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2026-27 · WMA
Cedar Creek WMA for Hunters
Who runs it, what the regulations list for whitetails, gobblers, doves and coyotes, how many deer and gobblers are reported, and the public land around it in Putnam, Jones and Jasper counties.
Photo: ChattOconeeNF (CC BY 2.0)
Where Cedar Creek WMA sits and who runs it
Hunters find Cedar Creek WMA in Putnam, Jones and Jasper counties; it is a wildlife management area run by WRD. Game Management Region 3 (Thomson) takes in this ground. It is run by the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division. At 41,000 acres it ranks 2nd of 121 Georgia WMAs with a published size. From Eatonton, our nearest town guide, head southwest for roughly 11 miles.
Cedar Creek WMA, county by county
| County | Seat | Residents | ESZ colour | Bear | Gator | Checked deer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Putnam County | Eatonton | 23,383 | Green | None | — | 1,740 |
| Jones County | Gray | 29,047 | Green | None | Zone 5 | 1,471 |
| Jasper County | Monticello | 17,219 | Green | None | — | 1,871 |
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.
Cedar Creek WMA hunt dates and quota lines
The 2026-27 regulations list 11 dated lines for Cedar Creek WMA, covering deer, turkey, dove, coyote, small game and waterfowl. 100 quota permits are spread over 1 dated line. It also carries 2 bonus deer lines and 1 specialty hunt.
| Species | Hunt | Open days | Guide symbols | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | Sept. 12-Oct. 21, Oct. 25-Nov. 11, 15-22, Dec. 14-Jan. 1 | — | |
| Deer | Firearms | Either-Sex Last Day: Oct. 22-24 | Bonus deer | |
| Deer | Firearms | Nov. 12-14 | Bonus deer | |
| Deer | Firearms | Nov. 23-29 | Specialty | |
| Deer | Firearms | Buck Only: Nov. 30-Dec. 13 | — | |
| Turkey | — | Apr. 3-9 | Quota 100 | |
| Turkey | — | Apr. 10-May 15 | — | |
| Dove | — | Sept. 5, 12, 19, 26, Oct. 3-11, Nov. 21-22, Dec. 19-Jan. 31 | — | |
| Coyote | — | May 16-31 | — | |
| Small game | — | State Seasons | — | |
| Waterfowl | — | — | — | Waterfowl allowed during state season dates that overlap with small game dates. |
Dates and symbols from the 2026-27 Georgia regulations listing, wording as printed by the source. Checked October 13, 2026.
Cedar Creek WMA licenses and access
What applies here, card by card.
Entry and limits, Cedar Creek WMA
No license, no entry for those 16 and up: a Georgia hunting or fishing license or a Lands Pass is required. Sign in on Go Outdoors Georgia before any bear, deer or turkey hunt (open the day before). Quota hunts need an application before the deadline. Same-day check at the station for bonus deer.
- Legal hours for waterfowl end at noon
What to buy before Cedar Creek WMA
Most residents buy the Sportsman's License. Whatever you buy, log deer, bear and turkey on the free Harvest Record.
Orange, bait and Game Check on Cedar Creek WMA
500 square inches of orange or blaze pink above the waist is the rule for gun and primitive weapons big game hunts. Keep corn and feed at home: baiting is prohibited on state and federally managed land. Report deer, bear and turkey on Georgia Game Check within 24 hours.
Applying for Cedar Creek WMA hunts
Draw results come by email; unsuccessful applicants gain a point.
Cedar Creek WMA by road
From Monticello: Take HWY 16 east 3/4 mile, take right fork on HWY 212, go 12 miles to check station sign on the right, follow arrow 0.5 mile to check station.
How many deer come off Cedar Creek WMA
Game Check shows 93 deer for Cedar Creek WMA in the 2025-26 season. 2023-24 was the top season (103); 2018-19 the leanest (47). 34 deer are in Game Check for 2026-27 so far; the season is still open. Gobblers reported in spring 2026: 48. All listed springs: 345. Reported numbers only: WRD publishes no compliance-adjusted estimate for a single area.
