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2026-27 · WMA
Chestatee WMA for Hunters
Who runs it, what the regulations list for whitetails, black bears, gobblers and coyotes, how many deer and gobblers are reported, and the public land around it in Lumpkin and White counties.
Photo: TranceMist (CC BY 2.0)
Chestatee WMA by the numbers
Hunters find Chestatee WMA in Lumpkin and White counties; it is a wildlife management area run by WRD. Game Management Region 2 (Gainesville) takes in this ground. It is run by the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division. At 27,123 acres it ranks 9th of 121 Georgia WMAs with a published size. From Dahlonega, our nearest town guide, head north for roughly 11 miles.
Chestatee WMA, county by county
| County | Seat | Residents | ESZ colour | Bear | Gator | Checked deer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumpkin County | Dahlonega | 36,016 | Orange | Northern | — | 1,172 |
| White County | Cleveland | 29,668 | Orange | Northern | — | 1,092 |
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.
Chestatee WMA hunt dates and quota lines
The 2026-27 regulations list 8 dated lines for Chestatee WMA, covering deer & bear, bear, turkey, coyote and small game. 6 quota permits are spread over 1 dated line. It also carries 1 bonus deer line.
| Species | Hunt | Open days | Guide symbols | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer & bear | Archery | Buck Only: Sept. 12-25, Oct. 12-29 | — | |
| Deer & bear | Firearms | Buck Only: Nov. 18-Nov. 21, Dec. 26-Jan. 1 | — | |
| Deer & bear | Firearms | Buck Only: Dec. 9-12 | Bonus deer | |
| Bear | Firearms | (Bag limit 2/person or 5/party) Dog/Bear: Oct. 3-11 | Quota 6 | |
| Bear | Firearms | Sept. 26-Oct. 2 | — | |
| Turkey | — | Apr. 3-May 15 | — | |
| Coyote | — | May 16-31. Feral hogs may be hunted with dogs. | — | |
| Small game | — | State Seasons | — |
Dates and symbols from the 2026-27 Georgia regulations listing, wording as printed by the source. Checked October 13, 2026.
Chestatee WMA licenses and access
What applies here, card by card.
Entry and limits, Chestatee 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.
- US Forest Service property
- No ATV’s/UTV’s
- Electric bicycles restricted to roads open to motor vehicles
What to buy before Chestatee 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 Chestatee 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 Chestatee WMA hunts
Draw results come by email; unsuccessful applicants gain a point.
Chestatee WMA by road
From Cleveland: Take U.S. 129 north 10.5 miles to Turner’s Corner, turn left on U.S. 19, go 0.5 mile, turn right on Dick’s Creek Rd., go 1 mile to check station driveway on left.
How many deer come off Chestatee WMA
Game Check shows 6 deer for Chestatee WMA in the 2025-26 season. 2025-26 was the top season (6); 2016-17 the leanest (2). Gobblers reported in spring 2026: 6. All listed springs: 91. Reported numbers only: WRD publishes no compliance-adjusted estimate for a single area.
Chestatee WMA bucks and does
| Season | Bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2024-25 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2023-24 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2022-23 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2021-22 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2020-21 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 2019-20 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 2018-19 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 2017-18 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2016-17 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Turkey counts, Chestatee WMA
| Spring | Birds reported |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | 6 |
| Spring 2025 | 10 |
| Spring 2024 | 10 |
| Spring 2023 | 7 |
| Spring 2022 | 6 |
| Spring 2021 | 12 |
| Spring 2020 | 8 |
| Spring 2019 | 8 |
| Spring 2018 | 8 |
| Spring 2017 | 9 |
| Spring 2016 | 7 |
Bears by county near Chestatee WMA
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.
Chestatee WMA: game list
Whitetails, black bears, gobblers, coyotes, squirrels and rabbits and feral hogs, per the area record.
White-tailed deer
First line in the listing: Buck Only: Sept. 12-25, Oct. 12-29 (archery).
Black bear
First line in the listing: (Bag limit 2/person or 5/party) Dog/Bear: Oct. 3-11 (firearms).
Coyote
First line in the listing: May 16-31. Feral hogs may be hunted with dogs.
Feral hog
Species from the area record; bag limits from the WRD bag limit table. Checked October 13, 2026.
The ground at Chestatee WMA
The agency text first, then linked areas.
Chestatee WMA as WRD describes it
Chestatee Wildlife Management Area is located in Lumpkin and White counties. This 27,124-acre property has hunting opportunities for deer, bear, turkey and small game. This property is owned by the U.S. Forest Service who manages all non-hunting aspects of their property such as roads, recreation and land management. Vehicle Usage: ATVs and UTVs are not allowed on U.S. Forest Service roads. They may only be used on roads/trails designated specifically for their use.
