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2026-27 · Wildlife refuge
Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge for Hunters
Who runs it, what the regulations list for whitetails, gobblers, feral hogs and squirrels and rabbits, how many deer and gobblers are reported, and the public land around it in Bibb and Twiggs counties.
Photo: John and Karen Hollingsworth, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public domain)
Bond Swamp NWR by the numbers
Hunters find Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Bibb and Twiggs counties; it is a national wildlife refuge with a hunt program. Game Management Region 3 (Thomson) takes in this ground. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages it. At 7,760 acres it ranks 6th of 9 Georgia refuges with a published size. From Macon, our nearest town guide, head southeast for roughly 8 miles.
Bond Swamp NWR, county by county
| County | Seat | Residents | ESZ colour | Bear | Gator | Checked deer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bibb County | Macon | 157,056 | Green | Central | Zone 5 | 393 |
| Twiggs County | Jeffersonville | 7,728 | Green | Central | Zone 5 | 1,338 |
From the source page (USFWS refuge hunting page ("the 7,760-acre refuge")); 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.
Bond Swamp NWR hunt dates and quota lines
The 2026-27 regulations list 7 dated lines for Bond Swamp NWR, covering deer, turkey, small game and waterfowl. 260 quota permits are spread over 3 dated lines. It also carries 1 youth line.
| Species | Hunt | Open days | Guide symbols | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | Sept. 12-Nov. 1 | — | |
| Deer | Firearms | Nov. 14-15 | Youth | |
| Deer | Firearms | Nov. 20-21, Dec. 4-5 | Quota 200 | |
| Turkey | — | Apr. 3-4, 16-17 | Quota 40 | Bag Limit: 1 gobbler |
| Small game | — | Squirrel: Aug. 15-Sept. 11 | — | Bag Limit: 1 fox squirrel/day |
| Small game | — | Squirrel/Rabbit/Quail: Dec. 6-Jan. 31 | — | Bag Limit: 1 fox squirrel/day |
| Waterfowl | — | Dec. 18-19, Jan. 1-2, 15-16, 29-30 | Quota 20 | Legal hours end at noon. |
Dates and symbols from the 2026-27 Georgia regulations listing, wording as printed by the source. Checked October 13, 2026.
Bond Swamp NWR licenses and access
What applies here, card by card.
Entry and limits, Bond Swamp NWR
All hunting requires a refuge-specific permit; some hunts are quota hunts (deer, turkey, waterfowl). Contact the Piedmont Refuge office for applications, permits and refuge regulations. Harvest must be reported through Georgia Game Check.
- No May 16-31 coyote season
What to buy before Bond Swamp NWR
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 Bond Swamp NWR
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 Bond Swamp NWR hunts
Draw results come by email; unsuccessful applicants gain a point.
How many deer come off Bond Swamp NWR
Game Check shows 26 deer for Bond Swamp NWR in the 2025-26 season. 2020-21 was the top season (47); 2016-17 the leanest (21). 1 deer are in Game Check for 2026-27 so far; the season is still open. Gobblers reported in spring 2026: 5. All listed springs: 41. Reported numbers only: WRD publishes no compliance-adjusted estimate for a single area.
Bond Swamp NWR bucks and does
| Season | Bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 (in progress) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025-26 | 10 | 16 | 26 |
| 2024-25 | 21 | 10 | 31 |
| 2023-24 | 24 | 14 | 38 |
| 2022-23 | 30 | 12 | 42 |
| 2021-22 | 15 | 14 | 29 |
| 2020-21 | 24 | 23 | 47 |
| 2019-20 | 21 | 14 | 35 |
| 2018-19 | 23 | 16 | 39 |
| 2017-18 | 22 | 15 | 37 |
| 2016-17 | 14 | 7 | 21 |
Turkey counts, Bond Swamp NWR
| Spring | Birds reported |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | 5 |
| Spring 2025 | 4 |
| Spring 2024 | 2 |
| Spring 2022 | 2 |
| Spring 2021 | 6 |
| Spring 2020 | 2 |
| Spring 2019 | 2 |
| Spring 2018 | 9 |
| Spring 2017 | 2 |
| Spring 2016 | 7 |
Deer from WRD deer harvest reports, turkeys from WRD turkey harvest layer; as of 2026-10-13. Checked October 13, 2026.
Bond Swamp NWR: game list
Whitetails, gobblers, feral hogs, squirrels and rabbits and ducks and geese, per the area record.
White-tailed deer
First line in the listing: Sept. 12-Nov. 1 (archery).
Feral hog
Ducks and geese
First line in the listing: Dec. 18-19, Jan. 1-2, 15-16, 29-30.
Species from the area record; bag limits from the WRD bag limit table. Checked October 13, 2026.
The ground at Bond Swamp NWR
The agency text first, then linked areas.