Cedar Creek WMA bucks and does
| Season | Bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 (in progress) | 8 | 26 | 34 |
| 2025-26 | 41 | 52 | 93 |
| 2024-25 | 20 | 48 | 68 |
| 2023-24 | 42 | 61 | 103 |
| 2022-23 | 26 | 49 | 75 |
| 2021-22 | 27 | 31 | 58 |
| 2020-21 | 43 | 34 | 77 |
| 2019-20 | 27 | 29 | 56 |
| 2018-19 | 32 | 15 | 47 |
| 2017-18 | 33 | 26 | 59 |
| 2016-17 | 28 | 33 | 61 |
Turkey counts, Cedar Creek WMA
| Spring | Birds reported |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | 48 |
| Spring 2025 | 33 |
| Spring 2024 | 23 |
| Spring 2023 | 18 |
| Spring 2022 | 15 |
| Spring 2021 | 21 |
| Spring 2020 | 33 |
| Spring 2019 | 23 |
| Spring 2018 | 53 |
| Spring 2017 | 39 |
| Spring 2016 | 39 |
Deer from WRD deer harvest reports, turkeys from WRD turkey harvest layer; as of 2026-10-13. Checked October 13, 2026.
Cedar Creek WMA: game list
Whitetails, gobblers, doves, coyotes, squirrels and rabbits and ducks and geese, per the area record.
White-tailed deer
First line in the listing: Either-Sex Last Day: Oct. 22-24 (firearms).
Mourning dove
First line in the listing: Sept. 5, 12, 19, 26, Oct. 3-11, Nov. 21-22, Dec. 19-Jan. 31.
Ducks and geese
Species from the area record; bag limits from the WRD bag limit table. Checked October 13, 2026.
The ground at Cedar Creek WMA
The agency text first, then linked areas.
Cedar Creek WMA as WRD describes it
Cedar Creek Wildlife Management Area is owned by the United States Forest Service (USFS) and is located on the Oconee National Forest in Putnam, Jones, and Jasper counties. It was established in 1949 and is one of the oldest wildlife management areas in the state. This 41,000-acre property has hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, small game, and dove. Many visitors will recognize the historic white house next to the check station which is known as the Cox-Mathis House.
The house was built in the early 1800s by Reverend Cary Cox Sr., who was a Revolutionary War veteran. It is thought that during the Civil War the home may have housed some of General Sherman’s forces as they made their way to Savannah. The house was later sold to the USFS around 1934. Cedar Creek has a 100-yard firearms range that was constructed in 2011. The project was a joint effort between US Forest Service, DNR, National Rifle Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Quail Unlimited.
The range is open Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. This is an unstaffed range. Vehicle Usage: ATVs and UTVs are not allowed on U.S. Forest Service roads. They may only be used on roads/trails designated specifically for their use. Check Road Closures: Road closures due to damage or weather-related conditions for this property will be listed at the agency website. ATVs prohibited.
Planted dove fields, Cedar Creek WMA
| Property | Region | Field acres | Crop | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Creek WMA | 3 | 47 | Browntop millet, buckwheat, corn, pearl millet/sorghum strips, sunflowers, wheat | Good |
Cedar Creek WMA: parent, units and overlapping ground
| Name | Type | Counties | Acreage | Deer, last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oconee Ranger District (Oconee National Forest) | Ranger district | Putnam, Jasper, Greene | 116,724 | 385 |
Text and lists from the source page, Georgia regulations, WRD GIS, WRD GIS; retrieved 2026-10-13, checked October 13, 2026.
