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East-central Georgia
Putnam County Hunting
Putnam County hunting from WRD data: 2026-27 private-land seasons, the WMAs and federal tracts in and near the county, ten years of deer harvest and where to process game.
Photo: ChattOconeeNF (CC BY 2.0)
Census measures Putnam County at 345 square miles of land; the courthouse is in Eatonton. Roughly 23,383 people lived there in 2024, 6.1% more than the 2020 base. Hunters have 6 public tracts to choose from inside the line, led by Oconee Ranger District (Oconee National Forest) at 116,724 acres. A 10-mile circle around Eatonton takes in some 47,004 acres of public ground.
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.
2026-27 zone rules for Putnam County
Doe hunters in Putnam County have it easy: the Green zone makes all 88 firearms days either sex on private land. Two antlered and ten antlerless deer, 12 in all, make up the season limit.
Buck rule
Putnam County has no county antler rule, so the statewide one applies: of two antlered deer, one must carry 4 points of an inch or more on a side or a 15-inch outside spread.
Chronic wasting disease
Statewide carcass rules apply: leave it where the deer fell, take it to a processor, or use trash service or a landfill.
Corn and feeders
Baiting is legal for deer and hogs on private land in Putnam County, written permission required; it is banned on every state and federal tract.
Bears
Putnam County has no bear season; the nearest zone counties are on the bear zone page.
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.
Georgia seasons that reach Putnam County
These dates cover private land. A WMA or the national forest can be shorter or quota-only, so check the area page before you go.
| Animal | Hunt | Scope | Starts | Ends | 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 | |
| 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.
Putnam County public areas with acreage
Here are all 6 public areas with ground in Putnam County, WMAs first, then federal land, parks and lakes. 5 out-of-county tracts also appear on the Putnam County map.
| Area | Owner type | Acres | Quota | Game named |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Creek WMA | WMA | 41,000 total | Some | deer, turkey, dove… |
| B.F. Grant WMA | WMA | 11,400 total | Some | deer, turkey, dove… |
| Oconee WMA | WMA | 7,930 total | Some | deer, turkey, small game… |
| Little River WMA | WMA | 1,475 | — | deer, turkey, coyote… |
| Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests | Federal | 869,017 total | — | bear, deer, turkey… |
| Oconee Ranger District (Oconee National Forest) | Federal | 116,724 total | — | deer, turkey, small game… |
Just beyond the county: Clybel WMA (23 miles), Bartram Forest WMA (24 miles), Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge (24 miles), Hitchiti Experimental Forest (25 miles), Redlands WMA (25 miles).
Public dove shooting: WRD lists a dove field in Putnam County. All 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.
Deer harvest in Putnam County, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Game Check shows 1,740 deer for Putnam County in 2025-26, 0.8% of the state’s reported harvest. Scaled up for non-reporting, the estimate is 2,337 deer, which ranks 43rd. Compared with 1,783 in 2016-17, reports are down 2%. This season’s running count stood at 283 on Oct. 12, before the firearms opener.
| Season | Reported | Bucks | Does | WRD adjusted | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 (to Oct. 12) | 283 | 102 | 181 | 388 | 0.79 |
| 2025-26 | 1,740 | 875 | 865 | 2,337 | 4.82 |
| 2024-25 | 1,956 | 972 | 984 | 2,684 | 5.42 |
| 2023-24 | 2,105 | 1,024 | 1,081 | 2,543 | 5.84 |
| 2022-23 | 1,773 | 908 | 865 | 2,399 | 4.92 |
| 2021-22 | 2,111 | 1,141 | 970 | 2,826 | 5.85 |
| 2020-21 | 2,077 | 1,087 | 990 | 2,706 | 5.76 |
| 2019-20 | 1,971 | 978 | 993 | 2,794 | 5.46 |
| 2018-19 | 1,880 | 1,009 | 871 | 2,703 | 5.21 |
| 2017-18 | 1,628 | 863 | 765 | 2,301 | 4.51 |
| 2016-17 | 1,783 | 841 | 942 | 2,477 | 4.94 |
WMA Game Check deer
| Tract | 2025-26 | 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|
| Oconee WMA | 149 | 119 |
| Cedar Creek WMA | 93 | 68 |
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.
