Home › Georgia › Counties › Meriwether County
Northwest Georgia
Meriwether County Hunting
Meriwether County hunting from WRD data: 2026-27 private-land seasons, the WMAs and federal tracts in and near the county, ten years of deer harvest and where to process game.
Photo: Thomsonmg2000 (CC0 1.0)
Census measures Meriwether County at 501 square miles of land; the courthouse is in Greenville. Roughly 21,439 people lived there in 2024, 4.0% more than the 2020 base. Hunters have 3 public tracts to choose from inside the line, led by F.D. Roosevelt State Park at 9,049 acres. A 10-mile circle around Greenville takes in some 276 acres of public ground.
Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates (population), WRD region and zones from the GA County Zones layer, public acres within 10 miles from WRD, USFS, USFWS and DoD boundaries. Checked October 13, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Meriwether County
2026-27 zone rules for Meriwether County
Doe hunters in Meriwether County have it easy: the Green zone makes all 88 firearms days either sex on private land. Two antlered and ten antlerless deer, 12 in all, make up the season limit.
County antler rule
Meriwether County buck rule: 4 points (1 in.+) on either antler or 15-in. outside spread, for every antlered deer.
Chronic wasting disease
Statewide carcass rules apply: leave it where the deer fell, take it to a processor, or use trash service or a landfill.
Corn and feeders
Baiting is legal for deer and hogs on private land in Meriwether County, written permission required; it is banned on every state and federal tract.
Bears
Meriwether County has no bear season; the nearest zone counties are on the bear zone page.
Zones from the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division either-sex days, bear and turkey rules and 2026-27 guide (PDF); DMU from the GA County Zones layer. Checked October 13, 2026.
Georgia seasons that reach Meriwether County
These dates cover private land. A WMA or the national forest can be shorter or quota-only, so check the area page before you go.
| Animal | Hunt | Scope | Starts | Ends | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Private land | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery (Either-Sex) | Green zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms (Antlerless Only) | Green zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Primitive Weapons (Either-Sex) | Green zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Primitive weapons & youth-only firearms | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms (Either-Sex) | Green zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Special Opportunity (youth under 16 and mobility-impaired) | Private land | Mar 20, 2027 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring gobbler | Private land | Mar 27, 2027 | May 15, 2027 | |
| Feral hog | Private land | Private land | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Bobwhite quail | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Rabbits | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Hunting (gray and fox squirrel) | Statewide | Aug 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Year-round (unprotected) | Private land | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Raccoon | Hunting | Private land | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Opossum | Hunting | Private land | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Gray and red fox | Hunting (gray and red fox) | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Armadillo | Year-round (unprotected) | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Groundhog | Year-round (unprotected) | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Beaver | Year-round (unprotected) | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Nutria | Year-round (unprotected) | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
From the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division 2026-27 big game seasons, either-sex days and small game seasons, checked October 13, 2026.
Meriwether County public areas with acreage
Here are all 3 public areas with ground in Meriwether County, WMAs first, then federal land, parks and lakes. 5 out-of-county tracts also appear on the Meriwether County map.
| Area | Owner type | Acres | Quota | Game named |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sprewell Bluff WMA: West | WMA | 6,571 total | — | deer, turkey, coyote… |
| Joe Kurz WMA | WMA | 3,700 | Some | deer, turkey, small game… |
| F.D. Roosevelt State Park | State park | 9,049 total | Some | deer |
Just beyond the county: Camp Thunder VPA (11 miles), Sprewell Bluff WMA: East (16 miles), Big Lazer Creek WMA (23 miles), West Point WMA (26 miles), Upatoi Ravines Natural Area (29 miles).
Public dove shooting: WRD lists a dove field in Meriwether County. All WRD dove fields.
Public land from WRD area listings in the 2026-27 guide, the WRD WMA boundary layer, USFS, USFWS and Corps pages, checked October 13, 2026. Acres within 10 miles of the county seat are a GIS measure. All Georgia public land · Quota hunts.
Deer harvest in Meriwether County, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Game Check shows 2,942 deer for Meriwether County in 2025-26, 1.4% of the state’s reported harvest. Scaled up for non-reporting, the estimate is 3,986 deer, which ranks 5th. Compared with 2,847 in 2016-17, reports are up 3%. This season’s running count stood at 343 on Oct. 12, before the firearms opener.
| Season | Reported | Bucks | Does | WRD adjusted | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 (to Oct. 12) | 343 | 90 | 253 | 476 | 0.68 |
| 2025-26 | 2,942 | 1,296 | 1,646 | 3,986 | 5.82 |
| 2024-25 | 3,203 | 1,431 | 1,772 | 4,421 | 6.34 |
| 2023-24 | 3,711 | 1,508 | 2,203 | 4,551 | 7.34 |
| 2022-23 | 2,963 | 1,229 | 1,734 | 4,087 | 5.86 |
| 2021-22 | 2,326 | 1,113 | 1,213 | 3,204 | 4.60 |
| 2020-21 | 2,654 | 1,240 | 1,414 | 3,492 | 5.25 |
| 2019-20 | 2,559 | 1,086 | 1,473 | 3,639 | 5.06 |
| 2018-19 | 2,669 | 1,141 | 1,528 | 3,900 | 5.28 |
| 2017-18 | 2,451 | 1,086 | 1,365 | 3,513 | 4.85 |
| 2016-17 | 2,847 | 1,145 | 1,702 | 4,026 | 5.63 |
WMA Game Check deer
| Tract | 2025-26 | 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Kurz WMA | 31 | 40 |
WRD DeerHarvestReports service and deer harvest dashboard (county summary; 2026-27 through Oct. 12, 2026 and provisional). Adjusted values and per-square-mile figures are WRD’s. Checked October 13, 2026.
