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2026-27 · WMA
Dawson Forest 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 Dawson County.
Photo: jeffgunn (CC BY 2.0)
Dawson Forest WMA by the numbers
Hunters find Dawson Forest WMA in Dawson County; 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 25,658 acres it ranks 10th of 121 Georgia WMAs with a published size. From Dawsonville, our nearest town guide, head west for roughly 6 miles.
Dawson Forest WMA, county by county
| County | Seat | Residents | ESZ colour | Bear | Gator | Checked deer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawson County | Dawsonville | 33,748 | Orange | Northern | — | 874 |
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.
Dawson Forest WMA hunt dates and quota lines
The 2026-27 regulations list 11 dated lines for Dawson Forest WMA, covering deer & bear, turkey, dove, coyote and small game. 165 quota permits are spread over 3 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. 9 | — | |
| Deer & bear | Archery | Dec. 13-19 | — | |
| Deer & bear | Primitive | Either Sex Last Two Days: Dec. 30-Jan. 2 | Bonus deer | |
| Deer & bear | Firearms | Oct. 28-31 | Specialty Bonus deer | |
| Deer & bear | Firearms | Buck Only: Nov. 18-21, Dec. 9-12 | Bonus deer | |
| Turkey | — | Apr. 3-4 | Quota 50 | |
| Turkey | — | Apr. 17-23, May 1-7 | Quota 75 | |
| Dove | — | Sept. 5 | Quota 40 Sign-in | |
| Dove | — | Sept. 12, 19, 26, Oct. 3, 10, Nov. 21-29, Dec. 19-Jan. 31 | — | |
| 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.
Dawson Forest WMA licenses and access
What applies here, card by card.
Entry and limits, Dawson Forest 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. Antler-restricted: 4 points of 1 inch on one side, or 15 inches wide.
- No waterfowl hunting behind the Horse Camp parking lot
What to buy before Dawson Forest 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 Dawson Forest 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 Dawson Forest WMA hunts
Draw results come by email; unsuccessful applicants gain a point.
Dawson Forest WMA by road
From Dawsonville: Take GA HWY 53 west 6 miles, turn right onto driveway at kiosk, check station is at top of hill. Check in and Sign-in/out at kiosk on HWY 53, check out harvested game during managed hunts at check station. Sign-in and sign-out is also available at the Horse Camp.
How many deer come off Dawson Forest WMA
Game Check shows 33 deer for Dawson Forest WMA in the 2025-26 season. 2023-24 was the top season (59); 2017-18 the leanest (24). 34 deer are in Game Check for 2026-27 so far; the season is still open. Gobblers reported in spring 2026: 18. All listed springs: 363. Reported numbers only: WRD publishes no compliance-adjusted estimate for a single area.
Dawson Forest WMA bucks and does
| Season | Bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 (in progress) | 12 | 22 | 34 |
| 2025-26 | 17 | 16 | 33 |
| 2024-25 | 18 | 27 | 45 |
| 2023-24 | 27 | 32 | 59 |
| 2022-23 | 12 | 21 | 33 |
| 2021-22 | 7 | 23 | 30 |
| 2020-21 | 11 | 22 | 33 |
| 2019-20 | 16 | 19 | 35 |
| 2018-19 | 11 | 21 | 32 |
| 2017-18 | 14 | 10 | 24 |
| 2016-17 | 7 | 24 | 31 |
Turkey counts, Dawson Forest WMA
| Spring | Birds reported |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | 18 |
| Spring 2025 | 30 |
| Spring 2024 | 32 |
| Spring 2023 | 23 |
| Spring 2022 | 27 |
| Spring 2021 | 43 |
| Spring 2020 | 43 |
| Spring 2019 | 48 |
| Spring 2018 | 32 |
| Spring 2017 | 39 |
| Spring 2016 | 28 |
Bears by county near Dawson Forest WMA
| County | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawson | 27 | 29 | 28 | 31 |
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.
Dawson Forest WMA: game list
Whitetails, black bears, gobblers, doves, coyotes, squirrels and rabbits and feral hogs, per the area record.
White-tailed deer
First line in the listing: Either Sex Last Two Days: Dec. 30-Jan. 2 (primitive).
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 Dawson Forest WMA
The agency text first, then linked areas.
Dawson Forest WMA as WRD describes it
The Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area is located in Dawson County. This 25,500-acre property offers hunting for deer, bear, turkey, small game, dove, and waterfowl. There are five sections (tracts) of the WMA, including Wildcat Creek, Goethe, Burnt Mountain, Amicalola, and City of Atlanta. The DNR Wildlife Resources Division owns 15,000 acres of the forest, with the City of Atlanta owning the lower 10,000 acres. Access includes several miles of improved road, marked improved trails, unnamed backcountry trails and old single-track roadbeds available for public use.
The forest also offers hunting, fishing and trail access opportunities for handicap users of the property year-round. All trails are closed all day during firearms deer hunts, except for use by hunters. Trails are closed prior to 10 am during archery deer season and turkey firearms season. Special rules apply to horse, bicycle, and camping use; rules are posted at trailhead, camping areas and WMA check station. Permits are required for horse, bicycle and camping use.
