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Dixon Memorial WMA Hunting
Everything we could verify about Dixon Memorial WMA: acreage, rules, dates, harvest and the ground nearby.
Photo: Matthew Mrizek (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Dixon Memorial WMA in brief
Sitting in Ware and Brantley counties, Dixon Memorial WMA is a wildlife management area run by WRD. Region 6 staff in Brunswick cover it for WRD. It is run by the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division. By area (35,247 acres) it comes 4th of the 121 WMAs. Roughly 7 miles separates it from Waycross, the closest town page on this site.
County context for Dixon Memorial WMA
| County | County seat | Population | Either-sex zone | Bear | Alligator | Game Check deer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ware County | Waycross | 36,222 | Green | Southern | Zone 6 | 1,278 |
| Brantley County | Nahunta | 18,795 | Green | Southern | Zone 6 | 584 |
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.
The 2026-27 Dixon Memorial WMA hunt calendar
Game with dates here this year: deer, bear, turkey, dove, coyote and small game (12 lines in all). 1 hunt is quota only, with 3 hunter slots between them; apply on Go Outdoors Georgia. Other marks in the list: 1 bonus deer line.
| Game | Hunt | Dates | Symbols | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | Sept. 12-23, 27-30, Oct.4-9, Dec. 13-Jan. 10 | — | |
| Deer | Firearms | Sept. 24-26, Nov. 5-7 | Bonus deer | Dog-deer hunting in designated area only. All dogs used in the hunt must be marked with the selected hunter’s name & valid phone number. Designated area is closed during hunts except to hunters with a valid quota permit. |
| Deer | Firearms | Oct. 1-3, Nov. 21-29 | — | Dog-deer hunting in designated area only. All dogs used in the hunt must be marked with the selected hunter’s name & valid phone number. Designated area is closed during hunts except to hunters with a valid quota permit. |
| Deer | Firearms | Buck Only: Oct. 10-Nov. 1 | — | Dog-deer hunting in designated area only. All dogs used in the hunt must be marked with the selected hunter’s name & valid phone number. Designated area is closed during hunts except to hunters with a valid quota permit. |
| Deer | Firearms | Dog Hunting/Buckshot Only: Nov. 13-14, Dec. 11-12 | Quota 3 | Dog-deer hunting in designated area only. All dogs used in the hunt must be marked with the selected hunter’s name & valid phone number. Designated area is closed during hunts except to hunters with a valid quota permit. |
| Bear | Archery | Sept. 17-19 | — | Bears may not be taken on the Federal portion of Cowhouse Island. |
| Bear | Firearms | Sept. 24-26, Oct.1-3, Nov. 5-7 | — | Bears may not be taken on the Federal portion of Cowhouse Island. |
| Turkey | — | Apr. 3-May 15 | — | |
| Dove | — | State Seasons | — | |
| Coyote | — | May 16-31. Feral hogs may be hunted with dogs. | — | |
| Small game | — | State Seasons. | — | |
| Waterfowl | — | State Seasons | — |
Dates and symbols from the 2026-27 Georgia regulations listing, wording as printed by the source. Checked October 13, 2026.
Dixon Memorial WMA: rules before the first hunt
Area rules first, then licenses, orange and bait.
Getting in at Dixon Memorial WMA
Visitors 16+ carry either a Georgia hunting or fishing license or the Lands Pass. Big game and turkey hunters complete the online sign-in first, available a day early. Apply early for the quota dates. On bonus hunts, check each deer at the area station that day.
- No airboats
- No ATVs/UTVs
License costs for Dixon Memorial WMA
Residents can skip the separate licenses with a Sportsman's License. Deer, bear and turkey hunters of any age carry the free Harvest Record.
Statewide rules at Dixon Memorial WMA
Georgia accepts blaze pink as well as orange: 500 square inches, worn above the waist, in gun and muzzleloader deer and bear hunts. Baiting is banned for any game or feral hog on state and federal land, WMAs and national forests included. Game Check reporting is due within 24 hours of harvest.
Dixon Memorial WMA: quota deadlines
Apply online by the deadline; points accumulate for every year you are not selected.
Finding Dixon Memorial WMA
From Waycross: Take U.S. 1 south 6 miles to HWY 177, turn north and follow signs to check station.
What hunters report from Dixon Memorial WMA
The 2025-26 Game Check total for Dixon Memorial WMA was 60 (32 antlered, 28 antlerless). High mark: 61 (2023-24). Low mark: 32 (2021-22). So far in 2026-27, 14 deer have been checked (season in progress). Spring 2026 brought 9 reported gobblers; the table sums to 144. Only reported animals appear here; WRD adjusts for non-reporting at county level, not per area.
Dixon Memorial WMA deer table
| Season | Bucks checked | Does checked | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 (in progress) | 8 | 6 | 14 |
| 2025-26 | 32 | 28 | 60 |
| 2024-25 | 18 | 23 | 41 |
| 2023-24 | 23 | 38 | 61 |
| 2022-23 | 28 | 15 | 43 |
| 2021-22 | 16 | 16 | 32 |
| 2020-21 | 20 | 30 | 50 |
| 2019-20 | 21 | 23 | 44 |
| 2018-19 | 20 | 18 | 38 |
| 2017-18 | 20 | 13 | 33 |
| 2016-17 | 22 | 22 | 44 |
Turkeys reported from Dixon Memorial WMA
| Season | Reported gobblers |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | 9 |
| Spring 2025 | 11 |
| Spring 2024 | 6 |
| Spring 2023 | 9 |
| Spring 2022 | 5 |
| Spring 2021 | 11 |
| Spring 2020 | 33 |
| Spring 2019 | 9 |
| Spring 2018 | 10 |
| Spring 2017 | 23 |
| Spring 2016 | 18 |
Deer from WRD deer harvest reports, turkeys from WRD turkey harvest layer; as of 2026-10-13. Checked October 13, 2026.
