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Game Management Region 4
Emanuel County Hunting
A county guide to Emanuel County in south-central Georgia: deer and bear zones, every public tract, deer and turkey harvest rankings, towns, neighbours and nearby services.
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey (CC BY 2.0)
Emanuel County, 681 square miles in south-central Georgia, is run from Swainsboro and answers to the Fitzgerald region office. With about 23,224 residents in 2024, it averages near 34 people a square mile. 1 public area on the WRD, federal and Corps lists reach into the county, 1 WMA among them. Mapped public acreage inside 10 miles of Swainsboro: about 9,302.
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 Emanuel County
Emanuel County deer zone, bear zone and county rules
Green zone rules apply across Emanuel County, so a doe is legal on private land on all 88 firearms days, plus the full archery and primitive weapons seasons. The statewide season limit is 12 deer: up to 10 antlerless and up to 2 antlered.
Legal bucks
Only the statewide buck rule covers Emanuel County: one of the two antlered deer needs 4 points (1 inch+) on one antler or 15 inches of spread.
Dog-deer county
The guide lists Emanuel (Oct. 17-Jan. 10) for deer hunting with dogs, by DNR permit.
CWD here
No CWD rules beyond the statewide ones apply here; the Management Area is limited to Atkinson, Berrien, Lanier and Lowndes.
Feeding and bait
Over bait in Emanuel County? Fine on private land for deer and hogs if you carry written permission; illegal on public ground.
Black bear rules
Emanuel County is outside all three bear zones, so there is no bear season here.
Alligator zone
Zone 9 covers Emanuel County. Permits come through the summer quota drawing; the zone map lists 88 tags.
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.
2026-27 calendar for Emanuel County land
Emanuel County falls in the Green either-sex zone, which decides the doe days on private land. The 25 rows below are every dated segment that applies there.
| Game | Season | Covers | Begins | Finishes | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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: Emanuel | 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 |
| Alligator | Quota hunt (2026 season) | Zone 9 | 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 tracts on the Emanuel County map
1 public area from the WRD, federal and Corps lists reach into Emanuel County. Acres for areas that cross county lines are the whole area. Short drives out of the county: Big Dukes Pond WMA (24 miles), Hugh M. Gillis PFA (24 miles) and Indian Ford Farms Dove Field (25 miles).
| Public land | Kind | Acres | Quota | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohoopee Dunes WMA | WMA | 9,271 | Some hunts | deer, turkey, coyote… |
Close outside the line: Big Dukes Pond WMA (24 miles), Hugh M. Gillis PFA (24 miles), Indian Ford Farms Dove Field (25 miles), Di-Lane WMA (29 miles), River Bend WMA (32 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.
How many deer Emanuel County produces
Emanuel County logged 2,036 deer in Game Check for 2025-26, 23rd of Georgia’s 159 counties. Adjusting for hunters who never report, WRD estimates 3,050 deer, 17th statewide. In 2016-17 the county reported 2,418, so the change since is -16%. The in-progress 2026-27 bar shows 96 deer reported through Oct. 12.
| Year | Checked | Bucks | Does | Adjusted | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 (to Oct. 12) | 96 | 35 | 61 | 148 | 0.14 |
| 2025-26 | 2,036 | 979 | 1,057 | 3,050 | 2.95 |
| 2024-25 | 1,449 | 668 | 781 | 2,139 | 2.10 |
| 2023-24 | 2,055 | 982 | 1,073 | 2,885 | 2.98 |
| 2022-23 | 2,152 | 1,055 | 1,097 | 3,230 | 3.12 |
| 2021-22 | 1,906 | 972 | 934 | 2,795 | 2.76 |
| 2020-21 | 1,939 | 921 | 1,018 | 2,695 | 2.81 |
| 2019-20 | 1,782 | 831 | 951 | 2,629 | 2.58 |
| 2018-19 | 1,979 | 954 | 1,025 | 3,230 | 2.87 |
| 2017-18 | 2,506 | 1,197 | 1,309 | 3,973 | 3.63 |
| 2016-17 | 2,418 | 1,088 | 1,330 | 3,245 | 3.50 |
Deer by WMA
| Area | 2025-26 | 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|
| Ohoopee Dunes WMA | 1 | 3 |
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.