On the City of Atlanta Tract, bicycles may only be used on approved horse trails. Permits must be completed and on person to be valid. Camping allowed in designated locations only. Roads on the City of Atlanta tract are closed to vehicles daily from 10 pm – 6 am, except for individuals legally camping, hunting or fishing on the area. All trails are closed before 10:00 a.m. during turkey and archery deer seasons, and all day during deer firearms hunts.
Special rules for horses, bicycles, and camping are posted at the trailhead, campsites, and WMA check station. Permits are needed for horses, bikes, and camping. Permits must be on you to be valid. Camp only in designated areas. City of Atlanta Tract – roads are closed to vehicles from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. (unless lawfully camping, hunting, or fishing).
Planted dove fields, Dawson Forest WMA
| Property | Region | Field acres | Crop | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawson Forest WMA | 2 | 28 | Proso Millet, Wheat, Sorghum, Sunflowers | Good |
Text and lists from the source page, Georgia regulations, WRD GIS, WRD GIS; retrieved 2026-10-13, checked October 13, 2026.
Dawson Forest WMA on the map, with its neighbours
Dawson Forest WMA sits at the orange pin, with 12 public neighbours inside 30 miles. Together they publish 411,840 acres.
| Name | Type | Acres | Away | Bearing | Deer checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cochrans Creek WMA | WMA | 2,057 | 7 mi | north | 1 |
| McGraw Ford WMA | WMA | 2,067 | 10 mi | southwest | 38 |
| Blue Ridge WMA | WMA | 20,900 | 17 mi | north | 38 |
| Rich Mountain WMA: Cartecay Tract | WMA | 2,165 | 19 mi | northwest | 33 |
| Rich Mountain WMA | WMA | 20,674 | 21 mi | north | 6 |
| Lake Sidney Lanier | Corps lake | — | 22 mi | southeast | 36 |
| Chestatee WMA | WMA | 27,123 | 23 mi | northeast | 6 |
| Cooper's Creek WMA | WMA | 30,000 | 24 mi | northeast | 9 |
| Blue Ridge Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest) | Ranger district | 302,238 | 25 mi | northeast | — |
| Carter's Lake WMA | WMA | 3,300 | 26 mi | northwest | 44 |
| Don Carter State Park | State park | 1,316 | 28 mi | east | — |
| Carters Lake | Corps lake | — | 29 mi | northwest | — |
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.
Dawson Forest 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawsonville | Dawson | 6 mi | 4,875 | 23,561 |
| Jasper | Pickens | 12 mi | 5,289 | 7,843 |
| Dahlonega | Lumpkin | 15 mi | 7,830 | 28,679 |
| Cumming | Forsyth | 17 mi | 10,175 | 719 |
Its counties, each with a guide: Dawson County.
Local businesses for Dawson Forest WMA hunters
Who to call about Dawson Forest 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.
Dawson Forest WMA: nearest ranges
No range sits on Dawson Forest WMA; the nearest WRD-listed range is Rich Mountain: Cartecay Tract Archery Range, about 19 miles away. The other cards are private ranges within 30 miles.
Facilities: 3-D Targets (22)
Lines for trap, skeet, sporting clays, 5-stand, rifle, handgun, smallbore, muzzleloader, action pistol, archery, benchrest, silhouette, cowboy action and shotgun
Lines for trap, skeet, sporting clays, 5-stand, archery and shotgun
From the WRD range list and the GA DNR range layer, checked October 13, 2026.
Dawson Forest 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 Dawson Forest 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.
Dawson Forest WMA hunting kit
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Common Dawson Forest WMA questions
How many bucks came off Dawson Forest WMA?
17 bucks and 16 does were checked in 2025-26.
Can I hunt bears on Dawson Forest WMA?
Northern zone; bear appears in the listing.
Which areas are close to Dawson Forest WMA?
Within reach are Cochrans Creek WMA (7 miles), McGraw Ford WMA (10 miles) and Blue Ridge WMA (17 miles), nearest first.
Is blaze pink legal on Dawson Forest 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 Dawson Forest WMA?
Game Check within 24 hours, after noting date and county on the Harvest Record.
Can I put out corn on Dawson Forest WMA?
No; bait is only legal on private land with written permission.
What sort of property is Dawson Forest WMA?
Wildlife management area run by WRD, under the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division.
Is Dawson Forest WMA big enough for a full day?
25,658 acres, per Georgia 2026-27 Hunting Regulations (eRegulations) area listing.
Which town makes a good base for Dawson Forest WMA?
It lies in Dawson County. Dawsonville sits 6 miles away.
What license gets me onto Dawson Forest 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 Dawson Forest WMA?
Use Go Outdoors Georgia for the online sign-in, required for deer, bear and turkey.
What are the deer dates for Dawson Forest WMA?
Sept. 12-Oct. 9, archery, is the first listed. More lines sit in the season table.
Dawson Forest WMA: confirm before you go
The manager has the last word on Dawson Forest WMA. Read its page and the WRD guide the week of your hunt.
Sources for this page: WRD: dawson forest wma · Georgia regulations: wma regulations d h · 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: Cindy Sue Causey (CC BY 2.0); Wesley Fryer (CC BY 2.0).