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Gainesville region county guide
Dawson County Hunting
Dawson County sits in the Orange either-sex zone and the Northern bear zone. Here are its 2026-27 dates, public land, Game Check deer and turkey numbers and local services.
Photo: samhozan (CC0 1.0)
Dawson County (211 square miles of land) lies in northeast Georgia, with Dawsonville as its county seat. Population in 2024: 33,748, up 25.9% from 2020. The public land list holds 4 records with ground in Dawson County, including Dawson Forest WMA and Cochrans Creek WMA. GIS puts around 23,561 public acres within a 10-mile radius of Dawsonville.
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.
Zones and special rules in Dawson County
Mountain counties carry fewer doe days, and Dawson County in the Orange zone has 28 of them with a firearm: Nov 6-Nov 12, Nov 20-Nov 26 and Dec 28-Jan 10. The Georgia season bag is 12 deer: no more than 10 antlerless and 2 antlered.
Two-buck limit
The county is not on the antler-restriction list. One of each hunter’s two bucks must still meet the 4-point or 15-inch standard.
Deer disease rules
CWD has not been found in or near Dawson County. Statewide, leave the carcass on the property, use a processor, or bag it for trash or a landfill.
Baiting
Georgia lets deer and hog hunters use bait on private land with written permission, and bans it on WMAs and federal land.
Bear season
Bear season here follows the Northern zone, with the longest calendar in the state, Sept. 12 to Jan. 10.
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.
Dawson County private-land seasons, 2026-27
17 species and 30 season segments reach Dawson County. The status column checks each against today’s date.
| Species | Hunt type | Zone or scope | From | Through | Status today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Private land | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery (Either-Sex) | Orange zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Primitive Weapons (Either-Sex) | Orange 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 (Antlered Bucks Only) | Orange zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 5, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms (Either-Sex) | Orange zone | Nov 6, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms (Antlered Bucks Only) | Orange zone | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 19, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms (Either-Sex) | Orange zone | Nov 20, 2026 | Nov 26, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms (Antlered Bucks Only) | Orange zone | Nov 27, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms (Either-Sex) | Orange zone | Dec 28, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Archery | Northern bear zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Primitive weapons & youth-only firearms | Northern bear zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Firearms | Northern bear zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| 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 |
| 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.
Dawson County public hunting land
The table holds every listed public tract touching Dawson County, 4 in all; tracts marked “all” extend into other counties. Nearest across the boundary: McGraw Ford WMA, Blue Ridge WMA and Lake Sidney Lanier.
| Tract | Managed as | Acreage | Quota hunts | Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawson Forest WMA | WMA | 25,658 | Yes | deer, bear, turkey… |
| Cochrans Creek WMA | WMA | 2,057 | — | deer, bear, turkey… |
| Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests | Federal | 869,017 whole area | — | bear, deer, turkey… |
| Blue Ridge Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest) | Federal | 302,238 whole area | — | bear, deer, turkey… |
Nearby areas outside the county: McGraw Ford WMA (12 miles), Blue Ridge WMA (17 miles), Lake Sidney Lanier (20 miles), Rich Mountain WMA: Cartecay Tract (21 miles), Chestatee WMA (21 miles).
A WRD dove field is planted in Dawson County for the season. WRD dove fields.
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.
Dawson County deer harvest and state rank
The 2025-26 Game Check total for Dawson County was 874 deer, 36% of them does. Because not every deer is reported, WRD puts the true figure near 1,151 (4.08 per square mile). The high point of the decade was 2024-25, with 936 reported. The 2026-27 season is under way: 140 deer had been reported by Oct. 12, 2026.
| Season | Reported deer | Bucks | Does | WRD estimate | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 (to Oct. 12) | 140 | 67 | 73 | 189 | 0.65 |
| 2025-26 | 874 | 560 | 314 | 1,151 | 4.08 |
| 2024-25 | 936 | 540 | 396 | 1,272 | 4.37 |
| 2023-24 | 829 | 496 | 333 | 980 | 3.87 |
| 2022-23 | 780 | 476 | 304 | 1,035 | 3.64 |
| 2021-22 | 639 | 422 | 217 | 807 | 2.98 |
| 2020-21 | 637 | 413 | 224 | 812 | 2.97 |
| 2019-20 | 595 | 398 | 197 | 837 | 2.77 |
| 2018-19 | 692 | 426 | 266 | 983 | 3.23 |
| 2017-18 | 628 | 410 | 218 | 870 | 2.93 |
| 2016-17 | 519 | 337 | 182 | 688 | 2.42 |
WMA deer harvest
| WMA | Deer 2025-26 | Deer 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|
| Dawson Forest WMA | 33 | 45 |
| Cochrans Creek WMA | 1 | — |
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.
