Anyone ever hunt the cherokee national forest ?

[Ruger M77]

I'm thinking about trying Tennessee turkey hunting this spring I'm looking at the northern part of the Cherokee NF. Just wondering if anyone has ever hunted there or knows how the hunting is. Any info would be greatly appreciated!
                                                                                                                                 Thanks

[buzzardroost]

There are birds but it is some of the roughest terrain you will hunt and birds aren't just everywhere. Better be physically prepared.


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[turkeyfoot]

just passed by some of it other day near Trade Tn. Its typical Appalachian Mtn terrain laurel Rhod and hardwood ridges it not prime turkey habitat but hlds birds but scattered is right like most National forest property in east could use some good management

[FullChoke]

I used to hunt the northern end when I lived in Bristol, TN. One thing that I would do was to hunt along the Appalachian Trail which runs the length of the forest. It typically runs along ridge tops and can put you within earshot of birds gobbling on either side of the ridge. As others have noted it is a brutal landscape in some areas, but still stunningly beautiful. Get a good area topo map and look for isolated benches and flats.

Good luck.

FC

[Ruger M77]

Thanks for the info I'm used to hunting in the mountains here in Pa and in the DBNF in Kentucky so that won't be a problem. How's the hunting pressure?

[FullChoke]

The hunting pressure was non-existant. I don't recall ever seeing another turkey hunter in the woods the whole time that I hunted it.

Now there WAS the cute, blonde AT hiker that walked up on me one morning and freaked out until I remembered that I still had my camo mask on.   

FC

[Ruger M77]

The hunting pressure was non-existant. I don't recall ever seeing another turkey hunter in the woods the whole time that I hunted it.

Now there WAS the cute, blonde AT hiker that walked up on me one morning and freaked out until I remembered that I still had my camo mask on.   

FC

[turkeyfoot]

yeah them hikers get real squirrely when they walk up on you and your holding a gun most have no clue there is hunting season I remember once 2 middle aged guys walking up on me they were so nervous they walked real fast by me I said hello they didn't stop just talked as walking

[appalachianassassin]

ive killed alooooooooooooooooooooooooooottttttttttt of birds in north and south Cherokee. steep terrain, unpassable in some places. laurel patches that can take hours to crawl through. that being said, it had some good hunting if you know where to look. better beat me though or youre in for some quiet turkey hunts.

[Cove]

I actually put my feet on south Cherokee Sunday, glad I did. Area I'd scouted on the topo's was junk. Only thing using that stuff was a maybe a rabbit or a determined bear. When it's that thick in the dead of winter I can only imagine what April will look like. I think they manage for green briar there. . . or at least it seems that way. 

[Cove]

I plan to spend some time trippin' over the GA, TN, AL and NC state lines this spring since my schedule has opened up after last year quest completion. I like mountain gobblers and look forward to spending more time with them.

[Ruger M77]

Thanks for all the replies! Gonna look at some maps and do some more research and figure out what I wanna do. I'd love to try Tennessee but I'd also like to go back to my old faithfull spot in Kentucky . I'd love to hit both not sure what the wife would think of that ha ha

[Fatbeard]

Yea it holds birds can be spotty but was in there around the Cocke County / Green County and came across 2 big flocks of 50 plus. Killed several birds on it. Hard timber mountain land

[trkehunr93]

Never hunted it but backpacked thru it back in college.  Beautiful country and you can get away from crowds by using the AT.