA permit on top of the license (Sportsman and Lifetime license holders are exempt). The August archery deer hunt is closed on WMAs open with statewide seasons, except certain Unit 1 WMAs. On WMAs open with statewide seasons, quail season runs Nov. 7 to Jan. 15. Hunters may not enter more than two hours before sunrise and must be out one hour after sunset. Legal hours are 30 minutes before legal sunrise to 30 minutes after legal sunset, except turkey and migratory birds, which end at official sunset. Youths may hunt ducks and geese Feb. 6 and 13, and veterans and active military Feb. 7 and 14. A light goose conservation season runs Feb. 15 to Mar. 31 with a free permit. Unless a listing says otherwise, furbearers may be taken on any scheduled big game or small game hunt that coincides with a statewide furbearer season, with the weapons legal for that hunt (page 81).

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