Cedar Creek WMA on the map, with its neighbours
Cedar Creek WMA sits at the orange pin, with 11 public neighbours inside 30 miles. Together they publish 193,253 acres.
| Name | Type | Acres | Away | Bearing | Deer checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little River WMA | WMA | 1,475 | 8 mi | north | 14 |
| Oconee Ranger District (Oconee National Forest) | Ranger district | 116,724 | 11 mi | north | 385 |
| Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 35,000 | 13 mi | southwest | 8 |
| Hitchiti Experimental Forest | Experimental forest | 4,591 | 14 mi | southwest | — |
| B.F. Grant WMA | WMA | 11,400 | 15 mi | north | 47 |
| Rum Creek WMA: Berry Creek Area | WMA | 161 | 19 mi | southwest | 5 |
| Clybel WMA | WMA | 6,700 | 21 mi | northwest | 40 |
| Bartram Forest WMA | WMA | 1,343 | 22 mi | southeast | 17 |
| Rum Creek WMA | WMA | 5,800 | 22 mi | southwest | 36 |
| Gaither WMA | WMA | 2,129 | 24 mi | northwest | 25 |
| Oconee WMA | WMA | 7,930 | 24 mi | northeast | 153 |
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.
Cedar Creek WMA: nearest towns and businesses
Town guides first, then businesses in the same and neighbouring counties.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eatonton | Putnam | 11 mi | 6,641 | 47,004 |
| Monticello | Jasper | 12 mi | 2,969 | 35,316 |
| Shady Dale | Jasper | 14 mi | 296 | 35,292 |
| Crooked Creek | Putnam | 14 mi | — | 5,158 |
Its counties, each with a guide: Putnam County, Jones County, Jasper County.
Local businesses for Cedar Creek WMA hunters
Who to call about Cedar Creek WMA
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.
Cedar Creek WMA: on-site range
WRD keeps 1 range on Cedar Creek WMA.
Facilities: 100-yard Range
- Entry: Georgia hunting or fishing license, or the Lands Pass.
- Firearm users certify through the free safety video first.
- Green tip ammo is prohibited.
From the WRD range list and the GA DNR range layer, checked October 13, 2026.
Cedar Creek WMA sunrise, sunset and shooting time
Whitetails, turkeys and squirrels: sunrise minus 30 minutes to sunset plus 30. Migratory birds: same start, but they end at sunset.
Worked out for Cedar Creek 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.
Cedar Creek WMA hunting kit
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Common Cedar Creek WMA questions
Is Cedar Creek WMA a draw hunt?
Some hunts are drawn (100 permits across 1 lines).
Does Cedar Creek WMA allow camping?
Camping is permitted where designated.
How many bucks came off Cedar Creek WMA?
41 bucks and 52 does were checked in 2025-26.
Is Cedar Creek WMA in an alligator hunt zone?
Alligator zone 5; hunting is by quota permit only.
Which areas are close to Cedar Creek WMA?
Within reach are Little River WMA (8 miles), Oconee Ranger District (Oconee National Forest) (11 miles) and Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge (13 miles), nearest first.
Is blaze pink legal on Cedar Creek WMA?
Orange or pink, 500 square inches, whenever firearms or primitive weapons deer or bear hunts are on.
Where do I check game taken on Cedar Creek WMA?
Game Check within 24 hours, after noting date and county on the Harvest Record.
Can I put out corn on Cedar Creek WMA?
No; bait is only legal on private land with written permission.
What sort of property is Cedar Creek WMA?
Wildlife management area run by WRD, under the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division.
Is Cedar Creek WMA big enough for a full day?
41,000 acres, per Georgia 2026-27 Hunting Regulations (eRegulations) area listing.
Which town makes a good base for Cedar Creek WMA?
It lies in Putnam, Jones and Jasper counties. Eatonton sits 11 miles away.
What license gets me onto Cedar Creek WMA?
No separate WMA permit: a Georgia hunting or fishing license or the Lands Pass ($60.00 nonresident) covers it.
Cedar Creek WMA: confirm before you go
The manager has the last word on Cedar Creek WMA. Read its page and the WRD guide the week of your hunt.
Sources for this page: WRD: cedar creek 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: DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0); Intermountain Region US Forest Service (Public domain).