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Region 1 (Armuchee) · 2026-27
Gilmer County Hunting
Doe days, bear and alligator zones, WMAs and other public ground, reported and adjusted deer harvest, gobbler counts and processors for Gilmer County in WRD Region 1.
Photo: StephenGA (CC0 1.0)
Gilmer County covers 426 square miles of land and 5 of water, governed from Ellijay. The county counted 33,327 people in 2024, roughly 78 per square mile. Public hunting here runs through 8 listed areas; the biggest by acreage is Blue Ridge Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest). 32,374 acres of public land lie within 10 miles of the county seat, Ellijay.
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.
What sets Gilmer County apart: zones and rules
Gilmer County is in the Orange zone, one of the north Georgia mountain colours: firearms season is mostly bucks only, with either-sex days on Nov 6-Nov 12, Nov 20-Nov 26 and Dec 28-Jan 10. Bag: 12 deer a season, up to 10 of them antlerless and 2 antlered.
Buck limit
Gilmer County follows the general rule: two bucks a season, one of which must have 4 points on a side or a 15-inch outside spread.
CWD testing
The four CWD Management Area counties are in south Georgia; this county is not one of them.
Hunting over bait
Gilmer County follows the statewide baiting law: private land yes (deer and hogs, written permission), public land never.
Bear hunting
In the Northern zone, bear season runs alongside deer season, from Sept. 12 to Jan. 10; take the hide and skull to a check point within 3 business days.
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.
What is open in Gilmer County this year
WRD sets most Georgia seasons statewide; the colour zone, bear zone and archery county lists are what make Gilmer County different.
| Species | Season | Applies | Opens | Closes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Gilmer County WMAs, federal tracts and parks
Gilmer County overlaps 8 records on the public land list; quota hunts on them are applied for through Go Outdoors Georgia. Gilmer County also sits within 35 miles of Blue Ridge WMA, Cochrans Creek WMA and Coosawattee WMA.
| Name | Category | Acres | Quota | Listed game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cohutta WMA | WMA | 92,647 in all | — | deer, bear, turkey… |
| Rich Mountain WMA | WMA | 20,674 in all | — | deer, bear, turkey… |
| Carter's Lake WMA | WMA | 3,300 in all | Some | deer, bear, turkey… |
| Rich Mountain WMA: Cartecay Tract | WMA | 2,165 | — | deer, bear, turkey… |
| Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests | Federal | 869,017 in all | — | bear, deer, turkey… |
| Blue Ridge Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest) | Federal | 302,238 in all | — | bear, deer, turkey… |
| Conasauga Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest) | Federal | 188,617 in all | — | bear, deer, turkey… |
| Carters Lake | Corps lake | — | — | — |
Over the county line: Blue Ridge WMA (16 miles), Cochrans Creek WMA (17 miles), Coosawattee WMA (19 miles), McEntire Road VPA (19 miles), Dawson Forest WMA (21 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.
Reported and adjusted deer harvest, Gilmer County
1,417 deer were reported in Gilmer County last season (2025-26), ranking it 60th in the state. The adjusted total, 1,731, works out to 3.28 deer a square mile, 94th of 159. Ten seasons back, 2016-17, the report was 665 (+113% since). So far in 2026-27 (through Oct. 12), Gilmer County hunters have checked 208 deer.
| Harvest year | Reported | Males | Females | Adjusted total | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 (to Oct. 12) | 208 | 108 | 100 | 250 | 0.48 |
| 2025-26 | 1,417 | 951 | 466 | 1,731 | 3.28 |
| 2024-25 | 1,150 | 786 | 364 | 1,614 | 2.66 |
| 2023-24 | 1,136 | 774 | 362 | 1,696 | 2.63 |
| 2022-23 | 1,139 | 737 | 402 | 1,467 | 2.64 |
| 2021-22 | 977 | 699 | 278 | 1,361 | 2.26 |
| 2020-21 | 830 | 573 | 257 | 1,106 | 1.92 |
| 2019-20 | 788 | 537 | 251 | 1,176 | 1.82 |
| 2018-19 | 768 | 457 | 311 | 1,088 | 1.78 |
| 2017-18 | 681 | 453 | 228 | 1,032 | 1.58 |
| 2016-17 | 665 | 404 | 261 | 894 | 1.54 |
Public land deer reports
| Public area | 2025-26 | 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|
| Rich Mountain WMA | 6 | 10 |
| Cohutta WMA | 4 | 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.
