New WMA Lands For Georgia’s 2024 Hunting Seasons

Crockford Pigeon Mountain WMA in northwest Georgia has grown by an additional 1,204 acres.

Georgia has created two new WMAs in the past year and a significant number of acres have been added to some other lands that offer public hunting.

New WMAs

One of the most notable additions is the 865-acre Featherfield WMA, which borders Lake Seminole WMA. Featherfield WMA was the previous site of Featherfield Farms, a parcel known for its bountiful wildlife, including deer, turkey and small game. It was purchased by Georgia DNR and will protect critical habitats and enhance public access to existing state-managed properties at Lake Seminole WMA.

DNR officials say the acquisition marks a milestone in the state’s ongoing commitment to conservation and preservation of its natural resources.

WRD Region Supervisor Brian Vickery says the acquisition is important for many reasons.

“It is very important due to its nearness to other properties we manage,” he said. “We are very fortunate to acquire a property that was being actively managed. In addition to preparing a dove field right now, we are conducting population surveys for deer, turkey and quail.”

The new Georgia Hunting & Fishing Regulations and Seasons booklet just came out, showing that Featherfield will host a youth dove hunt on Sept. 7 and multiple sign-in opportunities to dove hunt in September, October, November, December and January.

“We’re evaluating some habitat restoration efforts; however, it already has some great ground cover,” Brian said.

There will be a youth quota turkey hunt for two kids on April 5-6. Then on April 12-13 there will be a sign-in quota hunt for two turkey hunters.

If you want to check out this WMA for deer hunting, you’ll need to stay with archery equipment. You’ll be allowed to bowhunt from Sept. 14 to Jan. 12.

Located in Seminole County, Featherfield WMA has acres of diverse ecosystems, including longleaf pine forest, native wiregrass habitat and numerous ponds. The property is home to a wide array of native plant and animal species.

How to get there: From Bainbridge, travel south on Georgia Highway 253 for 21.4 miles. Turn south on Georgia Highway 39 and travel one-half mile. The kiosk will be on your right

Another big WMA addition is the 2,507-acre Cochrans Creek WMA, which was a Voluntary Public Access area last year. It borders the 25,658-acre Dawson Forest WMA. The Cochrans Creek property is located near Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawson County.

This change to WMA status from a VPA allows Cochrans Creek to have the same hunting dates, rules and regulations as Dawson Forest WMA. Make note that this includes Dawson Forest’s quality-buck regulations.

“It appears to have been in industrial forest land in the immediate past,” said Don McGowan, WRD region supervisor. “It has a lot of loblolly pine plantation on the upper slopes. The drains are mostly hardwoods. It’s going to need a lot of habitat work to get it where we want it, including some strategic timber harvesting and getting a prescribed burning regimen going. There is a decent creek south of Highway 52 that has a series of beaver ponds that creates decent waterfowl and other habitat.”

The tract has no food plots as of yet, and it is walk-in only. Successful hunters will have to take their deer to the check station at Dawson Forest WMA.

How to get there: From Dawsonville, take Shoal Creek Road, turn left on Highway 136. At the roundabout, take the first exit to Highway 52 East. Travel approximately 3 miles.

Added WMA Acreage

Big Hammock Creek WMA added 93 acres. The 7,315-acre WMA is state-owned. Deer hunting opportunities include non-quota deer, turkey and small game.

This WMA consists of approximately 100 acres of wildlife openings, 1,121 acres of upland hardwood hammock and 6,000 acres of bottomland hardwood and cypress forest.

“This addition was contiguous with our existing property along the Altamaha River and Ohoopee River and is all river bottom habitat, much of which was planned for development,” said Chris Baumann, WRD region supervisor. “This purchase added to our existing tract and protects valuable river corridor habitat at the confluence of the Ohoopee and Altamaha rivers on the western end of Big Hammock WMA. River bottom habitats are used by a wide variety of game and non-game species in this region of the state, with many sightings of swallow-tailed kites in this area. We are glad to both protect river corridors and provide additional hunting lands on this WMA.”

How to get there: The main entrance is located off Georgia Highway 121, and the walk-in entrance is to the north off Mack Phillips Road.

Clybel WMA added 309 acres. According to Area Manager Andy Mays, the new acreage touches the existing WMA off Marben Farms Road. It consists of approximately 90 acres of pasture that will be converted to old field-type habitat. The remaining acreage is in loblolly pines and has a creek for its boundary.

Clybel has diverse habitats that are home to a variety of wildlife. Both big-game and small-game species benefit from food-plot rotations, mowing, prescribed burning, timber harvest and winter disking. Hunting opportunities include deer, turkey, small game and dove. The WMA offers quota hunts, youth hunts and fishing.

The Clybel shooting range was recently renovated and includes rifle sighting, archery and shotgun targets.

