Zone B — Cumberland Plateau, Tennessee

Zone B occupies Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau, a broad sandstone tableland averaging 1,700–2,000 feet elevation. The plateau surface is relatively flat but dissected by dramatic river gorges where the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and the Obed River — along with tributaries Clear Creek and Daddy's Creek — have carved 300–500-foot cliffs and whitewater canyons. Exposed sandstone bluffs and boulder fields mark the gorge rims, while the plateau interior is covered in second-growth upland hardwood: oak-hickory dominant on ridge tops and south-facing slopes, with mixed mesophytic hardwoods and hemlock-rhododendron tangles in moist gorge interiors. These distinct edge transitions between flat plateau croplands, oak ridges, and the gorge corridor create concentrated deer travel routes. Counties include Anderson, Bledsoe, Campbell, Claiborne, Cumberland, Fentress, Grundy, Hancock, Morgan, Pickett, Scott, and Sequatchie.

Moderate overall with sharp pressure gradients tied to road access. Catoosa WMA draws the heaviest crowds during gun season weekends near gated trailheads, but hunting pressure drops steeply beyond 2–3 miles of foot travel where the gorge terrain filters out casual hunters. Big South Fork sees lighter pressure due to its size and archery-only deer restriction, which eliminates most gun-season crowds. Mid-week hunting across Zone B is consistently quiet. The plateau's rugged topography — steep gorge walls, limited vehicle access, and multi-mile hikes to productive habitat — naturally rewards hunters willing to commit physical effort.

Under TWRA 2025-2026 regulations, the statewide antlered buck limit is 2 per season (no more than 1 per day). An antlered deer is defined as having at least one antler measuring 3 inches or longer. The antlerless limit for Zone B (TWRA's eastern plateau management unit, equivalent to DMU 4) is 2 antlerless deer per season — more restrictive than the western Tennessee units that allow 3 per day. No draw permit is required for general deer seasons on WMAs. Big South Fork NRRA applies its own bag limit of 3 deer total with no more than 1 antlered, and the first deer harvested must be antlerless; hunters must self-register at NPS check stations. No antler-point restrictions beyond the 3-inch minimum statewide definition.

Deer seasons 2025-2026: Archery Sept 27–Oct 24 and Oct 27–Nov 7, 2025; Jan 5–18, 2026. Muzzleloader-only Nov 8–21, 2025. General gun season (all legal weapons) Nov 22, 2025–Jan 4, 2026. Spring turkey: general season April 11–May 24, 2026; Young Sportsman hunt April 4–5; bag limit 2 per season (1 per day, only 1 jake). European wild hog (feral boar) is present on Catoosa WMA and across the plateau; hogs may be taken during all deer seasons on the WMA with a valid hunting license — no additional tag required at Catoosa, but Big South Fork NRRA requires a separate NPS wild hog permit (contact Bandy Creek Visitor Center, 423-286-7275). Black bear: Zone B is at the western fringe of Tennessee's bear range; TWRA's bear hunting zones (BHZ 1–5) are concentrated in the eastern mountains and Cherokee National Forest corridor — Zone B counties are generally not open for bear harvest, though bear sightings on the plateau do occur as the population expands westward.

Catoosa WMA is the flagship public hunting destination in Zone B — consistently producing mature bucks in its remote creek drainages, with an 82,000-acre footprint large enough that pressure near trailheads doesn't dictate the entire experience. Combined with Big South Fork NRRA and Obed Wild and Scenic River, Zone B offers a contiguous block exceeding 200,000 acres of public land — a rarity in the eastern United States. The plateau's sandstone gorges create natural funnels and pinch points that concentrate deer movement during the rut, rewarding hunters who scout topographic maps and use foot travel to their advantage. Trophy potential is real for DIY bowhunters willing to invest multiple days. Wild hog hunting as a bonus species is a unique draw for Tennessee public land. Spring turkey hunting on the plateau, particularly in the open hardwood coves above the gorge systems, is excellent. Big South Fork's archery-only rule makes it an underutilized gem during gun season for bowhunters seeking solitude.