State guide

Public land that may allow hunting in Georgia

151 named public land units in Georgia from PAD-US 4.1: 111 state wildlife & game areas, 8 forests & grasslands, 9 wildlife refuges & WPAs, 12 lake & reservoir project lands, 11 other public land units. The largest are Chattahoochee National Forest, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Oconee National Forest.

151listed areas
2.8Macres (approx.)
111state wildlife & game areas

Deer season 2026–27: archery opens September 2026 (see the WRD 2026–27 guide); firearms Oct. 17, 2026 (Statewide firearms). All Georgia dates by zone (checked Sep 26, 2026)

Georgia deer season dates for 2026 (from the state agency) · Deer score calculator · How to score a buck

Regulations & licenses: Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division

This site does not list seasons, bag limits, license or permit rules. Those change every year and differ by area. Check them with the state agency before you go, and confirm the specific area is open to the hunting you plan.

Check regulations with Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division

Where the listed areas are

State wildlife & game areas (111)Forests & grasslands (8)Wildlife refuges & WPAs (9)Lake & reservoir project land (12)Other public land (11)

One dot per area at its reference point; larger dots are larger areas. Outline: U.S. Census Bureau.

Acres by land type

Approximate acres for the portion of each unit inside Georgia.

Photos from Georgia public lands

All photo credits

National Forest land
Sumter National Forest
45 acres
Photo: Forest Service Photography · public domain · original source

Public-domain photos by U.S. federal agencies, taken in the place named on each card.

