Bear Hollow Mountain WMA

FRANKLIN COUNTY • 22,000 ACRES

Special Use - ATVs may be used only to retrieve harvested deer. Hooved animal riders must stay on the designated trail and park their vehicles in designated parking areas at all times. Hooved animal riding permitted only by individuals possessing avalid hunting and fishing license and WMA permit or a High Impact Habitat Conservation Permit.

Hunter camping allowed only at designated campground (Lakeview). Fires permitted only in designated campgrounds. Access roads will be opened the 4th Saturday in Aug.

During daylight hours, all users outside of an enclosed vehicle or out of camp must wear blaze orange during the deer gun and muzzleloader seasons.

Big Game, Small Game, Trapping, and Dog Training - Same as statewide seasons and bag limits, except as noted. Only one antlerless deer per day.

Quail - Nov. 4, 2023 - Jan. 15, 2024.

Camping - Open during deer and turkey seasons to any hunters who are actively hunting the WMA.

Site Description: Extensive second-growth hardwood forests are found across the 17,000 acre Bear Hollow Mountain WMA.  Some ridgetops have been cleared for the restoration of native warm-season grasses.  Small forested wetlands are scattered, but accessible.

Many gravel roads through Bear Hollow Mountain WMA are gated at various times of the year, but parking is available for hiking at these locations and at trailheads for hiking trails.

Hiking trails with parking lots are available at two locations near the Alabama state line. The northern access has a nice overview of the valley and a 1-mile hiking trail loop. Hikers can head south and connect with the trail that leads to the Walls of Jericho in Alabama.

Trailhead access for the Walls of Jericho State Natural Area, which is an excellent trail worth hiking, is accessible from just across the state line.

Wildlife to Watch: Breeding forest interior Neotropical migratory songbirds are common, including Worm-eating Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, and Wood Thrush.

At dusk, Whip-poor-wills are heard along the roads across the WMA.

In clearcut areas, Black-and-White Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Towhee, are found.

In thick regeneration, you may find Chestnut-sided Warbler and Blue-winged Warbler in migration, with nesting suspected but unconfirmed.

In spring migration, nearly all warblers can be found, including Cerulean Warbler.