Gobbler counts and bear data for Emanuel County
Reported spring harvest in Emanuel County: 145 gobblers in 2026, out of 12,634 statewide. Turkeys must be reported through Game Check within 24 hours, like deer and bears. WMA gobblers in 2026: Ohoopee Dunes WMA 1.
| Spring of | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkeys reported | 128 | 133 | 143 | 125 | 130 | 145 |
Gator numbers
Quota hunters took 32 alligators in Zone 9 in 2024, averaging 102.1 inches.
| Year | Harvest | Average inches |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 32 | 102.1 |
| 2023 | 39 | 97.4 |
| 2021 | 34 | 95 |
Turkey: WRD Turkey Harvest service (Game Check, not adjusted). Alligators: WRD alligator reports. Checked October 13, 2026.
Emanuel County game processing and agency desks
Georgia keeps no taxidermist or guide registry, so these come from WRD partners and directories; Emanuel County entries lead.
Butchering and processing
Hunters for the Hungry lists 3 of them as participating processors.
Taxidermists
Guides and preserves
Gear shops
WRD and ranger 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.
Legal light at Emanuel County this week
WRD’s rule: half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset, with migratory birds ending right at sunset.
Worked out for Emanuel 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.
Emanuel County towns, plus bordering counties
Towns for Emanuel County hunters, starting from the courthouse town.
- Swainsboroseat of county · 7,556 people · 9,302 mapped public acres in 10 miles
- Adrian557 people · 3,907 mapped public acres in 10 miles
- Norristown7,281 mapped public acres in 10 miles
Emanuel County touches 10 other Georgia counties.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Fires, permits and bans around Emanuel County
- Permits: Year-round.
- Georgia EPD Summer Burn Ban counties (May 1 to Sep 30): Emanuel 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.
- Warming fires: 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.
Emanuel County: where to shoot
Inside the county line: 1 range, from WRD and club ranges to indoor lanes.
Lines for rifle, handgun, smallbore, muzzleloader, benchrest, highpower and silhouette
About 31 miles away, River Bend Archery Range is the closest public range Georgia DNR lists. Full page
Upcoming in Emanuel County
| Date and match | Category | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2026 · NRL22X at Cool Acres Sporting Camp | Precision rifle | Details |
| Feb 20, 2027 · NRL22X at Cool Acres Sporting Camp | Precision rifle | Details |
Ranges from the WRD range list and directory listings, checked October 13, 2026.
Emanuel County: short answers
What goes on the Harvest Record?
The date and county of the kill, before you move the animal, and later the Game Check confirmation number.
Do I need to wear orange in Emanuel County?
Yes, during primitive weapons and firearms deer and bear seasons: 500 square inches of orange or blaze pink above the waist.
Is Emanuel County in the CWD Management Area?
No.
Are deer dogs allowed in Emanuel County?
By permit, Oct. 17-Jan. 10.
Is Emanuel County in an alligator zone?
Yes, Zone 9.
Is there a deer processor in or near Emanuel County?
Yes: Indian Branch Deer Processing, Triple Cross Deer Processing and Buck & Boar Processing, nearest first.
What either-sex zone is Emanuel County in?
The Green zone, with 88 firearms either-sex days on private land.
How many deer did Emanuel County hunters report last season?
2,036 through Game Check in 2025-26; WRD scales that to 3,050 for non-reporting.
What was the 2026 turkey harvest in Emanuel County?
145 reported gobblers (0.21 per square mile).
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.
Packing up for Emanuel County
If anything here disagrees with the regulations guide, the guide wins.
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: Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Clinton Steeds (CC BY 2.0); grendelkhan (CC BY-SA 2.0); Wildreturn (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); TonySprezzatura (CC BY-SA 2.0); mbarrison (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); StephenGA (CC0 1.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0).