If you are a deer hunter and live in Georgia, then you are truly blessed. The state is one of the best spots for hunting deer in the nation, with more than 130 Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) covering over 1.1 million acres, according to the Georgia DNR. In fact, no matter where you live in Georgia, you are within about an hour’s drive of prime deer-hunting territory. The Georgia DNR estimates the statewide herd at about 1 million whitetail deer. Hunters often name Rum Creek, Berry College, River Bend and Lake Russell among the WMAs known for good bucks. If you are looking for large numbers of deer, but not necessarily the largest, then the Upper Coastal Plain and Piedmont areas are a good choice. If you live in east-central Georgia, then take a trip to Di-Lane WMA in Burke County, which Field & Stream featured as Georgia's pick in its 100 Best Public-Land Hunts series. Field & Stream noted that its deer hunters had posted the state's top overall success rate and the best success rate on mature bucks. Hunt dates and formats there change from year to year, so check the Di-Lane listing in the current regulations, and apply for any quota hunts at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com (the deer quota deadline is Sept. 1). The area is perfect deer country - there is wonderful forage and cover for whitetail, including plenty of grasses. The area is also well treed, with about 70% of it being covered in pines and hardwoods, making it a great place to set up a deer blind. The rest of the area is old agricultural land that has now gone to seed, providing even more forage for the deer. |
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Another location to check out is the Redlands WMA, particularly if you’re looking for an extended hunting season. Unlike many WMAs in the state, which limit firearms hunting to a few short hunts, the 37,500-acre Redlands WMA has about seven weeks of firearms deer hunting in a typical season (check the current listing for exact dates). While the deer population isn’t as high as in some other WMAs, the area usually yields a good crop of 2½-year-old bucks - and you are likely to find even more if you head off the beaten track away from the main roads. The terrain in the area is also pleasant and varied, with undulating hills intermixing with floodplains. Much of the area is covered with planted pine trees, but there are also glorious old stands of hardwoods such as oak. If you are from outside Georgia and thinking of coming hunting here, then there are a few things you need to know. First of all, the limit on kills is 12 per season - and must consist of 10 antlerless deer and 2 antlered deer. In addition, one of the antlered deer needs to have a minimum of four one-inch or longer points on one side. There are a number of counties that prohibit firearms hunting entirely, although bow-hunting is permitted across the state. There are also a few counties that have extra restrictions on killing antlered bucks - for example, Macon and Dooly counties both require antlered bucks to have an outside spread that is a minimum of 15 inches. |
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