The TWRA has entered into a lease agreement with Molpus Timberlands Management, LLC to lease 43,000 acres, which is being utilized as the Tackett Creek unit of the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area.
Located in both northeastern Campbell and northwestern Claiborne counties, the property, which has been historically used as a Public Hunting Area, is now in a five-year lease by the TWRA giving them control of the area’s hunting and recreational rights. The Tackett Creek Unit is near the Sundquist, New River, and Royal Blue Units of the NCWMA and is an important expansion of the management area.
Having been heavily surface-mined in the past and with active surface mining and reclamation efforts ongoing, the property consists of excellent habitat for grouse, turkey, deer, and elk. All users should also be aware that safety hazards associated with mining exist on this area.
The Tackett Creek Unit will fall under the North Cumberland WMA regulations, which can be found on pages 66-67 of the 2014-2015 Hunting and Trapping Guide or a thttp://www.tn.gov/twra/pdfs/wmaseasons.pdf. Hunting is open the same as statewide seasons except as noted in the hunting guide and hunters will be required to possess appropriate WMA permits. The property is also open to ORV riding with the appropriate North Cumberland Special Use Permit.
The property is accessible from Hwy. 90 East, between Lafollette and Jellico on the west side, or on the east side from Cumberland Gap and Middlesboro, KY on Hwy. 74 west. For GPS usage, Clairfield is closely located to the property and may help with navigation.