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2026-27 · WMA
Berry College WMA for Hunters
Who runs it, what the regulations list for whitetails, black bears, gobblers and doves, how many deer and gobblers are reported, and the public land around it in Floyd County.
Photo: Melissa Johnson (CC BY 2.0)
Berry College WMA by the numbers
Hunters find Berry College WMA in Floyd County; it is a wildlife management area run by WRD. Game Management Region 1 (Armuchee) takes in this ground. It is run by the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division. At 15,605 acres it ranks 25th of 121 Georgia WMAs with a published size. From Berry College, our nearest town guide, head northwest for roughly 4 miles.
Berry College WMA, county by county
| County | Seat | Residents | ESZ colour | Bear | Gator | Checked deer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floyd County | Rome | 101,390 | Green | Northern | — | 2,953 |
From the source page (Georgia 2026-27 Hunting Regulations (eRegulations) area listing); 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.
Berry College WMA hunt dates and quota lines
The 2026-27 regulations list 10 dated lines for Berry College WMA, covering deer & bear, turkey, dog training, dove, waterfowl and coyote. 2,000 quota permits are spread over 2 dated lines. It also carries 3 bonus deer lines and 1 specialty hunt.
| Species | Hunt | Open days | Guide symbols | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer & bear | Archery | Sept. 12-Oct. 27, Nov. 1-13 | — | |
| Deer & bear | Firearms | Either-Sex Last Day: Oct. 28-31 | Quota 1000 Bonus deer | |
| Deer & bear | Firearms | Dec. 2-5 | Quota 1000 Bonus deer | |
| Deer & bear | Firearms | Jan. 2-3 | Specialty Bonus deer | |
| Turkey | — | Apr. 3-May 15 | — | |
| Dog training | — | Aug. 15-Mar. 19 except during firearms deer hunts. | — | |
| Dove | — | Sept. 5, 12, 19, 26, Oct. 3, 10-11, Nov. 21-29, Dec. 19-Jan. 1, Jan. 4-31 | — | |
| Waterfowl | — | State Seasons | — | |
| Coyote | — | No May 16-31 coyote & hog season. | — | |
| Small game | — | State Seasons | — |
Dates and symbols from the 2026-27 Georgia regulations listing, wording as printed by the source. Checked October 13, 2026.
Berry College WMA licenses and access
What applies here, card by card.
Entry and limits, Berry College WMA
No license, no entry for those 16 and up: a Georgia hunting or fishing license or a Lands Pass is required. Sign in on Go Outdoors Georgia before any bear, deer or turkey hunt (open the day before). Quota hunts need an application before the deadline. Same-day check at the station for bonus deer.
- No ATVs are allowed on the WMA
- No night hunting
- No ATVs allowed
What to buy before Berry College WMA
Most residents buy the Sportsman's License. Whatever you buy, log deer, bear and turkey on the free Harvest Record.
Orange, bait and Game Check on Berry College WMA
500 square inches of orange or blaze pink above the waist is the rule for gun and primitive weapons big game hunts. Keep corn and feed at home: baiting is prohibited on state and federally managed land. Report deer, bear and turkey on Georgia Game Check within 24 hours.
Applying for Berry College WMA hunts
Draw results come by email; unsuccessful applicants gain a point.
Berry College WMA by road
From Rome: Take U.S. 27 north to jct of Old Summerville Rd., turn left on Old Summerville Rd and go 1.5 miles to jct with CCC Rd at check station.
How many deer come off Berry College WMA
Game Check shows 19 deer for Berry College WMA in the 2025-26 season. 2020-21 was the top season (36); 2022-23 the leanest (18). 7 deer are in Game Check for 2026-27 so far; the season is still open. Gobblers reported in spring 2026: 36. All listed springs: 245. Reported numbers only: WRD publishes no compliance-adjusted estimate for a single area.
Berry College WMA bucks and does
| Season | Bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 (in progress) | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| 2025-26 | 11 | 8 | 19 |
| 2024-25 | 11 | 20 | 31 |
| 2023-24 | 18 | 14 | 32 |
| 2022-23 | 9 | 9 | 18 |
| 2021-22 | 12 | 12 | 24 |
| 2020-21 | 11 | 25 | 36 |
| 2019-20 | 16 | 19 | 35 |
| 2018-19 | 12 | 8 | 20 |
| 2017-18 | 15 | 13 | 28 |
| 2016-17 | 9 | 12 | 21 |
Turkey counts, Berry College WMA
| Spring | Birds reported |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | 36 |
| Spring 2025 | 23 |
| Spring 2024 | 27 |
| Spring 2023 | 16 |
| Spring 2022 | 22 |
| Spring 2021 | 30 |
| Spring 2020 | 21 |
| Spring 2019 | 19 |
| Spring 2018 | 16 |
| Spring 2017 | 21 |
| Spring 2016 | 14 |
Bears by county near Berry College WMA
| County | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floyd | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Deer from WRD deer harvest reports, turkeys from WRD turkey harvest layer, bears from the WRD north Georgia bear summary; as of 2026-10-13. Checked October 13, 2026.
Berry College WMA: game list
Whitetails, black bears, gobblers, doves, ducks and geese and squirrels and rabbits, per the area record.
White-tailed deer
First line in the listing: Either-Sex Last Day: Oct. 28-31 (firearms).
Black bear
First line in the listing: Sept. 12-Oct. 27, Nov. 1-13 (archery).