All 151 areas, largest first

Land type Manager PAD-US access Minimum size

National Forest land
Chattahoochee National Forest
751,522 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Rabun County, Fannin County + 15 more
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
404,208 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Charlton County, Ware County + 1 more
Restricted access
National Forest land
Oconee National Forest
116,289 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Putnam County, Jasper County + 3 more
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
J. Strom Thurmond Recreation Area
100,450 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Lincoln County, Columbia County + 3 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Cohutta Wildlife Management Area
91,611 acres
State: department of natural resources · Murray County, Fannin County + 1 more
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Sidney Lanier Recreation Area
56,895 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Hall County, Forsyth County + 2 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Cedar Creek Wildlife Management Area
42,297 acres
State: department of natural resources · Putnam County, Jones County + 1 more
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Seminole Recreation Area
38,430 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Decatur County, Seminole County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Allatoona Recreation Area
38,067 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Cherokee County, Bartow County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Dixon Memorial Wildlife Management Area
35,028 acres
State: department of natural resources · Ware County, Brantley County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge
34,950 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Jones County, Jasper County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Redlands Wildlife Management Area
32,705 acres
State: department of natural resources · Greene County, Oglethorpe County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Altamaha Wildlife Management Area
31,719 acres
State: department of natural resources · McIntosh County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Townsend Wildlife Management Area
30,009 acres
State: department of natural resources · Long County, McIntosh County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Coopers Creek Wildlife Management Area
29,338 acres
State: department of natural resources · Union County, Fannin County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Paulding Forest Wildlife Management Area
28,572 acres
State: department of natural resources · Paulding County, Polk County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Ossabaw Island Wildlife Management Area
28,176 acres
State: department of natural resources · Chatham County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Hartwell Recreation Area
27,818 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Hart County, Stephens County + 1 more
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Walter F. George Recreation Area
26,718 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Clay County, Quitman County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Richmond Hill Wildlife Management Area
25,784 acres
State: department of natural resources · Bryan County, McIntosh County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area
25,656 acres
State: department of natural resources · Dawson County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Richard B. Russell Recreation Area
25,313 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Elbert County, Hart County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Johns Mountain Wildlife Management Area
24,757 acres
State: department of natural resources · Gordon County, Walker County + 2 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Chattahoochee Wildlife Management Area
24,474 acres
State: department of natural resources · White County, Union County + 1 more
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
Army Corps of Engineers project land
West Point Recreation Area
23,251 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Troup County, Heard County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Blue Ridge Wildlife Management Area
23,031 acres
State: department of natural resources · Fannin County, Union County + 1 more
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
State wildlife / game area
Sansavilla Wildlife Management Area
22,461 acres
State: department of natural resources · Wayne County, Glynn County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area
20,571 acres
State: department of natural resources · Walker County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Chickasawhatchee Wildlife Management Area
19,704 acres
State: department of natural resources · Dougherty County, Calhoun County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Chestatee Wildlife Management Area
19,702 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lumpkin County, White County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Sapelo Island Wildlife Management Area
18,636 acres
State: department of natural resources · McIntosh County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Swallow Creek Wildlife Management Area
18,427 acres
State: department of natural resources · Towns County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Clarks Hill Wildlife Management Area
17,636 acres
State: department of natural resources · McDuffie County, Wilkes County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Rich Mountain Wildlife Management Area
17,383 acres
State: department of natural resources · Gilmer County, Fannin County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area
17,085 acres
State: department of natural resources · Stephens County, Habersham County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Warwoman Wildlife Management Area
16,601 acres
State: department of natural resources · Rabun County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Ocmulgee Wildlife Management Area & Public Fishing Area
15,953 acres
State: department of natural resources · Bleckley County, Pulaski County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Paulks Pasture Wildlife Management Area
15,589 acres
State: department of natural resources · Glynn County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
15,421 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Effingham County, Chatham County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area
14,951 acres
State: department of natural resources · Screven County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Pine Log Wildlife Management Area
14,456 acres
State: department of natural resources · Bartow County, Cherokee County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Bullard Creek Wildlife Management Area
14,196 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jeff Davis County, Appling County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Oaky Woods Wildlife Management Area
13,532 acres
State: department of natural resources · Houston County, Pulaski County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Berry College Wildlife Management Area
12,787 acres
State: department of natural resources · Floyd County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Rayonier Wildlife Management Area
12,468 acres
State: department of natural resources · Wayne County, Brantley County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Penholoway Swamp Wildlife Management Area
11,258 acres
State: department of natural resources · Wayne County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Rum Creek Wildlife Management Area
10,548 acres
State: department of natural resources · Monroe County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge
10,206 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Chatham County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