Meriwether County turkey and bear numbers
119 gobblers were checked in Meriwether County in spring 2026, ranking 31st of 159. These are Game Check reports, not adjusted estimates; WRD’s 2024 survey put the statewide gobbler harvest at 11,924. Joe Kurz WMA reported 4 gobblers in 2026.
| Season | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reported birds | 92 | 75 | 76 | 101 | 83 | 119 |
Turkey: WRD Turkey Harvest service (Game Check, not adjusted). Checked October 13, 2026.
Butchers, mounts and shops serving Meriwether County
Each group starts inside the county line and then reaches into adjacent counties.
Processors nearby
Taxidermy shops
Outfitters nearby
Sporting goods and licenses
Who to call
Processors: Georgia Hunters for the Hungry, WRD CWD drop-off sites and directory listings; shops from the Go Outdoors Georgia license agent locator and directories; guides from Discover Georgia Outdoors; offices from WRD, DNR Law Enforcement and USFS. Checked October 13, 2026; call ahead. All Georgia hunting services.
First and last light at Meriwether County
Whitetails, turkeys and squirrels: sunrise minus 30 minutes to sunset plus 30. Migratory birds: same start, but they end at sunset.
Worked out for Meriwether County in Eastern time from the rule in the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division guide (hunting hours). Hogs, coyotes, raccoons and some furbearers may be hunted at night on private land; check the guide. Shooting hours for every county.
Towns of Meriwether County, then its ring of counties
Public acres beside each town are a GIS total for a 10-mile circle, not a published figure.
- Greenvillecourthouse town · 819 inhabitants · 276 acres of public land inside 10 miles
Meriwether County shares borders with 7 Georgia counties.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Can you burn in Meriwether County?
- Permit season: Year-round.
- Georgia EPD Summer Burn Ban counties (May 1 to Sep 30): Meriwether County is on this list.
- Burn bans come from: (1) The State Forester/GFC Director may order outdoor burning banned in one or more counties when drought or other conditions make burning unusually hazardous (O.C.G.A.
- Public land fires: Georgia DNR WMAs: Rule 391-4-2-.60(8) allows camping and other recreational use year-round unless indicated or posted otherwise at the check station or site.
Meriwether County gun ranges and clubs
Meriwether County holds 1 listed range; none of them is on the WRD list.
Lines for trap, skeet, sporting clays, rifle and handgun
The closest range on the WRD list is Big Lazer Creek Shooting Range, 22 miles off in Talbot County. See the range
Ranges from the WRD range list and directory listings, checked October 13, 2026.
Meriwether County on the Georgia events calendar
1 upcoming event and 1 published result on file. Types: NWTF banquet and championship trial.
Scheduled
| On | Event | Where held | Sign-up | Found at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 29, 2027 | Oakfuskee Long Spurs Sportsmen Night Out · NWTF banquet | Gay, Meriwether Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
Decided
| Held | Event | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 20, 2025 | Continental Derby Championship 2025 · Championship trial | Continental Derby Championship Champion: Erin's Three Amigos (Mike Sweet & John Mathys, owners; Judd Carlton, handler) Runner-up: Erin's Legacy (Mike Sweet, owner; Judd Carlton, handler) | Source |
Meriwether County hunters often ask
Are there quota hunts on public land in Meriwether County?
Quota hunts are listed for Joe Kurz WMA and F.D. Roosevelt State Park.
How does Georgia’s bait law apply in Meriwether County?
Deer and hogs may be hunted over bait on private land with written permission; WMAs and federal land stay bait-free.
How long do I have to report a turkey from Meriwether County?
24 hours, through Game Check.
Do turkey hunters need orange in Meriwether County?
No; the orange rule covers deer, bear and hogs during gun seasons.
What do I do with a deer carcass in Meriwether County?
Leave it on the property, use a processor, or put it in household trash or a landfill.
Where do Meriwether County hunters drop off deer?
Most often at Imlac Deer Processing, The Barn Deer Processing and Chapmans Johnny Deer Processing & Fishing Guide Service.
What are the deer dates in Meriwether County for 2026-27?
Archery Sept. 12, primitive weapons Oct. 10-16, firearms Oct. 17-Jan. 10.
How many bucks came from Meriwether County last season?
1,296 reported bucks and 1,646 does in 2025-26.
Can I hunt turkeys in the fall in Meriwether County?
No. Georgia opens turkeys in spring only, and only for gobblers.
Answers drawn from the 2026-27 Georgia hunting guide, big game seasons, harvest reporting rules, WRD Game Check data and the sources cited above. Checked October 13, 2026.
Go time in Meriwether County
Dates on this page are for 2026-27. Confirm with WRD before the trip.
Sources: WRD 2026-27 hunting guide (PDF), big game seasons, Georgia Wildlife Resources Division, Census and the agencies linked in each section. Checked October 13, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Dsdugan (CC0 1.0); U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Dsdugan (CC0 1.0); Petit Jeano (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); Scott Heron (CC BY-SA 2.0); gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K (CC BY 2.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); Gunn Shots ! (CC BY 2.0).