Turkey, bear and alligator harvest in Dawson County
Dawson County hunters reported 69 gobblers in spring 2026, 75th (tied) among Georgia counties. Georgia has no fall turkey season; spring runs Mar. 27 to May 15, 2027 on private land with a two-gobbler limit. Public-land birds checked in 2026 include 18 on Dawson Forest WMA and 1 on Cochrans Creek WMA.
| Gobbler season | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gobblers reported | 92 | 74 | 83 | 110 | 94 | 69 |
Bear numbers
Dawson County ranks 4th for 2025 bears (31) in WRD’s north Georgia county table.
| Year | Harvest | Male | Female | Road-killed | All causes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 27 | 12 | 15 | 6 | 34 |
| 2023 | 29 | 13 | 16 | 5 | 34 |
| 2024 | 28 | 14 | 14 | 2 | 31 |
| 2025 | 31 | 17 | 14 | 3 | 35 |
Turkey: WRD Turkey Harvest service (Game Check, not adjusted). Bears: WRD north Georgia harvest summaries (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025). Checked October 13, 2026.
Dawson County venison, taxidermy and license stops
Businesses inside Dawson County are shown before those in bordering counties.
Meat processors
Donated venison reaches food banks through Georgia Hunters for the Hungry.
Taxidermy
Preserves and outfitters
Gun and bow shops
Agency 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.
Dawson County sunrise, sunset and shooting time
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 Dawson 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.
Dawson County town guides and adjacent counties
Dawson County has 1 town guide, each with its nearest WMAs, processors and shooting light.
- Dawsonvilleseat · 4,875 residents (2024) · 23,561 acres open to the public nearby
7 Georgia counties wrap around Dawson County.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Fires, permits and bans around Dawson County
- Burn permit: Year-round.
- Georgia EPD Summer Burn Ban counties (May 1 to Sep 30): Dawson County is on this list.
- Ban orders: (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.
- Fires on public land: 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.
Dawson County ranges and matches
The Dawson County list runs to 2 ranges; cards first, then any others in a table.
Lines for trap, skeet, sporting clays, 5-stand, rifle, handgun, smallbore, muzzleloader, action pistol, archery, benchrest, silhouette, cowboy action and shotgun
Lines for trap, skeet, sporting clays, 5-stand, archery and shotgun
Public range nearest the county: Rich Mountain: Cartecay Tract Archery Range, Gilmer County, 21 miles. Range page
Next local matches
| Date and event | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2026 · GAPPS Clay Target School-Hosted Shoot (Fideles Christian School) | Youth | Listing |
| Nov 14, 2026 · River Bend Gun Club CMP HP Rifle Match | High power | Register |
| Dec 5, 2026 · 2026 River Bend Gun Club EIC Match | High power | Register |
Ranges from the WRD range list and directory listings, checked October 13, 2026.
Dawson County on the Georgia events calendar
1 published result (UKC nite hunt), retrieved October 13, 2026.
Results
| Held | Event | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 18, 2026 | Gold City CHA UKC Nite Hunt (July 2026) · UKC nite hunt | Hunt 1: 1st NITECH'PR'Hunter's Wipeout Annie TW, Bruce Randolph 425+ Hunt 2: 1st GRNITECH(4) GRCH'PR'Dowdy's Etowah River Trip HTX TW, James Dowdy 450+ Bench show (GM) CCH GRCHHOF'PR'Wright's Rusty Sprocket ENG, Bradlee Wright (GF) CH'PR'Wrights Set Fire To The Rain TW, Chris Wright (SF) CH'PR'Mck Million Dollar Murph TW, Tiffany Withrow, Josh Sparks (M) CH'PR'Law Creek Rowdy Bocephus BLU, Brady Thomas (F) 'PR'Taylor's Rock Bottom Fern RED, Josh Taylor | Source |
Fishing in Dawson County
Lakes, rivers, boat ramps and bait shops for Dawson County are on State Fishing Spots, our sister site.
Dawson County hunting questions
When was CWD found in Georgia?
January 2025, in a hunter-harvested deer from Lanier County.
Can I wear pink instead of orange in Dawson County?
Yes. Georgia accepts fluorescent blaze pink in place of orange.
How many doe days does Dawson County get?
28 with a firearm in 2026-27, plus every archery and primitive weapons day.
Can a Dawson County hunter give venison to charity?
Yes, through Georgia Hunters for the Hungry at participating processors; the closest listed are The Steel Buffalo Butchery, Southers Deer Cooler and Franguno's Wild Cuts.
How many turkeys are killed in Dawson County?
69 gobblers were reported in spring 2026.
Where does Dawson County rank for deer harvest?
105th of 159 counties by Game Check reports in 2025-26 (874 deer).
Which wildlife management areas reach Dawson County?
Dawson Forest WMA and Cochrans Creek WMA.
Can I hunt bears in Dawson County?
Yes. It is in the Northern bear zone. Archery opens Sept. 12; firearms Oct. 17-Jan. 10.
How do I report a deer killed in Dawson County?
Record it on your Harvest Record before moving it, then report through Game Check within 24 hours.
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.
Dawson County trip checklist
Zone lines in Dawson County follow county borders and a few highways, so check the either-sex map before you tag a doe.
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: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (CC BY 2.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); ChattOconeeNF (CC BY 2.0); ChattOconeeNF (CC BY 2.0); ChattOconeeNF (CC0 1.0); jeffgunn (CC BY 2.0); Thomson20192 (CC0 1.0); StephenGA (CC0 1.0); Thomson20192 (CC0 1.0).