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WRD Brunswick region
Lowndes County Hunting
Everything county-level for Lowndes County: either-sex days, extended archery and dog-deer status, public land with acres, 2025-26 deer harvest, towns and services.
Photo: VLMPO (CC BY 2.0)
Valdosta is the seat of Lowndes County, a 497 square mile county served by the WRD Brunswick office. Census Vintage 2024 puts Lowndes County at 122,082 people, +3.2% against 2020. Lowndes County touches 1 wildlife management area and 1 other public tract. Within 10 miles of Valdosta there are about 3,107 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 Lowndes County
Lowndes County either-sex days and local rules
Lowndes 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.
CWD and carcasses
The CWD Management Area covers Lowndes County. Positive deer no longer count toward the bag, and processing fees may be reimbursed.
Bait rules
Deer and feral hogs may be hunted over bait on private land in Lowndes 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
Lowndes County alligator hunters draw for Zone 4 (94 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.
Lowndes County season dates at a glance
Archery, primitive weapons, firearms, small game and furbearer dates for private land in Lowndes 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 | |
| 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 4 | 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 Lowndes County
Lowndes County counts 2 listed areas open to hunters, and WMA deer, turkey and bear hunters must sign in before each hunt. Grey pins mark 2 more areas across the border.
| Land | Type | Size (ac) | By quota | Hunted for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Bay WMA | WMA | 8,700 overall | — | deer, turkey, small game… |
| Lola Tract VPA | VPA | 391 overall | — | deer, bear, turkey… |
Next door: Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge (16 miles), Dupont Tract VPA (27 miles).
Moody Air Force Base (Main Base) is off limits to hunters.
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 Lowndes County
Lowndes County hunters checked in 657 bucks and 563 does in 2025-26, 1,220 in all. WRD’s adjusted figure for 2025-26 is 2,096, using reporting rates of 68% for bucks and 50% for does. Reported harvest peaked in 2017-18 (1,294) over the 2016-17-2025-26 run. Early 2026-27 reports, to Oct. 12: 59 deer, 44 of them does.
| Season | Total reported | Bucks | Does | Compliance-adjusted | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 (to Oct. 12) | 59 | 15 | 44 | 111 | 0.12 |
| 2025-26 | 1,220 | 657 | 563 | 2,096 | 2.39 |
| 2024-25 | 932 | 496 | 436 | 1,686 | 1.83 |
| 2023-24 | 1,199 | 633 | 566 | 2,041 | 2.35 |
| 2022-23 | 1,095 | 581 | 514 | 1,856 | 2.15 |
| 2021-22 | 1,030 | 560 | 470 | 1,751 | 2.02 |
| 2020-21 | 1,152 | 563 | 589 | 2,061 | 2.26 |
| 2019-20 | 1,044 | 501 | 543 | 1,791 | 2.04 |
| 2018-19 | 1,110 | 528 | 582 | 2,344 | 2.17 |
| 2017-18 | 1,294 | 568 | 726 | 2,873 | 2.54 |
| 2016-17 | 1,119 | 530 | 589 | 1,957 | 2.19 |
Deer from the WMAs here
| Area | 2025-26 reported | 2024-25 reported |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Bay WMA | 35 | 23 |
| Lola Tract VPA | 2 | 2 |
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 Lowndes County
Game Check logged 105 turkeys from Lowndes County in 2026; the 2016-2026 average is 93. 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 | 107 | 69 | 95 | 91 | 68 | 105 |
Bear harvest by year
WRD does not publish bear harvest for Lowndes 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 18 alligators from Zone 4 in 2024.
| Year | Zone 4 alligators | Average length (in) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 18 | 92.7 |
| 2023 | 19 | 99.7 |
| 2021 | 26 | 80 |
Turkey: WRD Turkey Harvest service (Game Check, not adjusted). Bears: WRD bear harvest by zone. Alligators: WRD alligator reports. Checked October 13, 2026.
Lowndes County: processing, mounts and license agents
Where Lowndes 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 Lowndes 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 Lowndes 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.
Lowndes County seat, towns and border counties
The 3 towns below have their own page, the county seat listed first.
- Valdostaseat · 55,667 townspeople · 3,107 acres of WMA and federal land within 10 miles
- Bemiss10,960 acres of WMA and federal land within 10 miles
- Naylor11,674 acres of WMA and federal land within 10 miles
Lowndes County meets 5 in-state counties at its borders, and Hamilton (FL) and Madison (FL) beyond Georgia.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Fires, permits and bans around Lowndes County
- Permits: Year-round.
- Georgia EPD Summer Burn Ban counties (May 1 to Sep 30): Lowndes County is not 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.
- 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.
Lowndes County gun ranges and clubs
Lowndes County holds 2 listed ranges; none of them is on the WRD list.
Lines for handgun and rifle
Lines for archery and 3D archery
For a public range, Ranges at Oakfield (Thomas County) is roughly 38 miles away. Hours and rules
County match dates
| Date, shoot | Format | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 2026 · Hahira Middle School October 30 Bullseye | NASP | Schedule |
| Nov 13, 2026 · Hahira Middle School November 13 Bullseye | NASP | Schedule |
| Nov 14, 2026 · Pine Grove Middle School November 14 Bullseye | NASP | Schedule |
| Nov 19, 2026 · Centerfire Steel Plate Match | Steel | Entry |
| Dec 4, 2026 · Hahira Middle School December 4 Bullseye | NASP | Schedule |
| Dec 16, 2026 · Hahira Middle School December 16 Bullseye | NASP | Schedule |
Ranges from the WRD range list and directory listings, checked October 13, 2026.
Lowndes County on the Georgia events calendar
NWTF banquet account for 1 upcoming event here.
Next dates
| Held | What | Where | Link | Source page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 11, 2027 | Lowndes Longspurs, GA · NWTF banquet | Hahira, Lowndes Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
Lowndes County, answered
Is the deer harvest going up in Lowndes County?
2025-26: 1,220 reported; 2024-25: 932; 2016-17: 1,119.
What day do rifles open for deer in Lowndes County?
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, following the primitive weapons week; the gun season ends Jan. 10, 2027.
How many bears are killed in Lowndes County?
WRD publishes only the Southern zone total: 157 in 2025.
When is turkey season in Lowndes County?
Mar. 27 to May 15, 2027 on private land; youth and mobility-impaired hunters get Mar. 20-21.
Is it legal to bait bears in Lowndes County?
No. Bear baiting is not allowed anywhere in Georgia.
What do I need to hunt a WMA in Lowndes 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 much orange is required in Lowndes County?
500 square inches above the waist, orange or blaze pink.
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.
When is alligator season in Lowndes County?
The 2026 quota season ran from sunset Aug. 14 to sunrise Oct. 5.
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.
Lowndes 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: WWALS Watershed Coalition (CC BY 2.0); michaelhunter5 (CC BY 2.0); Michael Rivera (CC BY-SA 3.0); Felton Davis (CC BY 2.0); Felton Davis (CC BY 2.0); VLMPO (CC BY 2.0); Frank.Vassen (CC BY 2.0).