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WRD Thomson region
Wilkinson County Hunting
Everything county-level for Wilkinson County: either-sex days, extended archery and dog-deer status, public land with acres, 2025-26 deer harvest, towns and services.
Photo: David Dugan (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Irwinton is the seat of Wilkinson County, a 449 square mile county served by the WRD Thomson office. Census Vintage 2024 puts Wilkinson County at 8,667 people, -2.4% against 2020. Wilkinson County touches 1 wildlife management area and 1 other public tract.
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 Wilkinson County
Wilkinson County either-sex days and local rules
Wilkinson 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
Outside the CMA, deer from Wilkinson County need no test, though WRD still samples through processors and taxidermists.
Bait rules
Deer and feral hogs may be hunted over bait on private land in Wilkinson County with the landowner’s written permission. Bait is never legal on WMAs, the national forest or other public land.
Bear calendar
The county is not in the Northern, Central or Southern bear zone.
Alligator season
Wilkinson County alligator hunters draw for Zone 5 (110 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.
Wilkinson County season dates at a glance
Archery, primitive weapons, firearms, small game and furbearer dates for private land in Wilkinson 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 | |
| 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 5 | 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 Wilkinson County
Wilkinson County counts 2 listed areas open to hunters, and WMA deer, turkey and bear hunters must sign in before each hunt. Grey pins mark 5 more areas across the border.
| Land | Type | Size (ac) | By quota | Hunted for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaverdam WMA | WMA | 5,500 overall | — | deer, turkey, coyote… |
| Balls Ferry State Park | State park | 525 | — | deer, turkey, small game… |
Next door: Bartram Forest WMA (14 miles), Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (24 miles), Echeconnee Creek WMA (25 miles), River Bend WMA (31 miles), Ocmulgee WMA (31 miles).
Wilkinson County is on the list of counties with a WRD public dove field. Public 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.
Ten seasons of deer in Wilkinson County
Wilkinson County hunters checked in 753 bucks and 748 does in 2025-26, 1,501 in all. WRD’s adjusted figure for 2025-26 is 2,237, using reporting rates of 76% for bucks and 60% for does. Reported harvest peaked in 2016-17 (1,992) over the 2016-17-2025-26 run. Early 2026-27 reports, to Oct. 12: 123 deer, 95 of them does.
| Season | Total reported | Bucks | Does | Compliance-adjusted | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 (to Oct. 12) | 123 | 28 | 95 | 196 | 0.27 |
| 2025-26 | 1,501 | 753 | 748 | 2,237 | 3.32 |
| 2024-25 | 1,514 | 731 | 783 | 2,224 | 3.35 |
| 2023-24 | 1,791 | 879 | 912 | 2,509 | 3.96 |
| 2022-23 | 1,515 | 705 | 810 | 2,279 | 3.35 |
| 2021-22 | 1,633 | 827 | 806 | 2,398 | 3.61 |
| 2020-21 | 1,819 | 893 | 926 | 2,520 | 4.03 |
| 2019-20 | 1,847 | 832 | 1,015 | 2,730 | 4.09 |
| 2018-19 | 1,798 | 871 | 927 | 2,933 | 3.98 |
| 2017-18 | 1,645 | 835 | 810 | 2,598 | 3.64 |
| 2016-17 | 1,992 | 917 | 1,075 | 2,669 | 4.41 |
Deer from the WMAs here
| Area | 2025-26 reported | 2024-25 reported |
|---|---|---|
| Beaverdam WMA | 37 | 19 |
| Balls Ferry State Park | 1 | 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 Wilkinson County
Game Check logged 106 turkeys from Wilkinson County in 2026; the 2016-2026 average is 91. Youth and mobility-impaired hunters get Mar. 20-21, 2027 before the regular spring opener on Mar. 27. Spring 2026 on the WMAs: Beaverdam WMA, 3.
| Spring | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toms checked | 102 | 101 | 93 | 86 | 96 | 106 |
Gator harvest
WRD counted 25 alligators from Zone 5 in 2024.
| Year | Zone 5 alligators | Average length (in) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 25 | 107.1 |
| 2023 | 34 | 106.3 |
| 2021 | 24 | 93 |
Turkey: WRD Turkey Harvest service (Game Check, not adjusted). Alligators: WRD alligator reports. Checked October 13, 2026.
Wilkinson County: processing, mounts and license agents
Where Wilkinson County has too few listings, the bordering counties fill the gap.
Venison processing
Ask about Hunters for the Hungry if you have more venison than you need.
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 Wilkinson 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 Wilkinson 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.
Wilkinson County seat, towns and border counties
The 1 town below has its own page, the county seat listed first.
- Irwintonseat · 538 townspeople
Wilkinson County meets 7 in-state counties at its borders.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Burn bans and permits in Wilkinson County
- Burn permit: Year-round.
- Georgia EPD Summer Burn Ban counties (May 1 to Sep 30): Wilkinson 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.
- 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.
Wilkinson County gun ranges and clubs
2 ranges listed inside Wilkinson County, Beaverdam Shooting Range among them.
Facilities: 100-yard Range
Lines for skeet, sporting clays and 5-stand
Ranges from the WRD range list and directory listings, checked October 13, 2026.
Wilkinson County, answered
Is the deer harvest going up in Wilkinson County?
2025-26: 1,501 reported; 2024-25: 1,514; 2016-17: 1,992.
What day do rifles open for deer in Wilkinson County?
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, following the primitive weapons week; the gun season ends Jan. 10, 2027.
Is Wilkinson County in a bear zone?
No.
When is turkey season in Wilkinson 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 Wilkinson County?
No. Bear baiting is not allowed anywhere in Georgia.
What do I need to hunt a WMA in Wilkinson 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 Wilkinson 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 Wilkinson 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.
Wilkinson 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: DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0); James St. John (CC BY 2.0); stefpet (CC BY-SA 2.0); Judy Gallagher (CC BY 2.0); Juliana Chong (CC BY 2.0); See1,Do1,Teach1 (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Ligocsicnarf89 (CC BY 4.0); gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K (CC BY 2.0).