Refuge Hunts Offer Great Options For Georgia Hunters

There’s some very good public deer hunting—and hunting for other game animals—available on National Wildlife Refuge property in Georgia.

Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge is 34,000 acres of excellent woods in Jones and Jasper counties. Here are the 2020 season deer hunts scheduled for Piedmont NWR:

Archery: Sept. 12 – Oct. 4; either-sex, no quota, refuge permit required.
Wheelchair Firearms: Oct. 16-17; either-sex; quota 25.
Youth Firearms: Oct. 16-17; either-sex, quota 50.
Primitive Weapons: Oct. 29-31; either-sex; quota 1,250 hunters.
Firearms: Nov. 5-7 and Nov. 12-14, either-sex; quotas of 1,250.

This Piedmont NWR 10-pointer was killed last season by GON member Chad Williams.

To hunt Piedmont NWR, you need to get a brochure that once signed is your hunt permit. The refuge will mail you a hunt permit and quota application. Simply request a permit and quota application by calling 478.986.5441. You can also mail a request to Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, 718 Juliette Road, Round Oak, GA 31038, or request by email to [email protected]. Make the request, and make sure to provide your postal address. Quota hunt application forms must be returned to the refuge office by 12 noon on Aug. 26, 2020.

Nearby on the Ocmulgee River is 7,764-aree Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Here are the deer hunts scheduled for Bond Swamp:

Archery: Sept. 12 – Nov. 8; either-sex, no quota, refuge permit required.
Youth Firearms: Nov. 14-15; either-sex, quota 50.
Firearms: Nov. 20-21 and Dec. 4-5, either-sex; quotas 200 hunters.

Bond Swamp also offers four quota duck hunts, with 20 hunters selected for each. Request permits and quota applications through the Piedmont refuge contact information.

Hunting for deer and small game is also available at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge on three units of the refuge. For information and quota applications, go to www.fws.refuge/okefenokee.

Another unique refuge hunting experience is offered on the five NWRs managed as the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex, including Blackbeard Island and Wassaw Island. Hunt schedules will be posted Aug. 1 at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Savannah/Visit/Visitor_Activities/Hunting.html.

Finally, there’s hunting opportunity at Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge, which includes the Bradley Unit on the Georgia side of the lake. A waterfowl impoundment there offers quota duck hunts. Access and opportunity has been increased under directives from the Trump administration. For hunt dates and info, go to www.fws.gov/southeast/pdf/regulations/eufaula-national-wildlife-refuge-hunt-fish.pdf.