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WRD Brunswick region
Clinch County Hunting
Everything county-level for Clinch County: either-sex days, extended archery and dog-deer status, public land with acres, 2025-26 deer harvest, towns and services.
Photo: sgharvey (CC BY 2.0)
Homerville is the seat of Clinch County, a 815 square mile county served by the WRD Brunswick office. Census Vintage 2024 puts Clinch County at 6,871 people, +1.9% against 2020. Clinch County touches 0 wildlife management areas and 2 other public tracts. Within 10 miles of Homerville there are about 333 acres of mapped public land.
Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates (population), WRD region and zones from the GA County Zones layer, public acres within 10 miles from WRD, USFS, USFWS and DoD boundaries. Checked October 13, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Clinch County
Clinch County either-sex days and local rules
Clinch County gets the Green zone treatment, meaning no buck-only stretch on private land and 88 firearms days when a doe is legal. Statewide, a hunter may take 12 deer per season, 10 antlerless and 2 antlered at most.
Antlered deer
Buck rules here are statewide: any antlered deer for the first, a 4-point or 15-inch-spread buck for the other.
Hounds for deer
Dog-deer hunting is allowed by permit in Clinch (Oct. 17-Jan. 10), on large leased or owned tracts only.
CWD and carcasses
Outside the CMA, deer from Clinch County need no test, though WRD still samples through processors and taxidermists.
Bait rules
Deer and feral hogs may be hunted over bait on private land in Clinch County with the landowner’s written permission. Bait is never legal on WMAs, the national forest or other public land.
Bear calendar
Four three-day bear hunts, Thursday to Saturday, make up the Southern zone season.
Alligator season
Clinch County alligator hunters draw for Zone 6 (88 tags on the 2023 map).
Zones from the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division either-sex days, bear and turkey rules and 2026-27 guide (PDF); DMU from the GA County Zones layer. Checked October 13, 2026.
Clinch County season dates at a glance
Archery, primitive weapons, firearms, small game and furbearer dates for private land in Clinch County, taken from the 2026-27 guide.
| Game | Segment | Zone | First day | Last day | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Private land | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery (Either-Sex) | Green zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms (Antlerless Only) | Green zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Primitive Weapons (Either-Sex) | Green zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Primitive weapons & youth-only firearms | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms (Either-Sex) | Green zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Hunting deer with dogs (either sex) | Dog-deer: Clinch | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Firearms | Southern bear zone | Sep 17, 2026 | Sep 19, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Firearms | Southern bear zone | Sep 24, 2026 | Sep 26, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Firearms | Southern bear zone | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 3, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Firearms | Southern bear zone | Oct 8, 2026 | Oct 10, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Special Opportunity (youth under 16 and mobility-impaired) | Private land | Mar 20, 2027 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring gobbler | Private land | Mar 27, 2027 | May 15, 2027 | |
| Feral hog | Private land | Private land | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Alligator | Quota hunt (2026 season) | Zone 6 | Aug 14, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Rabbits | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Hunting (gray and fox squirrel) | Statewide | Aug 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Year-round (unprotected) | Private land | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Raccoon | Hunting | Private land | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Opossum | Hunting | Private land | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Gray and red fox | Hunting (gray and red fox) | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Armadillo | Year-round (unprotected) | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Groundhog | Year-round (unprotected) | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Beaver | Year-round (unprotected) | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Nutria | Year-round (unprotected) | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
From the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division 2026-27 big game seasons, either-sex days and small game seasons, checked October 13, 2026.
Public ground in and around Clinch County
Clinch County counts 2 listed areas open to hunters, and WMA deer, turkey and bear hunters must sign in before each hunt. Grey pins mark 4 more areas across the border.
| Land | Type | Size (ac) | By quota | Hunted for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge | Federal | 407,038 overall | Yes | deer, feral hog, turkey… |
| Dupont Tract VPA | VPA | 349 | — | deer, bear, turkey… |
Next door: Lola Tract VPA (20 miles), Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge (26 miles), Grand Bay WMA (26 miles), Dixon Memorial WMA (27 miles).
Public land from WRD area listings in the 2026-27 guide, the WRD WMA boundary layer, USFS, USFWS and Corps pages, checked October 13, 2026. Acres within 10 miles of the county seat are a GIS measure. All Georgia public land · Quota hunts.
Ten seasons of deer in Clinch County
Clinch County hunters checked in 409 bucks and 475 does in 2025-26, 884 in all. WRD’s adjusted figure for 2025-26 is 1,556, using reporting rates of 68% for bucks and 50% for does. Reported harvest peaked in 2025-26 (884) over the 2016-17-2025-26 run. Early 2026-27 reports, to Oct. 12: 58 deer, 29 of them does.
| Season | Total reported | Bucks | Does | Compliance-adjusted | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 (to Oct. 12) | 58 | 29 | 29 | 101 | 0.07 |
| 2025-26 | 884 | 409 | 475 | 1,556 | 1.07 |
| 2024-25 | 715 | 340 | 375 | 1,313 | 0.87 |
| 2023-24 | 736 | 358 | 378 | 1,250 | 0.89 |
| 2022-23 | 649 | 284 | 365 | 1,120 | 0.79 |
| 2021-22 | 564 | 261 | 303 | 980 | 0.68 |
| 2020-21 | 564 | 281 | 283 | 1,008 | 0.68 |
| 2019-20 | 565 | 279 | 286 | 971 | 0.69 |
| 2018-19 | 389 | 198 | 191 | 820 | 0.47 |
| 2017-18 | 491 | 237 | 254 | 1,102 | 0.60 |
| 2016-17 | 557 | 268 | 289 | 974 | 0.68 |
Deer from the WMAs here
| Area | 2025-26 reported | 2024-25 reported |
|---|---|---|
| Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge | 9 | 10 |
WRD DeerHarvestReports service and deer harvest dashboard (county summary; 2026-27 through Oct. 12, 2026 and provisional). Adjusted values and per-square-mile figures are WRD’s. Checked October 13, 2026.
