Cherokee Bear Party Dog Hunts

Cherokee Bear Party-Dog Hunts application period:  June 11 – July 23, 2025.

This is a party hunt. In order to be a qualifying party, there must be 50 members in the party before the deadline.   Cherokee Bear Party-Dog hunts can have up to a maximum of 75 permits per party. One party is permitted in each of the following areas: Upper Tellico, Lower Tellico, Upper Bald River, and Lower Bald River.

 Party-Dog Area is closed during scheduled quota party dog hunts.  

General Application. Party and Draw Instructions can be found on the Quota Hunt webpage.  You may apply via GoOutDoorsTennessee, the On The Go APP, at a TWRA Licensed Agent, or at a Regional Office. 

Cherokee Quota Hunt  Specifics

• Applicants must be 6 or older at the time of the hunt to apply.
• Only parties with 50-75 party members by the deadline will be accepted into the drawing.
• Applicants may select up to 16 hunt choices and rank them in order of preference.
• This quota hunt does not utilize priority points.
• Party leaders may choose to add members to their party after the drawing is final, if their party is below 75 total applicants.
• Dogs are allowed on these hunts

Hunt Choices

Weapon Type - the letter that represents the hunting device allowed on the hunt. All bear hunts listed are gun hunts (G), which allows for rifles, muzzleloaders, or archery equipment to be used. Check the Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide for more information. Date - the dates of the specific hunt choice. Quota - the number of permits that can be issued for the specific hunt choice. One party will be drawn for each hunt listed. Bag Limit - the harvest restriction for the duration of the specific hunt choice.