Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge Goes Electronic To Fill Quota Hunts

A Nov. 7, 2019 hunt on Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge in Jones County produced this 8-point buck for Chad Williams, of Clarkesville. Chad’s buck was entered in the Truck-Buck Contest that season and eligible for the Public-Land Wildcard.

Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge in central Georgia is turning to an electronic sign-up process to fill their upcoming deer and turkey quota hunts. In the past, they used the U.S. Postal Service to fill quota hunts, but with current struggles with delivery of USPS mail, the electronic change at Piedmont seems to come at an opportune time.

Quota deer and turkey hunt permits will now be purchased at https://www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/1565. If you’ve never registered on the site, the process is easy. Just click the link in the top right on the webpage.

Once you get your account set up, go to the link that says, “Permits.” On the next page, click on “Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge Deer Hunt.” If you do this prior to the registration date for a particular hunt, you will see a message that says, “Registration Closed.”

Below are the three 2024 deer quota hunts where you’ll buy a permit and pay electronically if you are one of the first 1,250 people to select a hunt.

• Oct. 31 – Nov. 2: Primitive-weapons hunt. Online registration begins Sept. 4 at 10 a.m.

• Nov. 7-9: 1st firearms hunt. Online registration begins Sept. 11 at 10 a.m.

• Nov. 14-16: 2nd firearms hunt. Online registration begins Sept. 18 at 10 a.m.

With a quota of 1,250 hunters for each hunt, all will be filled first-come first-serve starting at 10 a.m. on the opening for sales. There are no group applications or permits. Each individual must purchase their own permit. Children 15 years old and younger can obtain a free permit after the supervising adult has purchased their permit. Youth permits will be issued in person the week of the hunt at the Refuge Visitor Center or Check Station.

With spotty phone service at the Refuge, Piedmont staff advises all hunters to take a screenshot of their permit and make a paper copy to bring on the hunt. You’ll need to produce this when checking a deer at the check station.

The combined youth and mobility-impaired hunt set for Oct. 19-20 is a non-quota hunt, although all hunters still need a refuge permit. You can go by the Refuge Visitor Center to receive a permit or contact Piedmont prior to Sept. 15 so a permit can be mailed to you.

Appellations for the Piedmont NWR spring turkey hunts should be available online in January 2025. For additional information, contact the refuge office at 478.986.5441.

Piedmont Refuge Deer Hunts