North Chickamauga Creek
Directions and Description
Site Directions: Hixson tract: 1207 Lower Mill Rd. Hixson, Rogers tract: Lower Mill Rd. Hixson, Varner tract: 5423 Cassandra Smith Rd. Hixson, Vandergriff: Mill Rd. Hixson, Thrasher Bottoms: US Hwy 27 & Thrasher Pike, Poe Branch: 8000 Block of Frontage Road, Soddy Daisy, and Lake Carolyn: Echo Lane, Soddy Daisy.
The WMA is open year-round during daylight hours, some areas are closed during hunting seasons. License fees may apply.
TWRA Contact Information: Region 3 Office: 1-931-484-9571, Toll-Free: 1-833-402-4698, E-mail the office, TWRA Area Manager: Brian Letner 1-423-365-9571
Description: North Chickamauga Creek is a 7,093-acre natural area is located in Hamilton and Sequatchie Counties. It is an outstanding deep gorge cut into the sandstone plateau of Walden's Ridge on the Cumberland Plateau. The gorge is approximately ten miles long with steep slopes, sandstone bluffs, and rich coves. A high diversity of plant and animal habitats exists in the gorge. Ten state and/or federally listed plants occur there. Bald eagles and peregrine falcons have also been reported there.
A mixed mesophytic forest combines with oak-hickory, and oak-pine forests to form a rich mosaic throughout much of the gorge. Small pockets of old-growth forest with towering tulip poplar, yellow buckeye, and basswood occur in remote locations where rugged topography has protected the forest from past logging. On the uplands and bluffs, there are oak-hickory and oak-pine forests, upland ponds, and sandstone glades and barrens.
Riverside shoals and stream cobble bars in North Chickamauga Creek provide habitat for several threatened and endangered plants. The creek is a popular kayaking stream during parts of the year. It is also a popular destination for hikers. General woodland birding is excellent year-round.
Regulations & Dates
Hixson, Rogers, Varner, and Vandergriff Units
No motorized vehicles outside the parking areas. Units closed after sunset except to opossum and raccoon hunters. Trespass prohibited by non-hunters on hunt days. Hixson, Rogers, Varner and Vandergriff Units closed to all forms of trespass except hunting and trapping during the late waterfowl seasons.
Alcoholic Beverages - Prohibited.
Big Game, Small Game - Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. All hunting ends on Jan. 31, 2025 except spring squirrel season and spring turkey season.
Hunting only allowed on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, unless an exception is indicated.
Shotguns loaded with No. 4 shot or smaller only (except waterfowl).
Closed to Quail hunting.
Bag limit for Rabbits is three (3) per day.
Hixson, Rogers, Vandergriff, and Varner Units Closed to all forms of trespass except hunting and trapping during the late waterfowl seasons.
Dove - Sept. 1, 2024, and every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday of the statewide dove season. Dove hunting from noon to sunset on Sept. 1, 2024. No dove hunters or dove hunting equipment on dove fields prior to 7 a.m. on the opening day of the first segment of the dove season.
Deer - Hunting with archery equipment only. Archery hunters must comply with blaze orange requirements during the statewide deer gun and muzzleloader seasons.
Turkey - Hunting ends at noon each day. Fall turkey season is archery only.
Waterfowl - Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and the first and last day of the statewide season and the youth waterfowl season. Shotguns loaded with No. 2 shot or smaller. Waterfowl hunting ends at noon each day, including the youth waterfowl season. Hunting from temporary blinds only. No blinds, blind materials, boats, or decoys may be left overnight.
Deer (Archery - Wheelchair-bound Hunter Only) Varner Unit Wheelchair Accessible Blind Site Only) - Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Hunting is only allowed on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. To reserve blind call the Region 3 office.
Turkey (Wheelchair-bound Hunter Only - Varner Unit Wheelchair Accessible Blind Site Only) - Same as statewide season, except as noted. Hunting is only allowed on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Turkey hunting ends at noon each day. Shotguns loaded with No. 4 shot or smaller only. To reserve blind call the Region 3 office.
Waterfowl (Wheelchair-bound Hunter Only - Varner Unit Wheelchair Accessible Blind Site Only) - Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Hunting is only allowed on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Hunting ends at noon each day. Waterfowl hunting is restricted to the use of shotguns loaded with No. 2 shot or smaller. To reserve blind call the Region 3 office.
Trapping - Friday before Thanksgiving 2024 - Jan. 31, 2025. Traps must be checked each day.
Dog Training (all breeds) - Sept. 1, 2024 - Jan. 31, 2025. Hixson, Rogers, Varner, and Vandergriff Units closed to dog training from the first opening day of the late duck season until the end of duck season.
Patton Unit
Special Use - Hooved Animal Riding, Bicycling, and Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use permitted only by individuals possessing a valid hunting and fishing license and WMA permit or a High Impact Conservation Permit.
Big Game Small Game and Trapping - same as statewide seasons, except as noted.
Quail - Nov. 2, 2024 - Jan. 15, 2025.
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