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WMA, east-central Georgia
Yuchi WMA A Hunter's Guide
7,800 acres of wma in Burke County, with 2026-27 dates, harvest numbers, licenses and a map.
Photo: Ospr3yy (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Yuchi WMA season dates, 2026-27
11 lines in this season's WRD listing apply to Yuchi WMA: deer, turkey, dove, coyote, small game and waterfowl. The quota lines (1) add up to 30 hunters. Also marked: 1 bonus deer line.
| Game | Type | Dates | Marks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | Sept. 12-Oct. 9 | — | |
| Deer | Primitive | Oct. 10-16 | — | |
| Deer | Firearms | Oct. 17-25, Nov. 21-29, Dec. 26-Jan. 1 | — | |
| Deer | Firearms | Buck Only: Oct. 26-28, Nov. 1-20, Nov. 30-Dec. 6 | — | |
| Deer | Firearms | Oct. 29-31 | Bonus deer | |
| Turkey | — | Apr. 3-9, 10-16 | Quota 30 | |
| Turkey | — | Apr. 17-May 15 | — | |
| Dove | — | Sept. 5-Oct. 11, Nov. 21-29, Dec. 19-Jan. 31 | Sign-in | |
| 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.
Yuchi WMA by the numbers
Think of Yuchi WMA as a wildlife management area run by WRD spread over Burke County. WRD handles it out of the Thomson office (Game Management Region 3). It is run by the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division. Its 7,800 acres put it 44th by size among 121 WMAs on our list. The nearest covered town is Sardis, around 9 miles off in a straight line.
Yuchi WMA, county by county
| County | Seat of county | People | Either-sex colour | Bear zone | Alligator | Deer checked, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burke County | Waynesboro | 24,472 | Green | None | Zone 9 | 3,322 |
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.
Deer and turkeys taken on Yuchi WMA
In 2025-26 the reported take on Yuchi WMA reached 75. The best season on the chart is 2025-26 at 75; the lowest, 31 in 2023-24. Early 2026-27 figure, still climbing: 5. The spring 2026 turkey count for Yuchi WMA was 18, out of 222 across the years shown. Treat them as a floor. They are Game Check entries, not adjusted totals.
Deer counts, Yuchi WMA
| Season | Antlered | Antlerless | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 (in progress) | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 2025-26 | 41 | 34 | 75 |
| 2024-25 | 29 | 8 | 37 |
| 2023-24 | 16 | 15 | 31 |
| 2022-23 | 20 | 18 | 38 |
| 2021-22 | 24 | 13 | 37 |
| 2020-21 | 26 | 12 | 38 |
| 2019-20 | 35 | 22 | 57 |
| 2018-19 | 37 | 22 | 59 |
| 2017-18 | 40 | 14 | 54 |
| 2016-17 | 25 | 17 | 42 |
Spring gobblers at Yuchi WMA
| Year | Gobblers |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | 18 |
| Spring 2025 | 21 |
| Spring 2024 | 13 |
| Spring 2023 | 12 |
| Spring 2022 | 11 |
| Spring 2021 | 31 |
| Spring 2020 | 24 |
| Spring 2019 | 31 |
| Spring 2018 | 23 |
| Spring 2017 | 22 |
| Spring 2016 | 16 |
Deer from WRD deer harvest reports, turkeys from WRD turkey harvest layer; as of 2026-10-13. Checked October 13, 2026.
Yuchi WMA described
Nothing here is our wording: it is the manager's own description.
Agency description
Yuchi Wildlife Management Area is a 7,800-acre property located in Burke County. This property offers hunting opportunities for deer, turkey and small game. Camping is allowed in designated sites only. Camping in designated sites only.
What WRD planted for doves at Yuchi WMA
| Dove field | Region | Acres | Crops | Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuchi WMA | 3 | 28 | browntop millet, sesame | Fair |
Text and lists from the source page, Georgia regulations, WRD GIS, WRD GIS; retrieved 2026-10-13, checked October 13, 2026.
Yuchi WMA licenses and access
Ground rules, then the paperwork.
Yuchi WMA ground rules
Anyone 16 or older needs a Georgia hunting or fishing license, or a Lands Pass, just to enter. Online sign-in is mandatory for deer, bear and turkey; it opens the day ahead. A few dates are quota only, so apply ahead. Bonus-hunt deer are checked at the station on the day of harvest.
Yuchi WMA license checklist
Big game hunters add the Big Game License to a hunting license, or buy the Sportsman's, and always carry the free Harvest Record.
Three statewide rules for Yuchi WMA
Orange or blaze pink, 500 square inches above the waist, during primitive weapons and firearms deer and bear hunts. Hunting over bait is unlawful on every state or federal property, this one included. Every deer, turkey and bear goes into Game Check within 24 hours.
