There’s no shortage of hunting adventure in the largest state east of the Mississippi River. Whether you’re a seasoned peach-state hunter or just passing through – there’s something for everyone. All you need is a hunting license to access these wild public lands.
Big Hammock WMA
Glennville – Tattnall County
A squirrel hunter’s paradise. All but 1,000 acres of this WMA is dominated by large acorn bearing hardwood forests. Twenty miles of foot access trails wind through swamp allowing hunters to quietly slip through the area that is very navigable even for beginners. There’s plenty of room for more adventurous hunters to journey “uncharted territory” where you may not even see another hunter, too. Don’t knock squirrel until you try it! There are some great squirrel recipes out there and the season runs from August 15th til the end of February.
Coopers Creek WMA
Suches – Union County
Chase some game in the foothills of the Appalachian Trail at Cooper’s Creek WMA. Part of the Chattahoochee National Forest, you’ll have 30,000 acres of beautiful mountain scenery to hunt on. Muzzleloader season is a fan-favorite offering great chances to harvest deer, bear, or hog. For a complete primitive experience, there’s plenty of opportunity for camping alongside mountain streams stocked with trout. Not in the mood for camping? No problem. You’re only a short drive from nearby Blairsville.
Crockford Pigeon Mountain WMA
Lafayette – Walker County
Put this place on your hunting destination bucket list. Crockford Pigeon Mountain is your one stop shop for a herd of quality hunting opportunities. Turkey and deer are on the menu for hunting success. You may come to the area to hunt, but you’ll fall in love with its beautiful natural features. Gorgeous overlooks, refreshing waterfalls, miles of trails await your arrival. There’s something here for all of the approximately 200,000 people a year who visit this natural wonder in the WMA system. Don’t worry hunters, the area is closed to all non-hunting activities while hunting is going on for safety.
Elmodel WMA
Newton – Baker County
Looking to shoot a few doves this season? C’mon down to southwest Georgia. Elmodel WMA has the Division’s only irrigated dove field complete with seventy-four acres of corn, sunflower and peanuts. There’s also another 100 plus acres of non-irrigated fields planted with sunflower and brown top millet you can drop a limit of birds on. Believe it or not, there is some good dove hunting after opening weekend. Late season hunts here have not only cooler weather, but good harvests!
Penholoway Swamp WMA
Jesup – Wayne County
Don’t let the name confuse you. There’s more than just swamp at Penholoway. From easily accessible upland pine and wildlife openings to a 6,000 acre boat only accessible island full of bottomland hardwoods. Whatever you flavor, there’s something for every hunter to try and nab the rabbit, turkey, or deer they’re after. Spend a day in the woods hunting the dramatic bluff line that divides upland and bottomland habitat. The property features so much early successional habitat (weed patches necessary for critters) that it’ll feel gamey just driving through it.
Sprewell Bluff-East WMA and Sprewell Bluff-West WMA
Thomaston – Upson County
Sprewell Bluff is the best option for anyone looking to take home some deer meat. Split by the Flint River, each side of the property has something to offer. The East side of the area offers archery deer hunting while the wild West side offers firearms opportunities.
Have questions? Here’s some hunter resources to help answer them. Want to find more areas? We have over a million acres of public land and we are certain that there is a WMA for you! Check out our interactive map to find what is special about all 100+ of our WMAs.