How to get there: Clybel WMA is located in Mansfield in Jasper and Newton counties. It is 12 miles south of I-20 at Exit 98 (Highway 11).

An additional 309 acres have been added to Clybel WMA. Along with some really good hunting, the WMA is known for its excellent instructional facilities and opportunities, things like archery, rifle and shotgun ranges.

Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA in northwest Georgia recently added 1,204 acres. According to WRD Wildlife Biologist David Gregory, the primary addition is on the northern portion of the WMA off Highway 136 between Camp Road and Hootie Hoo Holler Road. The tract is a little more than 1,000 acres and is mostly a mixed pine/hardwood forest.

The additional 200 acres of land is a parcel off Shinbone Ridge Road on the southeast portion of the WMA. The tract is a mixed pine/hardwood forest, as well as open, former agricultural fields.

Crockford-Pigeon Mountain deer hunting is non-quota for both archery and gun hunting. Checks dates in the new regs book before you show up.

The only quota hunt on the WMA is an April 5-11 turkey hunt.

Crockford-Pigeon Mountain has five camping areas. There are also numerous fishing opportunities.

How to get there: From Lafayette, take Highway 193 west 2.7 miles to Chamberlain Road. Turn left and go 3 miles to Rocky Lane Road. Turn right and go 0.3 mile to check station.

There’s been 1,300 acres added to the Fort Perry Area of the Chattahoochee Fall Line (CFL) WMA, which has now grown to 4,742 acres in size. The new area at Fort Perry is adjacent to and east of the existing acreage.

“This new 1,300-acre tract has primarily quota-based access, as it is serving as a focal area for our Outdoors Beyond Barriers program,” said Drew Zellner, WRD wildlife biologist. “The habitat is largely newly planted longleaf on the prevalent sandy soil types, with several creeks that run through it with mixed pine/hardwood stands in these wetter soils.”

In addition to a focus on the Outdoors Beyond Barriers program (see page 34), the Fort Perry Area offers one youth quota deer hunt and two general quota bonus deer hunts. The WMA also offers quota turkey hunting and non-quota dove hunting opportunities.

How to get there: From Geneva, travel south on Highway 41 approximately 6 miles to Fort Perry Road (CR49). Turn left and go approximately 1 mile to the check station, kiosk and campground on the left.

Morgan Lake WMA added 375 acres to its now 1,492 acres. It is located in Long County and offers archery hunting only for deer, turkey and small game. Fishing is available, and it also has a boat ramp. This addition to Morgan Lake now carries the northwest portion of the current property all the way to the Altamaha River.

“The added tract is more of the same habitat type as the original Morgan Lake,” said David Mixon, WRD region supervisor. “It’s bottomland hardwoods with a little more river frontage. Access from land is limited as it is completely flooded by the river on a seasonal basis. No roads will be available to drive into this tract.”

The new tract will be managed under the same regulations as Morgan Lake.

How to get there: Take U.S. Highway 301 south for 4.5 miles. Make a left on Fishing Road. Travel approximately 0.5 miles and make a right. The boat ramp is 0.3 miles on the left.

Paulding Forest WMA added 44 acres to this 28,183-acre area.

According to Allison Melcher, WRD wildlife biologist, the added acreage is to the west of the main tract, between Vinson Mountain Road and Highway 101. It is mostly pine stands, with some steep terrain and a branch of Thompson Creek running through it.

The property offers hunting opportunities for deer, turkey and small game. Raccoon Creek, one of the southernmost trout fishing opportunities, is located on the WMA.

How to get there: From the intersection of Highway 278 and Highway 61, travel west on Highway 278 for 12.5 miles. Turn right onto Coot’s Lake Road and go to the stop sign. Turn right onto Braswell Mt. Road. Go 2 miles to check-in station and pull in on the left side of road.

Sprewell Bluff—East WMA added 576 acres to its 1,330 acres. Located east of the Flint River in Thomaston, this WMA offers bowhunting opportunities for deer and shotgun and archery for small game. There is a non-quota turkey hunt April 5 to May 15. There is no camping allowed on the property.

How to get there: From Thomaston, take Highway 36 west 6 miles to Roland; turn right on Alabama Road; turn left and follow paved road to area.

Tallapoosa River VPA added 386 acres to the now 5,215 acres. The WMA is located between Cedartown and Buchanan.

Melcher said the added section of property is directly to the northeast of the eastern-most tract and off Pleasant Hill Road. A good portion of it has been clear-cut and is regenerating naturally, and the rest is mostly loblolly pine.

Hunting opportunities include deer and a specialty hunt for turkey. No ATVs or camping is allowed.

How to get there: From Cedartown, take U.S. Highway 27 south to Felton. In Felton, turn left onto Felton Rockmart Road, and then go 0.9 miles and turn right onto Rainey Lake Road. The VPA property begins 0.7 miles down Rainey Lake Road.