Game at Dixon Memorial WMA, with limits
The listing and the manager name whitetails, black bears, gobblers, doves, coyotes, squirrels and rabbits, ducks and geese and feral hogs for Dixon Memorial WMA.
White-tailed deer
Firearms dates: Buck Only: Oct. 10-Nov. 1.
Feral hog
Species from the area record; bag limits from the WRD bag limit table. Checked October 13, 2026.
About the land at Dixon Memorial WMA
From the agency page, word for word.
In the agency's own words
The Dixon Memorial Wildlife Management Area encompasses 36,100 acres of state-owned property operated by the Georgia Forestry Commission as a state forest. Hunting opportunities include deer, bear, turkey, small game and dove. Approximately one-half of the WMA acreage consists of upland pine forest and one-half is cypress-gum wetlands and creek drainage. ATV's and UTV's are not allowed on property. There are several access roads located off of U.S. Highway 1, GA Highway 177 (west and east of Highway 1), and U.S. Highway 82.
Please do not block gates and keep all vehicles on open improved roads. Archery only areas applies to deer only. Alligators may not be taken on the Federal portion of Cowhouse Island or Laura S. Walker State Park.
Dove fields on Dixon Memorial WMA
| Property | Region | Acres planted | Crops | Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dixon Memorial WMA | 6 | 42 | Browntop millet | Fair |
Related to Dixon Memorial WMA
| Area | Type | Where | Size (ac) | Deer checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Okefenokee NWR – Cowhouse Unit | Refuge hunt unit | — | — | — |
Text and lists from the source page, Georgia regulations, WRD GIS, WRD GIS; retrieved 2026-10-13, checked October 13, 2026.
Dixon Memorial WMA plotted with nearby areas
Dixon Memorial WMA sits at the orange pin, with 3 public neighbours inside 30 miles. Published acres across them: 427,368.
| Neighbour | Type | Acres | Miles off | Direction | Deer, last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 407,038 | 22 mi | south | 9 |
| Little Satilla WMA | WMA | 16,990 | 25 mi | northeast | 119 |
| Rogers WMA | WMA | 3,340 | 30 mi | northeast | 12 |
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.
Dixon Memorial WMA: nearest towns and businesses
Closest towns first; businesses by county and distance.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waycross | Ware | 7 mi | 13,671 | 20,840 |
| Sunnyside | Ware | 9 mi | — | 14,992 |
| Hoboken | Brantley | 11 mi | 505 | 19,282 |
| Blackshear | Pierce | 12 mi | 3,658 | 3,750 |
County guides: Ware County, Brantley County.
Services close to Dixon Memorial WMA
Agency offices by Dixon Memorial 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.
Sight in on Dixon Memorial WMA
Public ranges on Dixon Memorial WMA: Dixon Memorial Shooting Range.
Facilities: 100-yard Range, 25-yard Range
- The pass rule: hunting license, fishing license or Lands Pass.
- The free safety video certification is required for the gun range.
- Green-tip and armor-piercing rounds are banned.
From the WRD range list and the GA DNR range layer, checked October 13, 2026.
First and last light at Dixon Memorial WMA
Deer, turkey and small game hunters get 30 minutes of light on each side of the day; dove and waterfowl hunters quit at sundown.
Worked out for Dixon Memorial 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.
Dixon Memorial WMA gear list
Chosen for the game hunted here; listings load when you click.
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Dixon Memorial WMA: what hunters ask
Can I camp on Dixon Memorial WMA?
No, camping is not allowed.
How do I get a quota permit for Dixon Memorial WMA?
Apply for the 1 quota lines through Go Outdoors Georgia.
Are bears hunted near Dixon Memorial WMA?
Bear zone: Southern. Check the listing for bear dates.
How many deer are taken on Dixon Memorial WMA?
60 deer, 32 of them bucks, in Game Check for 2025-26.
What areas neighbour Dixon Memorial WMA?
Close by: Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (22 miles), Little Satilla WMA (25 miles) and Rogers WMA (30 miles), straight-line.
Which quota zone holds Dixon Memorial WMA?
Zone 6, quota permit holders only.
How fast must I report a kill on Dixon Memorial WMA?
Within 24 hours, by app, online or by phone at 1-800-366-2661.
Can I wear pink instead of orange on Dixon Memorial WMA?
Yes in gun and primitive weapons big game hunts: 500 sq in, orange or pink.
Which agency is in charge of Dixon Memorial WMA?
The Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division is the manager; the ground is a wildlife management area run by WRD.
Does the private-land bait rule apply on Dixon Memorial WMA?
No, public land is closed to baiting.
Which town makes a good base for Dixon Memorial WMA?
In Ware and Brantley counties, about 7 miles from Waycross.
Is Dixon Memorial WMA big enough for a full day?
Published acreage: 35,247.
Dixon Memorial WMA, the last word
Double-check Dixon Memorial WMA with its manager: open areas, gates, sign-in and any drawn hunts.
Sources for this page: WRD: dixon memorial 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: born1945 (CC BY 2.0); Dave Williss (CC BY 2.0).