Check Road Closures: Road closures due to damage or weather-related conditions for this property will be listed at the agency website. Dog-bear hunters must check in at the Chattahoochee WMA check station prior to hunting and attend a pre-hunt meeting as directed in their notification email.
Chestatee WMA: parent, units and overlapping ground
| Name | Type | Counties | Acreage | Deer, last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Ridge Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest) | Ranger district | Union, Lumpkin, Fannin | 302,238 | — |
Text and lists from the source page, Georgia regulations, WRD GIS, WRD GIS; retrieved 2026-10-13, checked October 13, 2026.
Pins around Chestatee WMA
Chestatee WMA sits at the orange pin, with 12 public neighbours inside 30 miles. Together they publish 451,383 acres.
| Name | Type | Acres | Away | Bearing | Deer checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper's Creek WMA | WMA | 30,000 | 7 mi | northwest | 9 |
| Blue Ridge Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest) | Ranger district | 302,238 | 8 mi | northwest | — |
| Chattahoochee WMA | WMA | 25,150 | 10 mi | east | 17 |
| Dukes Creek – Smithgall Woods State Park | State park | 4,500 | 12 mi | east | 18 |
| Blue Ridge WMA | WMA | 20,900 | 12 mi | west | 38 |
| Cochrans Creek WMA | WMA | 2,057 | 18 mi | southwest | 1 |
| London Farms Dove Field | Dove field | 111 | 19 mi | southeast | — |
| Swallow Creek WMA | WMA | 19,000 | 19 mi | northeast | 6 |
| Buck Shoals WMA | WMA | 582 | 21 mi | southeast | — |
| Dawson Forest WMA | WMA | 25,658 | 23 mi | southwest | 33 |
| Rich Mountain WMA | WMA | 20,674 | 23 mi | west | 6 |
| Lula Bridge WMA | WMA | 513 | 24 mi | southeast | 2 |
Points from WRD, USFS, USFWS, NPS, DoD and Recreation.gov layers (WRD WMA Boundary GIS (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside))). Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Chestatee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dahlonega | Lumpkin | 11 mi | 7,830 | 28,679 |
| Blairsville | Union | 13 mi | 849 | 76,827 |
| Cleveland | White | 13 mi | 3,583 | 28,057 |
| Helen | White | 13 mi | 630 | 96,225 |
Its counties, each with a guide: Lumpkin County, White County.
Local businesses for Chestatee WMA hunters
Who to call about Chestatee 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.
Chestatee WMA: nearest ranges
No range sits on Chestatee WMA; the nearest WRD-listed range is Union County Gun Range, about 12 miles away. The other cards are private ranges within 30 miles.
Facilities: Pistol Range, Rifle Range, Paved Parking
Lines for rifle, handgun and shotgun
From the WRD range list and the GA DNR range layer, checked October 13, 2026.
Chestatee 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 Chestatee 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.
Chestatee WMA hunting kit
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Common Chestatee WMA questions
Where do I check game taken on Chestatee WMA?
Game Check within 24 hours, after noting date and county on the Harvest Record.
Can I put out corn on Chestatee WMA?
No; bait is only legal on private land with written permission.
What sort of property is Chestatee WMA?
Wildlife management area run by WRD, under the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division.
Is Chestatee WMA big enough for a full day?
27,123 acres, per Georgia 2026-27 Hunting Regulations (eRegulations) area listing.
Where is Chestatee WMA?
It lies in Lumpkin and White counties. Dahlonega sits 11 miles away.
What license gets me onto Chestatee 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 Chestatee WMA?
Use Go Outdoors Georgia for the online sign-in, required for deer, bear and turkey.
What are the deer dates for Chestatee WMA?
Buck Only: Sept. 12-25, Oct. 12-29, archery, is the first listed. More lines sit in the season table.
What are the spring turkey dates at Chestatee WMA?
Turkey runs Apr. 3-May 15. Each hunter may take one gobbler from the area.
What can be hunted at Chestatee WMA?
Per the area record, whitetails, black bears, gobblers, coyotes, squirrels and rabbits and feral hogs.
Is Chestatee WMA a draw hunt?
Some hunts are drawn (6 permits across 1 lines).
Does Chestatee WMA allow camping?
Camping is permitted where designated.
Chestatee WMA: confirm before you go
The manager has the last word on Chestatee WMA. Read its page and the WRD guide the week of your hunt.
Sources for this page: WRD: chestatee wma · Georgia regulations: wma regulations a c · WRD GIS · WRD GIS · WRD GIS; regulations from the 2026-27 Georgia hunting regulations. Checked October 13, 2026.
Other photos on this page: usdanrcstexas (CC BY 2.0); Department of the Interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Conservation Training Center. 10/1997-8888 (Public domain).