Putnam County turkey and bear numbers
145 gobblers were checked in Putnam County in spring 2026, ranking 19th (tied) of 159. These are Game Check reports, not adjusted estimates; WRD’s 2024 survey put the statewide gobbler harvest at 11,924. Cedar Creek WMA and Oconee WMA reported 48 and 12 gobblers in 2026.
| Season | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reported birds | 95 | 86 | 114 | 110 | 110 | 145 |
Turkey: WRD Turkey Harvest service (Game Check, not adjusted). Checked October 13, 2026.
Butchers, mounts and shops serving Putnam County
Each group starts inside the county line and then reaches into adjacent counties.
Processors nearby
3 of these take donated deer for Georgia Hunters for the Hungry.
Taxidermy shops
Outfitters nearby
Sporting goods and licenses
Who to call
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.
First and last light at Putnam County
Whitetails, turkeys and squirrels: sunrise minus 30 minutes to sunset plus 30. Migratory birds: same start, but they end at sunset.
Worked out for Putnam 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.
Towns of Putnam County, then its ring of counties
Public acres beside each town are a GIS total for a 10-mile circle, not a published figure.
- Eatontoncourthouse town · 6,641 inhabitants · 47,004 acres of public land inside 10 miles
- Crooked Creek5,158 acres of public land inside 10 miles
Putnam County shares borders with 6 Georgia counties.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Burn bans and permits in Putnam County
- When a permit is needed: Year-round.
- Georgia EPD Summer Burn Ban counties (May 1 to Sep 30): Putnam County is on this list.
- Who sets a ban: (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.
Putnam County gun ranges and clubs
2 ranges listed inside Putnam County, Cedar Creek Shooting Range and Rock Hawk/Oconee Archery Range among them.
Facilities: 100-yard Range
Facilities: 17 3-D Targets, 5 Static Targets
Ranges from the WRD range list and directory listings, checked October 13, 2026.
Putnam County on the Georgia events calendar
NWTF banquet and youth hunt account for 2 upcoming events here.
Scheduled
| On | Event | Where held | Sign-up | Found at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 6–8, 2026 | Artemis Georgia Deer Hunt at Lake Oconee · Youth hunt | Lake Oconee, Eatonton, Putnam Co. | Apply | Source |
| Jan 22, 2027 | Lake Oconee Longbeards · NWTF banquet | Eatonton, Putnam Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
Putnam County hunters often ask
Can I hunt turkeys in the fall in Putnam County?
No. Georgia opens turkeys in spring only, and only for gobblers.
Can I hunt bears in Putnam County?
No. The county is outside the Northern, Central and Southern bear zones.
Are there quota hunts on public land in Putnam County?
Quota hunts are listed for Oconee WMA, Cedar Creek WMA and B.F. Grant WMA.
How does Georgia’s bait law apply in Putnam County?
Deer and hogs may be hunted over bait on private land with written permission; WMAs and federal land stay bait-free.
How long do I have to report a turkey from Putnam County?
24 hours, through Game Check.
Do turkey hunters need orange in Putnam County?
No; the orange rule covers deer, bear and hogs during gun seasons.
What do I do with a deer carcass in Putnam County?
Leave it on the property, use a processor, or put it in household trash or a landfill.
Where do Putnam County hunters drop off deer?
Most often at Misfits Deer Processing, The Meat Shed and Just Right Deer Processing.
What are the deer dates in Putnam County for 2026-27?
Archery Sept. 12, primitive weapons Oct. 10-16, firearms Oct. 17-Jan. 10.
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.
Go time in Putnam County
Dates on this page are for 2026-27. Confirm with WRD before the trip.
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: ChattOconeeNF (CC BY 2.0); docoverachiever (CC BY 2.0); ChattOconeeNF (CC BY 2.0); US Forest Service – Southern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Forest Service Photography (Public Domain Mark 1.0); US Forest Service – Southern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Scott Heron (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0).