King Tract Wildlife Management Area
9,602 acres
State: department of natural resources · Ware County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lake Seminole Wildlife Management Area
9,160 acres
State: department of natural resources · Decatur County, Seminole County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
State wildlife / game area
Ohoopee Dunes Wildlife Management Area
9,081 acres
State: department of natural resources · Emanuel County
Open access
Other state land
Little Tybee-Cabbage Island Tract
8,975 acres
State: department of natural resources · Chatham County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Carters Recreation Area
8,745 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Gilmer County, Murray County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Silver Lake Wildlife Management Area
8,474 acres
State: department of natural resources · Decatur County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area
8,422 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lanier County, Lowndes County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Di-Lane Wildlife Management Area
8,067 acres
State: department of natural resources · Burke County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Beaverdam Wildlife Management Area
7,945 acres
State: department of natural resources · Laurens County, Wilkinson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Yuchi Wildlife Management Area
7,697 acres
State: department of natural resources · Burke County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
7,694 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Bibb County, Twiggs County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Oconee Wildlife Management Area
7,481 acres
State: department of natural resources · Greene County, Hancock County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Coosawattee Wildlife Management Area
7,462 acres
State: department of natural resources · Murray County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Horse Creek Wildlife Management Area
7,462 acres
State: department of natural resources · Telfair County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Big Hammock Wildlife Management Area
7,241 acres
State: department of natural resources · Tattnall County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Big Lazer Creek Wildlife Management Area & Public Fishing Area
7,143 acres
State: department of natural resources · Talbot County, Upson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Alapaha River Wildlife Management Area
6,862 acres
State: department of natural resources · Irwin County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Flat Tub Wildlife Management Area
6,819 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jeff Davis County, Coffee County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Sprewell Bluff Wildlife Management Area
6,687 acres
State: department of natural resources · Meriwether County, Talbot County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Ogeechee Wildlife Management Area
6,651 acres
State: department of natural resources · Warren County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Mayhaw Wildlife Management Area
6,373 acres
State: department of natural resources · Miller County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Canoochee Sandhills Wildlife Management Area
6,333 acres
State: department of natural resources · Bulloch County, Bryan County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center Clybel Wildlife Management Area Marben Public Fishing Area
6,267 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jasper County, Newton County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Griffin Ridge Wildlife Management Area
5,677 acres
State: department of natural resources · Long County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge
5,602 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · McIntosh County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Clayhole Swamp Wildlife Management Area
5,428 acres
State: department of natural resources · Glynn County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Rich Mountain-Cartecay Tract Wildlife Management Area
5,320 acres
State: department of natural resources · Gilmer County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Hannahatchee Creek Wildlife Management Area
5,220 acres
State: department of natural resources · Stewart County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Sheffield Wildlife Management Area
5,097 acres
State: department of natural resources · Paulding County
Open access
National Recreation Area
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
5,011 acres
National Park Service · Cobb County, Fulton County + 2 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Blanton Creek Wildlife Management Area
4,741 acres
State: department of natural resources · Harris County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge
4,629 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · McIntosh County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Lanahassee Creek Wildlife Management Area
4,394 acres
State: department of natural resources · Webster County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Ocmulgee Wildlife Management Area
4,369 acres
State: department of natural resources · Bleckley County, Twiggs County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Coosawattee-Carters Lake Wildlife Management Area
4,030 acres
State: department of natural resources · Gilmer County, Murray County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Altama Plantation Wildlife Management Area
3,992 acres
State: department of natural resources · Glynn County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Joe Kurz Wildlife Management Area
3,722 acres
State: department of natural resources · Meriwether County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
River Bend Wildlife Management Area
3,674 acres
State: department of natural resources · Laurens County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Rogers Wildlife Management Area
3,357 acres
State: department of natural resources · Wayne County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Alligator Creek Wildlife Management Area
3,101 acres
State: department of natural resources · Wheeler County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Paulding Wildlife Management Area
3,092 acres
State: department of natural resources · Paulding County, Polk County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge
2,986 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Lanier County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Wilson Shoals Wildlife Management Area
2,902 acres
State: department of natural resources · Banks County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Moody Forest Wildlife Management Area
2,894 acres
State: department of natural resources · Appling County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge
2,781 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · McIntosh County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Fishing Creek Wildlife Management Area
2,758 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lincoln County, Wilkes County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Elbert County Wildlife Management Area
2,740 acres
State: department of natural resources · Elbert County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
River Creek The Rolf And Alexandra Kauka Wildlife Management Area
2,581 acres
State: department of natural resources · Thomas County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Flint River Wildlife Management Area
2,369 acres
State: department of natural resources · Dooly County
Open access
State forest
Baldwin State Forest
2,148 acres
State: department of natural resources · Baldwin County, Wilkinson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Chattahoochee Fall Line Wildlife Management Area
2,095 acres
