Hunting Options On Corps Property Around Georgia Reservoirs

There’s some good hunting on lands that surround some of the  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) reservoirs, but permits are often required and there are various requirements regarding access and special regulations at different projects.

On Lake Allatoona, hunting permit and fees have been canceled for the 2020-21 season, citing COVID-19. However, the 10 corps tracts around Allatoona will remain open to hunting under existing state and Allatoona Project hunting regulations. For details, contact the Allatoona corps office at 678.721.6700.

Permits and maps for the 2020-2021 hunting seasons at West Point Lake corps properties are now available, but only by phone this year because of the virus. A $25 permit is required to hunt on lands managed by USACE at West Point Project. Persons requesting a West Point Project Hunting Permit must provide their name, mailing address and telephone number and use a credit or debit card when calling.

Due to COVID-19, the West Point corps visitor center is closed to the public. Hunting permits may only be purchased via telephone at 706.645.2937 using a major credit card or debit card between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Once purchased, the permit will be shipped via first class mail to the hunter. As a reminder, hunters may only hunt while in physical possession of a valid hunting permit.

All hunters are encouraged to examine the hunting maps and permits closely to ensure compliance with all rules, regulations and weapon restrictions. In addition, all state hunting regulations also apply. USACE West Point manages approximately 10,000 acres of land for hunters to utilize. West Point Lake hunting permits do not apply to the West Point Wildlife Management Area, which is managed by the Georgia DNR.

For more information, please contact the USACE West Point Project Office at 706.645.2937.

GON member Anthony Harper killed this buck during the 2019-20 season while hunting West Point corps land in Troup County.

Hunting opportunities also exist on Savannah River corps projects. At Clarks Hill, more than 50,000 acres of corps land is considered suitable for hunting, including 28,000 acres leased to Georgia DNR and South Carolina DNR. For details on many other corps areas available to hunt, visit the J. Storm Thurmond Dam and Lake website.

At Lake Russell, a 300-foot collar of land around the lake is open to hunting. At Hartwell, four recreation areas are open to archery deer hunting. These are Hartwell Dam Quarry, Paynes Creek Park, New Prospect Access Area and Jenkins Ferry Access Area. A corps permit is required to hunt the Dam Quarry area. Call 888.893.0678 for info.