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Houston County, Georgia
Oaky Woods 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: Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Where Oaky Woods WMA sits and who runs it
Oaky Woods WMA is a wildlife management area run by WRD in Houston and Pulaski counties. It falls in Game Management Region 3, served by the Thomson office. It is run by the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division. Size: 13,450 acres, number 28 of 121 WMAs. Look east of Perry (the nearest town we cover), about 11 miles out.
County context for Oaky Woods WMA
| County | Seat | People (2024) | Private-land deer zone | Bear zone | Gator zone | Deer checked 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston County | Perry | 174,897 | Green | Central | Zone 3 | 1,120 |
| Pulaski County | Hawkinsville | 10,180 | Green | None | Zone 5 | 713 |
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.
When Oaky Woods WMA is open this season
Oaky Woods WMA has 9 season lines in the 2026-27 guide, for deer, turkey, coyote, small game and waterfowl. 1 of the lines carry a quota symbol, 80 hunters in all. The symbols flag 1 bonus deer line and 1 youth line.
| Species | Season | Days open | Symbols | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | Sept. 12-Oct. 4, Nov. 7-13 | — | |
| Deer | Firearms | Oct. 10-16 | Youth | |
| Deer | Firearms | Either-Sex Last Day: Oct. 29-31, Dec. 3-5 | Bonus deer | |
| Deer | Firearms | Buck Only: Dec. 21-27 | — | |
| Turkey | — | Apr. 3-9 | Quota 80 | |
| Turkey | — | Apr. 10-May 15 | — | |
| Coyote | — | May 16-31 | — | |
| 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.
Oaky Woods WMA harvest from Game Check
Game Check logged 45 deer from Oaky Woods WMA in 2025-26: 14 antlered, 31 antlerless. Since 2016-17, totals have run from 9 to 45. The 2026-27 season is under way: 13 deer reported so far. Turkey hunters reported 12 gobblers from Oaky Woods WMA in spring 2026, and 97 across the springs shown. Unadjusted Game Check reports, the finest level WRD publishes.
Deer by season at Oaky Woods WMA
| Year | Bucks | Does | Deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 (in progress) | 4 | 9 | 13 |
| 2025-26 | 14 | 31 | 45 |
| 2024-25 | 14 | 13 | 27 |
| 2023-24 | 14 | 12 | 26 |
| 2022-23 | 9 | 20 | 29 |
| 2021-22 | 7 | 5 | 12 |
| 2020-21 | 9 | 9 | 18 |
| 2019-20 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| 2018-19 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| 2017-18 | 15 | 12 | 27 |
| 2016-17 | 6 | 13 | 19 |
Oaky Woods WMA turkey table
| Spring | Turkeys |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | 12 |
| Spring 2025 | 9 |
| Spring 2024 | 4 |
| Spring 2023 | 9 |
| Spring 2022 | 3 |
| Spring 2021 | 13 |
| Spring 2020 | 8 |
| Spring 2019 | 9 |
| Spring 2018 | 12 |
| Spring 2017 | 9 |
| Spring 2016 | 9 |
Deer from WRD deer harvest reports, turkeys from WRD turkey harvest layer; as of 2026-10-13. Checked October 13, 2026.
Oaky Woods WMA: rules before the first hunt
The first card is specific to this ground; the rest are statewide rules that matter here.
Rules on Oaky Woods 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. Bonus deer must go to the area check station the day they are taken.
- No bear hunting
- Legal hours for waterfowl end at noon
Paperwork for Oaky Woods 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.
Oaky Woods 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 Oaky Woods WMA
Quota draws use priority points, one per year without a draw.
Directions to Oaky Woods WMA
From Perry: Take HWY 127 east 8 miles to HWY 247, turn right, go 1 mile, turn left on Oaky Woods Rd. At fork veer right and go 1.7 miles to check station.
Inside Oaky Woods WMA
Agency description, field lists and related areas.