State: department of natural resources · Marion County, Talbot County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Bartram Forest Wildlife Management Area
2,073 acres
State: department of natural resources · Baldwin County, Wilkinson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
McGraw Ford Wildlife Management Area
2,041 acres
State: department of natural resources · Cherokee County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Oliver Bridge Wildlife Management Area
1,931 acres
State: department of natural resources · Bulloch County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Soap Creek Wildlife Management Area
1,840 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lincoln County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
George W. Andrews Recreation Area
1,802 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Early County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lower Broad River Wildlife Management Area
1,745 acres
State: department of natural resources · Elbert County, Wilkes County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Zahnd Wildlife Management Area
1,694 acres
State: department of natural resources · Walker County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
State wildlife / game area
Wilkes County Wildlife Management Area
1,654 acres
State: department of natural resources · Wilkes County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Phinizy Swamp Wildlife Management Area
1,601 acres
State: department of natural resources · Richmond County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Flat Tub Wildlife Management Area / Broxton Rocks Mitigation Bank
1,600 acres
State: department of natural resources · Coffee County, Jeff Davis County + 1 more
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Elmodel Wildlife Management Area
1,589 acres
State: department of natural resources · Baker County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Allen Creek Wildlife Management Area
1,535 acres
State: department of natural resources · Hall County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Alexander Wildlife Management Area
1,368 acres
State: department of natural resources · Burke County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Germany Creek Wildlife Management Area
1,362 acres
State: department of natural resources · McDuffie County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lula Bridge Wildlife Management Area
1,293 acres
State: department of natural resources · Hall County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Morgan Lake Wildlife Management Area
1,143 acres
State: department of natural resources · Long County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Keg Creek Wildlife Management Area
1,036 acres
State: department of natural resources · Columbia County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Hart County Wildlife Management Area
985 acres
State: department of natural resources · Hart County
Open access
Other state land
Little Wahoo Island Tract
973 acres
State: department of natural resources · McIntosh County
Open access
Other state land
Savannah River Tract
861 acres
State: department of natural resources · Effingham County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lake Walter F. George Wildlife Management Area
806 acres
State: department of natural resources · Clay County, Quitman County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Doerun Pitcher Plant Bog Wildlife Management Area
735 acres
State: department of natural resources · Colquitt County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Otting Wildlife Management Area
704 acres
State: department of natural resources · Chattooga County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
B. F. Grant Wildlife Management Area
647 acres
State: department of natural resources · Putnam County
Open access
Other state land
Jerico River Tract
630 acres
State: department of natural resources · Liberty County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
John's Mountain Wildlife Management Area
595 acres
State: department of natural resources · Gordon County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Buck Shoals Wildlife Management Area
580 acres
State: department of natural resources · White County
Open access
State forest
Watson Springs Forest
521 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Greene County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Montezuma Bluffs Wildlife Management Area
503 acres
State: department of natural resources · Macon County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Hiltonia Wildlife Management Area
502 acres
State: department of natural resources · Screven County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
J. L. Lester Wildlife Management Area
493 acres
State: department of natural resources · Polk County
Open access
Other state land
Pelican Spit Tract
473 acres
State: department of natural resources
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Broad River Wildlife Management Area
434 acres
State: department of natural resources · Madison County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Hannahatchee Wildlife Management Area
422 acres
State: department of natural resources · Stewart County
Open access
Other state land
Egg Island Bar Tract
408 acres
State: department of natural resources · McIntosh County
Open access
National Forest land
Yonah Mountain Purchase Unit
356 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · White County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Arrowhead Wildlife Management Area
345 acres
State: department of natural resources · Floyd County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Dixon Bay Wildlife Management Area
321 acres
State: department of natural resources · Screven County
Open access
Other state land
Dixon Bay 124-001
321 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Screven County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Albany Nursery Wildlife Management Area
301 acres
State: department of natural resources · Dougherty County
Open access
Other state land
St. Catherines Island Bar Tract
294 acres
State: department of natural resources
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Cooper Creek Wildlife Management Area
291 acres
State: department of natural resources · Union County, Fannin County
Restricted access
National Forest land
Ocmulgee Purchase Unit
259 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Monroe County, Butts County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Mead Farm Wildlife Management Area
203 acres
State: department of natural resources · Burke County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Rayonier Corridor Lands Wildlife Management Area
184 acres
State: department of natural resources · Wayne County, McIntosh County
Open access
Other state land
Garwood East
177 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Lumpkin County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Conasauga River Wildlife Management Area
130 acres
State: department of natural resources · Murray County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Lake Allatoona Reservation
91 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Bartow County
Open access
Other state land
Radium Springs Tract
82 acres
State: department of natural resources · Dougherty County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Atlanta Yacht Club
54 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Cherokee County
Open access
National Forest land
Nantahala National Forest
47 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Rabun County, Towns County
Open access
National Forest land
Sumter National Forest
45 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Rabun County
Open access

Acreage is calculated from simplified PAD-US boundaries for the portion inside Georgia. “Access” is the PAD-US public access field, not a statement about hunting. National wildlife refuges are generally coded “restricted” in PAD-US because of seasonal or area closures.