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McIntosh County, Georgia
Altamaha WMA Hunting Notes
2026-27 dates for whitetails, gobblers, coyotes and squirrels and rabbits, quota lines, reported harvest, access rules and the nearest towns.
Photo: Jud McCranie (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Where Altamaha WMA sits and who runs it
Altamaha WMA is a wildlife management area run by WRD in McIntosh County. It falls in Game Management Region 6, served by the Brunswick office. It is run by the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division. Size: 31,569 acres, number 6 of 121 WMAs. Look northwest of Darien (the nearest town we cover), about 5 miles out.
County context for Altamaha WMA
| County | Seat | People (2024) | Private-land deer zone | Bear zone | Gator zone | Deer checked 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McIntosh County | Darien | 11,800 | Green | None | Zone 7 | 422 |
From the source page (Georgia 2026-27 Hunting Regulations (eRegulations) area listing (sum of listed sections)); counties and zones from the WRD county zone tables; county deer counts from WRD Game Check; population from the Census 2024 estimates. Checked October 13, 2026.
When Altamaha WMA is open this season
Altamaha WMA has 18 season lines in the 2026-27 guide, for deer, turkey, coyote, small game, waterfowl and dove. 2 of the lines carry a quota symbol, 40 hunters in all. The symbols flag 2 youth lines. Look at the first column: 2 listings feed this table.
| Section | Species | Season | Days open | Symbols | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altamaha WMA Buffalo Swamp, Lewis Island, and McGowan Lake Tracts | Deer | Archery | Sept. 12-Oct. 9 | — | |
| Altamaha WMA Buffalo Swamp, Lewis Island, and McGowan Lake Tracts | Deer | Primitive | Oct. 10-16 | — | |
| Altamaha WMA Buffalo Swamp, Lewis Island, and McGowan Lake Tracts | Deer | Firearms | Oct. 17-Jan. 10 | — | |
| Altamaha WMA Buffalo Swamp, Lewis Island, and McGowan Lake Tracts | Turkey | — | Apr. 3-May 15 | — | |
| Altamaha WMA Buffalo Swamp, Lewis Island, and McGowan Lake Tracts | Coyote | — | May 16-31. Feral hogs may be hunted with dogs. | — | |
| Altamaha WMA Buffalo Swamp, Lewis Island, and McGowan Lake Tracts | Small game | — | State Seasons. | — | |
| Altamaha WMA Buffalo Swamp, Lewis Island, and McGowan Lake Tracts | Waterfowl | — | State Seasons | — | |
| Altamaha WMA Waterfowl Management Area | Deer | Archery | Sept. 12-Nov. 15 | — | |
| Altamaha WMA Waterfowl Management Area | Dove | — | Sept. 5-7, 12-13, 19-20, 26-27 | — | |
| Altamaha WMA Waterfowl Management Area | Small game | — | Aug. 15-Nov. 15, Feb. 1-28 | — | No furbearers. |
| Altamaha WMA Waterfowl Management Area | Small game | Butler island | Opens after last saturday of waterfowl season. | — | No furbearers. |
| Altamaha WMA Waterfowl Management Area | Butler Island | Waterfowl | Nov. 21, 28, Dec. 12, 19, 26, Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 | Quota 20 Sign-in | Selected hunters must check-in before 5:00 a.m. on morning of hunt for stand selection drawing. Shooting hours end at noon, last day of season ends at sunset. Saturday |
| Altamaha WMA Waterfowl Management Area | Butler Island | Rabbit Archery | Jan. 23-24 | Youth | |
| Altamaha WMA Waterfowl Management Area | Champney Island | Waterfowl | Nov. 28-29, Dec. 12-13, 19-20, 26-27, Jan. 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24, 30-31 | Quota 20 Sign-in | Saturdays-Sundays |
| Altamaha WMA Waterfowl Management Area | Champney Island | Waterfowl | Youth or Veteran: Nov. 21-22 | Youth | Saturdays-Sundays |
| Altamaha WMA Waterfowl Management Area | rhett’s Island | Waterfowl | Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, State Holidays during State Seasons | — | |
| Altamaha WMA Waterfowl Management Area | Alligator | — | Aug. 14-Oct. 5 | — | |
| Altamaha WMA Waterfowl Management Area | Coyote | Small game weapons | Mar. 1-May 31. Feral hogs may be hunted and taken with dogs. | — |
Dates and symbols from the 2026-27 Georgia regulations listing, wording as printed by the source. Checked October 13, 2026.