Yuchi WMA quota draws
Permits are non-transferable, and each unsuccessful year adds one priority point.
Driving to Yuchi WMA
From Waynesboro: Take HWY 80 east 8 miles to Shell Bluff Community, turn right on HWY 23, travel 7 miles south, turn left on Ebenezer Church Rd., go 1 mile to Check Station on right.
Game at Yuchi WMA, with limits
Species with a season or a mention here: whitetails, gobblers, doves, coyotes, squirrels and rabbits and ducks and geese.
White-tailed deer
Listing starts with firearms, Buck Only: Oct. 26-28, Nov. 1-20, Nov. 30-Dec. 6.
Mourning dove
Listing starts with Sept. 5-Oct. 11, Nov. 21-29, Dec. 19-Jan. 31.
Species from the area record; bag limits from the WRD bag limit table. Checked October 13, 2026.
Yuchi WMA on the map, with its neighbours
Yuchi WMA sits at the orange pin, with 10 public neighbours inside 30 miles. Their published acreage adds up to 29,618.
| Public ground | Type | Acres | Distance | Which way | Deer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mead Farm WMA | WMA | 200 | 7 mi | west | 2 |
| Alexander WMA | WMA | 1,300 | 9 mi | southwest | 37 |
| Collins Road VPA | VPA property | 356 | 12 mi | northwest | — |
| Hiltonia WMA | WMA | 500 | 15 mi | south | 2 |
| Di-Lane WMA | WMA | 8,100 | 20 mi | southwest | 22 |
| Dixon Bay WMA | WMA | 300 | 20 mi | southeast | 2 |
| Spirit Creek Forest WMA | WMA | 570 | 23 mi | northwest | 9 |
| Big Dukes Pond WMA | WMA | 1,692 | 23 mi | southwest | 32 |
| Phinizy Swamp WMA | WMA | 1,500 | 25 mi | northwest | 1 |
| Tuckahoe WMA | WMA | 15,100 | 25 mi | southeast | 50 |
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.
Shooting range on Yuchi WMA
Yuchi WMA has its own public range: Yuchi Shooting Range.
Facilities: 100-yard Range
- Each shooter needs a license or Lands Pass.
- Firearm lines require the free Range Safety Video Certification on Go Outdoors Georgia.
- The range bans green-tip rounds.
From the WRD range list and the GA DNR range layer, checked October 13, 2026.
Yuchi WMA: nearest towns and businesses
Closest towns first; businesses by county and distance.
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sardis | Burke | 9 mi | 1,007 | 8,387 |
| Waynesboro | Burke | 14 mi | 5,555 | 7,954 |
| Perkins | Jenkins | 16 mi | — | 10,222 |
| Millen | Jenkins | 23 mi | 2,980 | 1,693 |
Read the county pages: Burke County.
Shops and processors by Yuchi WMA
WRD and ranger offices near Yuchi 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.
Gear picked for Yuchi WMA
Picked around the hunting done here; prices change daily.
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Hunting hours near Yuchi WMA
In Georgia, legal hunting hours run from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Doves, ducks and other migratory birds stop at sunset.
Worked out for Yuchi 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.
Yuchi WMA, asked and answered
How did Yuchi WMA do in 2025-26?
Reported deer, 2025-26: 75.
Is there a campground on Yuchi WMA?
Yes, in the designated camping areas.
Which areas are close to Yuchi WMA?
The closest on our list are Mead Farm WMA (7 miles), Alexander WMA (9 miles) and Collins Road VPA (12 miles).
What gator zone is Yuchi WMA in?
Zone 9. Gators need a quota permit.
Does game from Yuchi WMA go through Game Check?
Yes: deer, bear, turkey and alligator are reported on Game Check inside 24 hours.
What is the orange rule at Yuchi WMA?
Yes, 500 square inches of orange or pink during gun and muzzleloader big game dates.
What kind of place is Yuchi WMA?
The Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division manages this wildlife management area run by WRD.
Are feeders legal on Yuchi WMA?
No bait of any kind on public land.
Which town makes a good base for Yuchi WMA?
Sardis is closest (9 miles); the ground is in Burke County.
Is Yuchi WMA big enough for a full day?
7,800 acres, per Georgia 2026-27 Hunting Regulations (eRegulations) area listing.
Where do I sign in to hunt Yuchi WMA?
For bear, deer and turkey, yes, online, starting a day ahead.
Can I walk onto Yuchi WMA without a license?
Anyone 16 or older needs a Georgia hunting or fishing license, or a Lands Pass ($30.00 resident, $60.00 nonresident).
Yuchi WMA: confirm before you go
Before the drive to Yuchi WMA, confirm the listing dates, your licenses and any posted closures.
Sources for this page: WRD: yuchi wma · Georgia regulations: wma regulations t z · 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); vanhookc (CC BY-SA 2.0).