Gilmer County gobblers and other big game
Spring 2026 brought 151 reported gobblers in Gilmer County (0.35 per square mile). Spring 2027 opens Mar. 27 on private land (Apr. 3 on WMAs and the national forest) and closes May 15. The WMAs here added 22 from Cohutta WMA and 4 from Rich Mountain WMA in spring 2026.
| Spring | ’21 | ’22 | ’23 | ’24 | ’25 | ’26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game Check gobblers | 143 | 129 | 206 | 177 | 144 | 151 |
Bears checked
Gilmer County produced 27 legally harvested bears in 2025, 5th among north Georgia counties.
| Year | Legal | Boars | Sows | Roadkill | Total known |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 47 | 27 | 20 | 3 | 54 |
| 2023 | 31 | 14 | 17 | 6 | 38 |
| 2024 | 76 | 41 | 35 | 18 | 94 |
| 2025 | 27 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 43 |
Turkey: WRD Turkey Harvest service (Game Check, not adjusted). Bears: WRD north Georgia harvest summaries (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025). Checked October 13, 2026.
Gilmer County hunting services
Order of each group: Gilmer County listings, then neighbours by distance.
Deer processors
2 here take part in Hunters for the Hungry, run by WRD and the Georgia Wildlife Federation.
Mounts and taxidermy
Guided hunts
Outfitters and license agents
Region and warden 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.
Hunting hours near Gilmer County
Hunting opens 30 minutes before sunup statewide. Most game runs to 30 minutes after sundown, while migratory birds close at sunset.
Worked out for Gilmer 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.
From Gilmer County towns to the counties that touch it
Pick a base town in Gilmer County; its page lists the public land within reach and the daily legal hours.
- Ellijaycounty seat · 1,923 people in 2024 · 32,374 public acres close by (10 mi)
- Cherry Log60,036 public acres close by (10 mi)
- East Ellijay1,625 people in 2024 · 23,724 public acres close by (10 mi)
Next door to Gilmer County are 5 Georgia counties.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Before you burn in Gilmer County
- Permits: Year-round.
- Georgia EPD Summer Burn Ban counties (May 1 to Sep 30): Gilmer County is not on this list.
- Who declares bans: (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.
- Public land 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.
Gilmer County ranges and matches
1 range listed inside Gilmer County, Rich Mountain: Cartecay Tract Archery Range among them.
Facilities: 3-D Targets (22)
Ranges from the WRD range list and directory listings, checked October 13, 2026.
Fishing in Gilmer County
Lakes, rivers, boat ramps and bait shops for Gilmer County are on State Fishing Spots, our sister site.
Gilmer County queries from hunters
Do I need a Harvest Record to hunt deer in Gilmer County?
Yes. Every deer hunter, any age, needs the free Harvest Record.
Do archers wear orange in Gilmer County?
Yes during firearms and primitive weapons deer seasons.
Has chronic wasting disease reached Gilmer County?
Not so far. Only Atkinson, Berrien, Lanier and Lowndes make up the Management Area.
What deer processors are closest to Gilmer County?
Tailscreek Processing LLC, B & M Processing and Sheriff's Meat Processing, by straight-line distance.
Is every firearms day either sex in Gilmer County?
No. Only Nov 6-Nov 12, Nov 20-Nov 26 and Dec 28-Jan 10 are either sex.
How many deer per square mile are harvested in Gilmer County?
3.28 in 2025-26, by WRD’s adjusted estimate (94th statewide).
Is Gilmer County good turkey country?
It ranked 17th of 159 for reported gobblers in 2026 (151).
Which of the three bear zones covers Gilmer County?
The Northern zone, under WRD’s 2026 zone map.
Where should a public-land hunter start in Gilmer County?
With Cohutta WMA, Rich Mountain WMA and Carter's Lake WMA, sorted WMAs first.
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.
Road check for Gilmer County
WRD can change dates and limits between seasons. The printed guide is the legal reference.
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: Thomson M (CC BY 3.0); Judy Gallagher (CC BY 2.0); Tamparitus (CC BY-SA 4.0); Tamparitus (CC BY-SA 4.0); Tamparitus (CC BY-SA 4.0); Thomson20192 (CC0 1.0); StephenGA (CC0 1.0).