Description from WRD
Oaky Woods Wildlife Management Area is located in Houston and Pulaski Counties. This 13,200-acre property offers hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, small game, coyote and feral hog. The Main Gates are closed every year: March 1st through the day before turkey season and June 1st through August 14th. Oaky Woods Wildlife Management Area was purchased, in part, to provide lands for the Central Georgia Black Bear Population. Research has shown that the WMA is used more by bears during closed periods than during open periods.
The campground is still open for year-round use and the area can still be used for hiking purposes.
Text and lists from the source page, Georgia regulations, WRD GIS, WRD GIS; retrieved 2026-10-13, checked October 13, 2026.
Game at Oaky Woods WMA, with limits
Listed game for Oaky Woods WMA: whitetails, gobblers, coyotes, squirrels and rabbits and ducks and geese.
White-tailed deer
Opening line: Either-Sex Last Day: Oct. 29-31, Dec. 3-5, firearms.
Species from the area record; bag limits from the WRD bag limit table. Checked October 13, 2026.
Oaky Woods WMA on the map, with its neighbours
Oaky Woods WMA sits at the orange pin, with 5 public neighbours inside 30 miles. That is 25,061 acres of listed ground.
| Area | Category | Acreage | Straight line | Direction | Game Check deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocmulgee WMA | WMA | 15,475 | 4 mi | southeast | 52 |
| Perry Dove Field | Dove field | 226 | 11 mi | west | 2 |
| Echeconnee Creek WMA | WMA | 750 | 12 mi | north | 2 |
| Flat Creek PFA | Public fishing area | 850 | 14 mi | west | 24 |
| Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 7,760 | 20 mi | north | 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.
Oaky Woods WMA: nearest ranges
Ocmulgee Archery Range in Pulaski County is the nearest range on the WRD list, 9 miles out. Closer private options sit beside it.
Facilities: 3-D Trail, Static Range Targets
Lines for trap, skeet, sporting clays and 5-stand
From the WRD range list and the GA DNR range layer, checked October 13, 2026.
Oaky Woods WMA: nearest towns and businesses
Closest towns first; businesses by county and distance.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perry | Houston | 11 mi | 24,792 | 3,186 |
| Hawkinsville | Pulaski | 11 mi | 4,854 | 11,598 |
| Cochran | Bleckley | 12 mi | 4,836 | 15,468 |
| Warner Robins | Houston | 12 mi | 86,199 | 7,263 |
Counties covered: Houston County, Pulaski County.
Help near Oaky Woods WMA
Oaky Woods 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 Oaky Woods 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 Oaky Woods 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.
Oaky Woods WMA, asked and answered
Can I camp during a hunt at Oaky Woods WMA?
The area allows camping in designated spots.
How many deer get reported from Oaky Woods WMA?
Hunters reported 45 deer in 2025-26 (14 bucks).
What bear zone covers Oaky Woods WMA?
Central. The area lists no bear season.
Are alligators hunted around Oaky Woods WMA?
It is in zone 3, 5; apply in the alligator draw.
What areas neighbour Oaky Woods WMA?
Try Ocmulgee WMA (4 miles), Perry Dove Field (11 miles) and Echeconnee Creek WMA (12 miles); each has its own page.
How much orange does Oaky Woods 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 Oaky Woods 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 Oaky Woods WMA?
Not here: the baiting allowance covers private land only.
What kind of place is Oaky Woods WMA?
It is a wildlife management area run by WRD, managed by the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division.
Is Oaky Woods WMA big enough for a full day?
About 13,450 acres.
Which town makes a good base for Oaky Woods WMA?
In Houston and Pulaski counties, about 11 miles from Perry.
Which license covers Oaky Woods WMA?
A Georgia hunting or fishing license works; otherwise buy the Lands Pass, $30.00 for residents.
Oaky Woods WMA: confirm before you go
Public land rules change more often than the printed guide. Recheck Oaky Woods WMA with the manager before you go.
Sources for this page: WRD: oaky woods wma · Georgia regulations: wma regulations i p · WRD GIS · WRD GIS · WRD GIS; regulations from the 2026-27 Georgia hunting regulations. Checked October 13, 2026.
Other photos on this page: fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); Department of the Interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Conservation Training Center. 10/1997-8888 (Public domain).