Mourning dove
First line in the listing: Sept. 5, 12, 19, 26, Oct. 3, 10-11, Nov. 21-29, Dec. 19-Jan. 1, Jan. 4-31.
Species from the area record; bag limits from the WRD bag limit table. Checked October 13, 2026.
The ground at Berry College WMA
The agency text first, then linked areas.
Berry College WMA as WRD describes it
Berry College Wildlife Management Area is located in Floyd County. This 15,609-acre property offers hunting for deer, bear, turkey, small game and dove. Hunters may not use the main campus for gaining access. Firearms and archery equipment are prohibited on Berry College Refuge. Trails are closed all during firearm deer season and before 10:00 a.m. during deer archery and turkey season. There is no open season for the taking of any wildlife on Berry College Campus and Refuge.
Possession of firearms and archery equipment and all hunting are prohibited on the Berry College campus and refuge. Hunters cannot use the campus to access the WMA. Foot trails, bicycle, and horse areas are closed all day during firearms deer season and before 10:00 a.m. during deer archery and turkey season. Night hunting small game is prohibited on the WMA.
Planted dove fields, Berry College WMA
| Property | Region | Field acres | Crop | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berry College WMA | 1 | 35 | Sunflowers, Browntop Millet | Good |
Text and lists from the source page, Georgia regulations, WRD GIS, WRD GIS; retrieved 2026-10-13, checked October 13, 2026.
Berry College WMA on the map, with its neighbours
Berry College WMA sits at the orange pin, with 9 public neighbours inside 30 miles. Together they publish 58,251 acres.
| Name | Type | Acres | Away | Bearing | Deer checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain Recreation Area & PFA | Public fishing area | 3,000 | 4 mi | west | 22 |
| Arrowhead WMA | WMA | 337 | 8 mi | northeast | 1 |
| John's Mountain WMA | WMA | 23,710 | 19 mi | northeast | 19 |
| Otting WMA | WMA | 700 | 19 mi | northwest | 8 |
| Pleasant Valley VPA | VPA property | 934 | 22 mi | east | 8 |
| Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA | WMA | 21,895 | 25 mi | north | 81 |
| Zahnd WMA | WMA | 1,642 | 26 mi | northwest | 9 |
| J.L. Lester WMA | WMA | 477 | 27 mi | south | 8 |
| Sheffield WMA | WMA | 5,556 | 28 mi | southeast | 26 |
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.
Berry College WMA: nearest towns and businesses
Town guides first, then businesses in the same and neighbouring counties.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berry College | Floyd | 4 mi | — | 19,064 |
| Rome | Floyd | 6 mi | 38,747 | 18,230 |
| Shannon | Floyd | 9 mi | — | 9,883 |
| Summerville | Chattooga | 11 mi | 4,421 | 20,599 |
Its counties, each with a guide: Floyd County.
Local businesses for Berry College WMA hunters
Who to call about Berry College WMA
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.
Berry College WMA: nearest ranges
No range sits on Berry College WMA; the nearest WRD-listed range is Rocky Mountain Archery Range, about 5 miles away. The other cards are private ranges within 30 miles.
Facilities: Bullseye Targets (3)
Lines for trap, skeet, sporting clays, 5-stand, rifle, handgun and archery
From the WRD range list and the GA DNR range layer, checked October 13, 2026.
Berry College WMA sunrise, sunset and shooting time
Whitetails, turkeys and squirrels: sunrise minus 30 minutes to sunset plus 30. Migratory birds: same start, but they end at sunset.
Worked out for Berry College 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.
Berry College WMA hunting kit
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Common Berry College WMA questions
Which areas are close to Berry College WMA?
Within reach are Rocky Mountain Recreation Area & PFA (4 miles), Arrowhead WMA (8 miles) and John's Mountain WMA (19 miles), nearest first.
Is blaze pink legal on Berry College WMA?
Orange or pink, 500 square inches, whenever firearms or primitive weapons deer or bear hunts are on.
Where do I check game taken on Berry College WMA?
Game Check within 24 hours, after noting date and county on the Harvest Record.
Can I put out corn on Berry College WMA?
No; bait is only legal on private land with written permission.
What sort of property is Berry College WMA?
Wildlife management area run by WRD, under the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division.
Is Berry College WMA big enough for a full day?
15,605 acres, per Georgia 2026-27 Hunting Regulations (eRegulations) area listing.
Which town makes a good base for Berry College WMA?
It lies in Floyd County. Berry College sits 4 miles away.
What license gets me onto Berry College WMA?
No separate WMA permit: a Georgia hunting or fishing license or the Lands Pass ($60.00 nonresident) covers it.
Is there a check-in for Berry College WMA?
Use Go Outdoors Georgia for the online sign-in, required for deer, bear and turkey.
What are the deer dates for Berry College WMA?
Sept. 12-Oct. 27, Nov. 1-13, archery, is the first listed. More lines sit in the season table.
What are the spring turkey dates at Berry College WMA?
Turkey runs Apr. 3-May 15. Each hunter may take one gobbler from the area.
What can be hunted at Berry College WMA?
Per the area record, whitetails, black bears, gobblers, doves, ducks and geese and squirrels and rabbits.
Berry College WMA: confirm before you go
The manager has the last word on Berry College WMA. Read its page and the WRD guide the week of your hunt.
Sources for this page: WRD: berry college 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: Judy Gallagher (CC BY 2.0); GA-Kayaker (CC BY 2.0).