Altamaha WMA harvest from Game Check
Game Check logged 21 deer from Altamaha WMA in 2025-26: 7 antlered, 14 antlerless. Since 2016-17, totals have run from 9 to 34. The 2026-27 season is under way: 3 deer reported so far. Turkey hunters reported 5 gobblers from Altamaha WMA in spring 2026, and 56 across the springs shown. Unadjusted Game Check reports, the finest level WRD publishes.
Deer by season at Altamaha WMA
| Year | Bucks | Does | Deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 (in progress) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 2025-26 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
| 2024-25 | 13 | 15 | 28 |
| 2023-24 | 8 | 10 | 18 |
| 2022-23 | 18 | 16 | 34 |
| 2021-22 | 11 | 20 | 31 |
| 2020-21 | 16 | 15 | 31 |
| 2019-20 | 11 | 15 | 26 |
| 2018-19 | 6 | 12 | 18 |
| 2017-18 | 5 | 8 | 13 |
| 2016-17 | 4 | 5 | 9 |
Altamaha WMA turkey table
| Spring | Turkeys |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | 5 |
| Spring 2025 | 5 |
| Spring 2024 | 3 |
| Spring 2022 | 1 |
| Spring 2021 | 8 |
| Spring 2020 | 3 |
| Spring 2019 | 8 |
| Spring 2018 | 7 |
| Spring 2017 | 10 |
| Spring 2016 | 6 |
Deer from WRD deer harvest reports, turkeys from WRD turkey harvest layer; as of 2026-10-13. Checked October 13, 2026.
Hunting Altamaha WMA legally
The first card is specific to this ground; the rest are statewide rules that matter here.
Rules on Altamaha WMA
Entry at 16 and up takes a Georgia license that covers state land, or a Georgia Lands Pass. For deer, bear and turkey you register on Go Outdoors Georgia, starting the previous day. Drawn (quota) hunts require an advance application.
Paperwork for Altamaha WMA
A Sportsman's License bundles hunting, big game and fishing for residents; the Harvest Record is free but still required for deer, bear and turkey.
Altamaha WMA: orange, pink and baiting
Wear 500 sq in of fluorescent orange or blaze pink above the waist whenever deer or bear firearms or primitive weapons hunts are on. The private-land baiting allowance stops at the boundary; public land is bait-free. Log the animal on your Harvest Record, then report it to Game Check within a day.
Drawn hunts on Altamaha WMA
Quota draws use priority points, one per year without a draw.
Directions to Altamaha WMA
Buffalo Swamp from Darien: Take HWY 251/Cox Rd west 8 miles to Cox. Left onto Possum Point Rd. Sign In box is 1.5 miles on left. McGowan Lake from Darien: Take HWY 251/Cox Rd west 8 miles to Cox. Left onto Barrington Rd. Entrance is 2.2 miles on left. You may also sign in at Altamaha Regional Park, Champney Island Boat Ramp, and Darien City Docks. From Darien: Take U.S. HWY 17 south 1.5 miles, check station is on the right.
Inside Altamaha WMA
Agency description, field lists and related areas.
Description from WRD
The Altamaha Waterfowl Management Area at Altamaha WMA consists of 3,154 acres of managed waterfowl impoundments and some 27,000 acres of bottomland hardwoods and cypress-tupelo swamps. The property offers hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, small game, waterfowl, and dove. The waterfowl impoundments are in three units. Each unit provides a different type of hunting opportunity: Area includes Altamaha WMA lands west of Butler & Champney Islands. Butler Refuge (east of Hwy 17 on Butler Island) and Ansley Hodges MARSH Project (west of Hwy 17 on Champney Island) are always closed to firearms but archery equipment may be used during open dates listed above to take deer, hog, and rabbits after the last Saturday of waterfowl season.
Airboats are banned in managed waterfowl impoundments. Access to Rhetts Island is limited to designated crossover sites, with boats restricted to a 25hp motor or less. Fishing, shrimping, and crabbing are prohibited on Rhetts Island during early teal and statewide waterfowl season. Butler Island ponds and impoundments west of HWY 17 are closed to cast netting. Drone use, including launching and landing, is prohibited. Area includes Broughton, Butler, Champney, and Rhetts Islands.
Altamaha WMA dove field crops
| Property | Region | Planted acres | Crop mix | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altamaha WMA | 6 | 16 | Browntop Millet | Fair |
Text and lists from the source page, Georgia regulations, WRD GIS, WRD GIS; retrieved 2026-10-13, checked October 13, 2026.
Game at Altamaha WMA, with limits
Listed game for Altamaha WMA: whitetails, gobblers, coyotes, squirrels and rabbits, ducks and geese, doves, alligators and feral hogs.