Spring turkeys and more from Clinch County
Game Check logged 75 turkeys from Clinch County in 2026; the 2016-2026 average is 54. Youth and mobility-impaired hunters get Mar. 20-21, 2027 before the regular spring opener on Mar. 27.
| Spring | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toms checked | 63 | 43 | 68 | 72 | 59 | 75 |
Bear harvest by year
WRD does not publish bear harvest for Clinch County by county; the Southern zone as a whole took 157 in 2025.
| Year | Bears, zone |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 157 |
| 2024 | 95 |
| 2023 | 175 |
| 2022 | 173 |
| 2021 | 136 |
Gator harvest
WRD counted 30 alligators from Zone 6 in 2024.
| Year | Zone 6 alligators | Average length (in) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 30 | 100.6 |
| 2023 | 33 | 99.3 |
| 2021 | 30 | 97 |
Turkey: WRD Turkey Harvest service (Game Check, not adjusted). Bears: WRD bear harvest by zone. Alligators: WRD alligator reports. Checked October 13, 2026.
Clinch County: processing, mounts and license agents
Where Clinch County has too few listings, the bordering counties fill the gap.
Venison processing
Taxidermists nearby
Hunting preserves
Gun stores and license agents
Wildlife and law enforcement offices
Processors: Georgia Hunters for the Hungry, WRD CWD drop-off sites and directory listings; shops from the Go Outdoors Georgia license agent locator and directories; guides from Discover Georgia Outdoors; offices from WRD, DNR Law Enforcement and USFS. Checked October 13, 2026; call ahead. All Georgia hunting services.
A week of shooting light for Clinch County
Georgia shooting time starts a half hour before sunrise. Big game and small game end a half hour after sunset; doves and ducks end at sunset.
Worked out for Clinch County 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.
Clinch County seat, towns and border counties
The 2 towns below have their own page, the county seat listed first.
- Homervilleseat · 2,357 townspeople · 333 acres of WMA and federal land within 10 miles
- Fargo263 townspeople · 28,802 acres of WMA and federal land within 10 miles
Clinch County meets 4 in-state counties at its borders, and Baker (FL) and Columbia (FL) beyond Georgia.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Burning rules in Clinch County
- When a permit is needed: Year-round.
- Georgia EPD Summer Burn Ban counties (May 1 to Sep 30): Clinch County is not on this list.
- Burn bans come from: (1) The State Forester/GFC Director may order outdoor burning banned in one or more counties when drought or other conditions make burning unusually hazardous (O.C.G.A.
- Campfires while hunting: Georgia DNR WMAs: Rule 391-4-2-.60(8) allows camping and other recreational use year-round unless indicated or posted otherwise at the check station or site.
Clinch County gun ranges and clubs
No range sits in Clinch County on our list. These three are closest.
Facilities: 100-yard Range, 25-yard Range
Lines for rifle, handgun, smallbore, archery and shotgun
Lines for handgun and rifle
For a public range, Dixon Memorial Shooting Range (Ware County) is roughly 31 miles away. Hours and rules
Ranges from the WRD range list and directory listings, checked October 13, 2026.
Clinch County, answered
When is alligator season in Clinch County?
The 2026 quota season ran from sunset Aug. 14 to sunrise Oct. 5.
Do I need a permit for dog-deer hunting in Clinch County?
Yes, a DNR permit for a qualifying tract.
What day do rifles open for deer in Clinch County?
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, following the primitive weapons week; the gun season ends Jan. 10, 2027.
Which processor should I try first in Clinch County?
Start with W.G. Meat Processing, the nearest listing, and call ahead; hours change in season.
When is turkey season in Clinch County?
Mar. 27 to May 15, 2027 on private land; youth and mobility-impaired hunters get Mar. 20-21.
Is the deer harvest going up in Clinch County?
2025-26: 884 reported; 2024-25: 715; 2016-17: 557.
What do I need to hunt a WMA in Clinch County?
A Georgia hunting license and sign-in for deer, turkey and bear hunts on Go Outdoors Georgia; visitors 16 and up without a license need a Georgia Lands Pass.
How many bears are killed in Clinch County?
WRD publishes only the Southern zone total: 157 in 2025.
What is Game Check?
Georgia’s reporting system for deer, turkey, bear and alligator; use the Outdoors GA app, GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com or 1-800-366-2661.
Answers drawn from the 2026-27 Georgia hunting guide, big game seasons, harvest reporting rules, WRD Game Check data and the sources cited above. Checked October 13, 2026.
Clinch County, final word
WMAs post their own dates, quota hunts and sign-in rules. Read the area page before you go.
Sources: WRD 2026-27 hunting guide (PDF), big game seasons, Georgia Wildlife Resources Division, Census and the agencies linked in each section. Checked October 13, 2026.
Other photos on this page: David Wilson (CC BY 2.0); Joe K Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0); davidwilson1949 (CC BY 2.0); gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K (CC BY 2.0); Ryan Hagerty (Public domain); wallygrom (CC BY-SA 2.0).