Catoosa Wildlife Management Area

Catoosa Wildlife Management area is a large game-management area located in Morgan and Cumberland Counties in Tennessee. It contains 82,000 acres of wild land administered by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Approximately half of the area lies in Morgan County. For management purposes, Catoosa is divided into two sections Genesis (west side) and Bicolor (east side). Daddy's Creek is the dividing line for the two sections. The area is funded by hunters and fishermen thru their licensing fees and is a popular spot for many outdoor activities. Recreational opportunities include: trails for hiking and backpacking including the famous Cumberland Trail, gravel roads and dirt track four-wheel drive roads for motorized travel, and white water rafting. The Catoosa WMA lies within the Emory River Drainage, which is divided by a number of major stream drainages, including the Obed River, Daddy's Creek, Clear Creek, and Otter Creek. The Emory River meets the Obed River in the southeast corner of the area. Terrain elevations range from 1,100 feet to 2,300 feet with deep canyons cut by the streams. Practically all of the area is forested and wildlife populations have been restored. The healthy deer herd regularly produces trophy bucks for hunters, and wild turkey numbers are growing fast. Other game animals include the European wild boar, fox squirrels, gray squirrels, ruffed grouse, raccoons, quail, rabbits and mourning doves. Game fish include smallmouth bass, rock bass, bluegill and muskellunge.

Catoosa WMA is one of a few WMA's in Tennessee that has implemented a quality deer management program of sorts with restrictions on antler size. It is also one of the few WMA's where wild boar can still be found. For more information on the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area go to the following website.