Feral hog
Species from the area record; bag limits from the WRD bag limit table. Checked October 13, 2026.
Altamaha WMA on the map, with its neighbours
Altamaha WMA sits at the orange pin, with 12 public neighbours inside 30 miles. That is 112,695 acres of listed ground.
| Area | Category | Acreage | Straight line | Direction | Game Check deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altama Plantation WMA | WMA | 4,612 | 4 mi | south | 13 |
| Clayhole Swamp WMA | WMA | 5,242 | 5 mi | west | 9 |
| Paulks Pasture WMA | WMA | 16,066 | 10 mi | southwest | 17 |
| Sansavilla WMA | WMA | 19,084 | 12 mi | west | 47 |
| Sapelo Island WMA | WMA | 9,000 | 15 mi | east | 45 |
| Townsend WMA | WMA | 34,294 | 18 mi | northwest | 46 |
| Penholoway Swamp WMA | WMA | 11,177 | 18 mi | northwest | 7 |
| Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 5,591 | 18 mi | northeast | 23 |
| Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 2,755 | 21 mi | northeast | 14 |
| Rayonier Corridor Lands WMA | WMA | 41 | 25 mi | northwest | — |
| Morgan Lake WMA | WMA | 1,493 | 27 mi | northwest | — |
| Rogers WMA | WMA | 3,340 | 27 mi | west | 12 |
Points from WRD, USFS, USFWS, NPS, DoD and Recreation.gov layers (WRD WMA Boundary GIS (polygon centroid)). Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Altamaha WMA: nearest ranges
Richmond Hill Archery Range in Bryan County is the nearest range on the WRD list, 33 miles out. Closer private options sit beside it.
Facilities: 4 static archery range target stations, Archery tower with 6 3D targets, 3D archery trail with 15 targets
Lines for rifle, handgun, smallbore, action pistol and shotgun
Lines for sporting clays and shotgun
From the WRD range list and the GA DNR range layer, checked October 13, 2026.
Altamaha WMA: nearest towns and businesses
Closest towns first; businesses by county and distance.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darien | McIntosh | 5 mi | 1,747 | 38,585 |
| Everett | Glynn | 9 mi | — | 80,973 |
| Sterling | Glynn | 9 mi | — | 41,174 |
| Eulonia | McIntosh | 11 mi | — | 10,020 |
Counties covered: McIntosh County.
Help near Altamaha WMA
Altamaha WMA contacts
Towns and populations from the Census 2024 estimates; public acres within 10 miles from WRD, USFS, USFWS and DoD layers; businesses from WRD lists, store locators and listings; offices from WRD, DNR Law Enforcement and USFS pages. Checked October 13, 2026. Call ahead.
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A week of shooting light for Altamaha WMA
WRD’s rule: half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset, with migratory birds ending right at sunset.
Worked out for Altamaha WMA 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.
Altamaha WMA, asked and answered
Are hunts on Altamaha WMA limited?
Quota: 2 lines, 40 hunters.
Can I camp during a hunt at Altamaha WMA?
The area allows camping in designated spots.
How many deer get reported from Altamaha WMA?
Hunters reported 21 deer in 2025-26 (7 bucks).
Are alligators hunted around Altamaha WMA?
It is in zone 7; apply in the alligator draw. The area lists alligator hunting.
What areas neighbour Altamaha WMA?
Try Altama Plantation WMA (4 miles), Clayhole Swamp WMA (5 miles) and Paulks Pasture WMA (10 miles); each has its own page.
How much orange does Altamaha WMA require?
500 square inches of orange or blaze pink above the waist during primitive weapons and firearms deer and bear hunts.
What reporting applies at Altamaha WMA?
Log it on the Harvest Record before moving it, then report it to Game Check the same day or next.
Is it legal to bait hogs on Altamaha WMA?
Not here: the baiting allowance covers private land only.
What kind of place is Altamaha WMA?
It is a wildlife management area run by WRD, managed by the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division.
Is Altamaha WMA big enough for a full day?
About 31,569 acres.
Which town makes a good base for Altamaha WMA?
In McIntosh County, about 5 miles from Darien.
Which license covers Altamaha WMA?
A Georgia hunting or fishing license works; otherwise buy the Lands Pass, $30.00 for residents.
Altamaha WMA: confirm before you go
Public land rules change more often than the printed guide. Recheck Altamaha WMA with the manager before you go.
Sources for this page: WRD: altamaha wma · Georgia regulations: wma regulations a c · WRD GIS · WRD GIS · WRD: dove · WRD GIS; regulations from the 2026-27 Georgia hunting regulations. Checked October 13, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).