Bond Swamp NWR as the Fish and Wildlife Service describes it
Established in 1989 to conserve forested wetland in the floodplain of the Ocmulgee River. Access is primarily by foot with limited road access; the refuge floods frequently. Small game: squirrel, rabbit, quail. Feral hogs may only be taken during refuge deer and small game hunts. Baiting prohibited.
Text and lists from the source page, USFWS, FWS realty layer, Georgia regulations; retrieved 2026-10-13, checked October 13, 2026.
Bond Swamp NWR on the map, with its neighbours
Bond Swamp NWR sits at the orange pin, with 10 public neighbours inside 30 miles. Together they publish 77,646 acres.
| Name | Type | Acres | Away | Bearing | Deer checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echeconnee Creek WMA | WMA | 750 | 8 mi | south | 2 |
| Oaky Woods WMA | WMA | 13,450 | 20 mi | south | 45 |
| Ocmulgee WMA | WMA | 15,475 | 23 mi | south | 52 |
| Hitchiti Experimental Forest | Experimental forest | 4,591 | 23 mi | north | — |
| Perry Dove Field | Dove field | 226 | 23 mi | south | 2 |
| Flat Creek PFA | Public fishing area | 850 | 25 mi | southwest | 24 |
| Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 35,000 | 26 mi | north | 8 |
| Rum Creek WMA: Berry Creek Area | WMA | 161 | 26 mi | northwest | 5 |
| Rum Creek WMA | WMA | 5,800 | 26 mi | northwest | 36 |
| Bartram Forest WMA | WMA | 1,343 | 28 mi | northeast | 17 |
Points from WRD, USFS, USFWS, NPS, DoD and Recreation.gov layers (FWS National Realty FWSInterest_Simplified (polygon centroid, Georgia portion)). Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Bond Swamp NWR: nearest towns and businesses
Town guides first, then businesses in the same and neighbouring counties.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macon | Bibb | 8 mi | 157,056 | 8,861 |
| Centerville | Houston | 9 mi | 9,021 | 6,499 |
| Warner Robins | Houston | 11 mi | 86,199 | 7,263 |
| Jeffersonville | Twiggs | 15 mi | 926 | — |
Its counties, each with a guide: Bibb County, Twiggs County.
Local businesses for Bond Swamp NWR hunters
Who to call about Bond Swamp NWR
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.
Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge: nearest ranges
No range sits on Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge; the nearest WRD-listed range is Flat Creek Archery Range, about 25 miles away. The other cards are private ranges within 30 miles.
Facilities: Bullseye Targets, 3-D targets
Lines for rifle, handgun, smallbore, muzzleloader and shotgun
Lines for trap, skeet, sporting clays, 5-stand and shotgun
From the WRD range list and the GA DNR range layer, checked October 13, 2026.
Bond Swamp NWR 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 Bond Swamp NWR 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.
Bond Swamp NWR hunting kit
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Common Bond Swamp NWR questions
What can be hunted at Bond Swamp NWR?
Per the area record, whitetails, gobblers, feral hogs, squirrels and rabbits and ducks and geese.
Is Bond Swamp NWR a draw hunt?
Some hunts are drawn (260 permits across 3 lines).
How many bucks came off Bond Swamp NWR?
10 bucks and 16 does were checked in 2025-26.
Can I hunt bears on Bond Swamp NWR?
Central zone; no bear dates are listed for the area.
Is Bond Swamp NWR in an alligator hunt zone?
Alligator zone 5; hunting is by quota permit only.
Which areas are close to Bond Swamp NWR?
Within reach are Echeconnee Creek WMA (8 miles), Oaky Woods WMA (20 miles) and Ocmulgee WMA (23 miles), nearest first.
Is blaze pink legal on Bond Swamp NWR?
Orange or pink, 500 square inches, whenever firearms or primitive weapons deer or bear hunts are on.
Where do I check game taken on Bond Swamp NWR?
Game Check within 24 hours, after noting date and county on the Harvest Record.
Can I put out corn on Bond Swamp NWR?
No; bait is only legal on private land with written permission.
What sort of property is Bond Swamp NWR?
National wildlife refuge with a hunt program, under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Is Bond Swamp NWR big enough for a full day?
7,760 acres, per USFWS refuge hunting page ("the 7,760-acre refuge").
Which town makes a good base for Bond Swamp NWR?
It lies in Bibb and Twiggs counties. Macon sits 8 miles away.
Bond Swamp NWR: confirm before you go
The manager has the last word on Bond Swamp NWR. Read its page and the WRD guide the week of your hunt.
Sources for this page: USFWS: hunting · USFWS: bond swamp · FWS realty layer · Georgia regulations: federal area regulations · DNR Law Enforcement: specialfederalregulations; regulations from the 2026-27 Georgia hunting regulations. Checked October 13, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Airwolfhound (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0).