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Irwin County, Georgia
Alapaha River WMA Hunting Notes
2026-27 dates for whitetails, gobblers, doves and coyotes, quota lines, reported harvest, access rules and the nearest towns.
Photo: WWALS Watershed Coalition (CC BY 2.0)
Where Alapaha River WMA sits and who runs it
Alapaha River WMA is a wildlife management area run by WRD in Irwin County. It falls in Game Management Region 4, served by the Fitzgerald office. It is run by the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division. Size: 6,870 acres, number 51 of 121 WMAs. Look north of Enigma (the nearest town we cover), about 8 miles out.
County context for Alapaha River WMA
| County | Seat | People (2024) | Private-land deer zone | Bear zone | Gator zone | Deer checked 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irwin County | Ocilla | 9,155 | Green | None | Zone 4 | 1,123 |
From the source page (Georgia 2026-27 Hunting Regulations (eRegulations) area listing); counties and zones from the WRD county zone tables; county deer counts from WRD Game Check; population from the Census 2024 estimates. Checked October 13, 2026.
When Alapaha River WMA is open this season
Alapaha River WMA has 10 season lines in the 2026-27 guide, for deer, turkey, dove, coyote, small game and waterfowl. 2 of the lines carry a quota symbol, 65 hunters in all. The symbols flag 1 bonus deer line.
| Species | Season | Days open | Symbols | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | Sept. 12-Oct. 18 | — | |
| Deer | Firearms | Oct. 24-25, Nov. 25-29, Dec. 15-20 | — | |
| Deer | Firearms | Nov. 12-14 | Bonus deer | |
| Turkey | — | : Apr. 3-9 | Quota 15 | |
| Turkey | — | Apr. 10-May 15 | — | |
| Dove | — | Sept. 5 | Quota 50 Sign-in | |
| Dove | — | Sept. 12, 19, 26, Oct. 3, 10, Nov. 21-Nov. 29, Dec. 19-Jan. 31 | — | |
| Coyote | — | May 16 – 31 | — | |
| Small game | — | State Seasons | — | |
| Waterfowl | — | State Seasons | — |
Dates and symbols from the 2026-27 Georgia regulations listing, wording as printed by the source. Checked October 13, 2026.
Alapaha River WMA harvest from Game Check
Game Check logged 96 deer from Alapaha River WMA in 2025-26: 45 antlered, 51 antlerless. Since 2016-17, totals have run from 36 to 96. The 2026-27 season is under way: 8 deer reported so far. Turkey hunters reported 4 gobblers from Alapaha River WMA in spring 2026, and 76 across the springs shown. Unadjusted Game Check reports, the finest level WRD publishes.
Deer by season at Alapaha River WMA
| Year | Bucks | Does | Deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 (in progress) | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| 2025-26 | 45 | 51 | 96 |
| 2024-25 | 32 | 28 | 60 |
| 2023-24 | 19 | 31 | 50 |
| 2022-23 | 27 | 25 | 52 |
| 2021-22 | 16 | 20 | 36 |
| 2020-21 | 21 | 26 | 47 |
| 2019-20 | 25 | 23 | 48 |
| 2018-19 | 18 | 41 | 59 |
| 2017-18 | 26 | 34 | 60 |
| 2016-17 | 27 | 13 | 40 |
Alapaha River WMA turkey table
| Spring | Turkeys |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | 4 |
| Spring 2025 | 10 |
| Spring 2024 | 10 |
| Spring 2023 | 7 |
| Spring 2022 | 5 |
| Spring 2021 | 13 |
| Spring 2020 | 3 |
| Spring 2019 | 12 |
| Spring 2018 | 3 |
| Spring 2017 | 9 |
Deer from WRD deer harvest reports, turkeys from WRD turkey harvest layer; as of 2026-10-13. Checked October 13, 2026.
Alapaha River WMA: rules before the first hunt
The first card is specific to this ground; the rest are statewide rules that matter here.
Rules on Alapaha River WMA
Entry at 16 and up takes a Georgia license that covers state land, or a Georgia Lands Pass. For deer, bear and turkey you register on Go Outdoors Georgia, starting the previous day. Drawn (quota) hunts require an advance application. Bonus deer must go to the area check station the day they are taken.
Paperwork for Alapaha River WMA
A Sportsman's License bundles hunting, big game and fishing for residents; the Harvest Record is free but still required for deer, bear and turkey.
Alapaha River WMA: orange, pink and baiting
Wear 500 sq in of fluorescent orange or blaze pink above the waist whenever deer or bear firearms or primitive weapons hunts are on. The private-land baiting allowance stops at the boundary; public land is bait-free. Log the animal on your Harvest Record, then report it to Game Check within a day.
Drawn hunts on Alapaha River WMA
Quota draws use priority points, one per year without a draw.
Directions to Alapaha River WMA
From Ocilla: Take Hwy 319 West towards Tifton for 10 miles. Entrance on left.
Inside Alapaha River WMA
Agency description, field lists and related areas.
Description from WRD
The Alapaha River Wildlife Management Area encompasses 6,870 acres of state-owned land. The WMA consists of approximately 4,726 acres of upland pine forest and 2,143 acres of bottomland hardwood forest, creek drains, and cypress/gum wetlands. Please do not block gates and keep all vehicles on open improved roads. Roads that are not open to motorized vehicles are posted with a sign stating "No Vehicle Access". Please remember that all wildlife species, including snakes, are protected unless their take is specifically authorized in the WMA regulations.
Alapaha River WMA dove field crops
| Property | Region | Planted acres | Crop mix | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alapaha River WMA | 4 | 42 | Sunflowers, wheat | Fair |
Text and lists from the source page, Georgia regulations, WRD GIS, WRD GIS; retrieved 2026-10-13, checked October 13, 2026.
Game at Alapaha River WMA, with limits
Listed game for Alapaha River WMA: whitetails, gobblers, doves, coyotes, squirrels and rabbits and ducks and geese.
Species from the area record; bag limits from the WRD bag limit table. Checked October 13, 2026.
Alapaha River WMA on the map, with its neighbours
Inside a 30-mile ring sit 1 more area; orange marks Alapaha River WMA. That is 1,300 acres of listed ground.
| Area | Category | Acreage | Straight line | Direction | Game Check deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paradise PFA | Public fishing area | 1,300 | 8 mi | south | — |
Points from WRD, USFS, USFWS, NPS, DoD and Recreation.gov layers (WRD WMA Boundary GIS (polygon centroid)). Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Alapaha River WMA: nearest ranges
Paradise Archery Range in Berrien County is the nearest range on the WRD list, 8 miles out. Closer private options sit beside it.
Facilities: Bullseye Targets
Lines for rifle, handgun and smallbore
From the WRD range list and the GA DNR range layer, checked October 13, 2026.
Alapaha River WMA: nearest towns and businesses
Closest towns first; businesses by county and distance.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enigma | Berrien | 8 mi | 1,112 | 7,822 |
| Ocilla | Irwin | 9 mi | 2,917 | 6,230 |
| Tifton | Tift | 10 mi | 17,385 | 3,827 |
| Fitzgerald | Ben Hill | 15 mi | 8,813 | — |
Counties covered: Irwin County.
Help near Alapaha River WMA
Alapaha River WMA contacts
Towns and populations from the Census 2024 estimates; public acres within 10 miles from WRD, USFS, USFWS and DoD layers; businesses from WRD lists, store locators and listings; offices from WRD, DNR Law Enforcement and USFS pages. Checked October 13, 2026. Call ahead.
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A week of shooting light for Alapaha River WMA
WRD’s rule: half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset, with migratory birds ending right at sunset.
Worked out for Alapaha River WMA 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.
Alapaha River WMA, asked and answered
Which town makes a good base for Alapaha River WMA?
In Irwin County, about 8 miles from Enigma.
Which license covers Alapaha River WMA?
A Georgia hunting or fishing license works; otherwise buy the Lands Pass, $30.00 for residents.
Must I register before hunting Alapaha River WMA?
Online sign-in on Go Outdoors Georgia is required for big game and turkey.
When is the first deer hunt at Alapaha River WMA?
The guide lists Sept. 12-Oct. 18 first for deer. The table has every segment.
When do gobbler hunts run on Alapaha River WMA?
: Apr. 3-9 (Quota 15). Take one gobbler per area at most.
What game is listed for Alapaha River WMA?
The area lists whitetails, gobblers, doves, coyotes, squirrels and rabbits and ducks and geese.
Are hunts on Alapaha River WMA limited?
Quota: 2 lines, 65 hunters.
Can I camp during a hunt at Alapaha River WMA?
The area allows camping in designated spots.
How many deer get reported from Alapaha River WMA?
Hunters reported 96 deer in 2025-26 (45 bucks).
Are alligators hunted around Alapaha River WMA?
It is in zone 4; apply in the alligator draw.
What areas neighbour Alapaha River WMA?
Try Paradise PFA (8 miles); each has its own page.
How much orange does Alapaha River WMA require?
500 square inches of orange or blaze pink above the waist during primitive weapons and firearms deer and bear hunts.
Alapaha River WMA: confirm before you go
Public land rules change more often than the printed guide. Recheck Alapaha River WMA with the manager before you go.
Sources for this page: WRD: alapaha river wma · Georgia regulations: wma regulations a c · WRD GIS · WRD GIS · WRD: dove · WRD GIS; regulations from the 2026-27 Georgia hunting regulations. Checked October 13, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); Wesley Fryer (CC BY 2.0).