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Hunting Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
A hunter's summary of Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in Rabun, Fannin, Union, Towns and 21 more counties: listing dates, harvest, rules and local services.
Photo: Forest Service Photography (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests: every dated hunt
Across 23 rows, the 2026-27 listing sets dates for bear, deer (east of I-75), deer (west of I-75), turkey, small game and waterfowl. The guide splits it into 2 listings, named in the left column.
| Listing | Species | Weapon or type | 2026-27 dates | Tags | Area notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattahoochee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Bear | Archery | Sept. 12-Oct. 9, Jan. 2-10 | — | |
| Chattahoochee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Bear | Primitive | Oct. 10-16 | — | |
| Chattahoochee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Bear | Firearms | Oct. 17-Jan. 1 | — | |
| Chattahoochee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Deer (East of I-75) | Archery | Buck Only: Sept. 12-Oct. 9, Jan. 2-10 | — | |
| Chattahoochee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Deer (East of I-75) | Primitive | Buck Only: Oct. 10-16 | — | |
| Chattahoochee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Deer (East of I-75) | Firearms | Buck Only: Oct. 17-Jan. 1 | — | |
| Chattahoochee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Deer (West of I-75) | Archery | Sept. 12-Oct. 9, Jan. 2-10 | — | |
| Chattahoochee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Deer (West of I-75) | Primitive | Oct. 10-16 | — | |
| Chattahoochee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Deer (West of I-75) | Firearms | Buck Only (except during county either-sex days): Oct. 17-Jan. 1 | — | |
| Chattahoochee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Turkey | — | Apr. 3-May 15 | — | Bag Limit: 1 gobbler |
| Chattahoochee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Small game | — | State Seasons | — | |
| Chattahoochee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Small game | Quail (West of i-75) | Jan. 1-31 | — | |
| Chattahoochee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Waterfowl | — | State Seasons | — | |
| Chattahoochee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Dog training | — | Aug. 1-Sept. 7, Jan. 2-March 31, 2027 | — | |
| Oconee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Deer | Archery | Sept. 12-Oct. 9 | — | |
| Oconee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Deer | Primitive | Oct. 10-16 | — | |
| Oconee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Deer | Firearms | Buck Only: Oct. 17-30, Nov. 2-20, Nov. 23-Dec. 11, 14-25, Dec. 28-Jan. 10 | — | |
| Oconee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Deer | Firearms | Oct. 31-Nov. 1, Nov. 21-22, Dec. 12-13, 26-27 | — | |
| Oconee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Turkey | — | Apr. 3-May 15 | — | Bag Limit: 1 gobbler |
| Oconee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Small game | — | State Seasons | — | |
| Oconee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Waterfowl | — | State Seasons | — | |
| Oconee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Dog training | — | Aug. 1 – Sept. 7, Jan. 2 – Mar. 31 | — | |
| Oconee National Forest (outside of WMAs) | Hitchiti Experimental Forest | — | — | — | Hitchiti Experimental Forest is only open during Piedmont Refuge hunting seasons with a valid Piedmont Refuge hunting permit and in accordance with Refuge regulations. See Piedmont NWR listing. |
Dates and symbols from the 2026-27 Georgia regulations listing, wording as printed by the source. Checked October 13, 2026.
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests: the essentials
Rabun, Fannin, Union, Towns and 21 more counties hold Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, a national forest hunted under Georgia licenses. It is run by the USDA Forest Service. Acreage on record: 869,017. Base town: Godfrey, about 5 miles away to the south. 4 sub-units have pages of their own here.
Where Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests sits by county
| County | Seat | 2024 residents | Deer colour zone | Bear zone | Gator zone | Deer reported 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rabun County | Clayton | 17,711 | Yellow | Northern | — | 371 |
| Fannin County | Blue Ridge | 25,854 | Cyan | Northern | — | 1,740 |
| Union County | Blairsville | 27,601 | Cyan | Northern | — | 1,755 |
| Towns County | Hiawassee | 13,184 | Yellow | Northern | — | 505 |
| Lumpkin County | Dahlonega | 36,016 | Orange | Northern | — | 1,172 |
| Gilmer County | Ellijay | 33,327 | Orange | Northern | — | 1,417 |
| Murray County | Chatsworth | 41,316 | Orange | Northern | — | 1,558 |
| White County | Cleveland | 29,668 | Orange | Northern | — | 1,092 |
From the source page (USFS EDW Lands Area Statistics (USDA Forest Service ownership in Georgia, sum of gis_acres)); 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.
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests: reported deer and gobblers
Last full season (2025-26) the reported count stood at 1,531, with 1,234 bucks. Reported totals peaked at 1,531 in 2025-26 and bottomed at 992 in 2021-22. Partial count for the current season: 53. Game Check lists 285 gobblers for spring 2026 (3,191 since records began here). These are deer and turkeys hunters reported through Game Check, not WRD estimates, and bonus deer checked at the station are not included.
Season-by-season deer, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
| Season | Males | Females | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 (in progress) | 34 | 19 | 53 |
| 2025-26 | 1,234 | 297 | 1,531 |
| 2024-25 | 1,126 | 281 | 1,407 |
| 2023-24 | 1,141 | 317 | 1,458 |
| 2022-23 | 820 | 217 | 1,037 |
| 2021-22 | 813 | 179 | 992 |
| 2020-21 | 1,009 | 245 | 1,254 |
| 2019-20 | 895 | 275 | 1,170 |
| 2018-19 | 722 | 326 | 1,048 |
| 2017-18 | 1,036 | 368 | 1,404 |
| 2016-17 | 766 | 317 | 1,083 |
Gobblers by spring, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
| Spring | Gobblers |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | 285 |
| Spring 2025 | 208 |
| Spring 2024 | 280 |
| Spring 2023 | 206 |
| Spring 2022 | 152 |
| Spring 2021 | 385 |
| Spring 2020 | 430 |
| Spring 2019 | 319 |
| Spring 2018 | 257 |
| Spring 2017 | 403 |
| Spring 2016 | 266 |
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests county bear counts
| County | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rabun | 33 | 29 | 42 | 21 |
| Fannin | 19 | 14 | 29 | 26 |
| Union | 30 | 33 | 31 | 15 |
| Towns | 4 | 15 | 24 | 5 |
| Lumpkin | 44 | 32 | 50 | 49 |
| Gilmer | 47 | 31 | 76 | 27 |
| Murray | 64 | 46 | 69 | 49 |
| White | 72 | 36 | 59 | 38 |
Deer from WRD deer harvest reports, turkeys from WRD turkey harvest layer, bears from the WRD north Georgia bear summary; as of 2026-10-13. Checked October 13, 2026.
What Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests is like
The manager describes the place; related areas follow.
What the Forest Service says about Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
USFS describes the forests as "nearly 867,000 acres across 26 counties". The Chattahoochee National Forest has three ranger districts (Blue Ridge, Chattooga River, Conasauga) and the Oconee National Forest one (Oconee). Wildlife and fisheries management on the forest is a cooperative effort between the Forest Service and Georgia DNR WRD; many WMAs (Cohutta, Blue Ridge, Chattahoochee, Chestatee, Coopers Creek, Swallow Creek, Warwoman, Lake Russell, Redlands, Cedar Creek and others) are on national forest land.
Shooting ranges: Chestnut Mountain, Sumac Creek and Darnell (Chattahoochee NF) and Cedar Creek (Oconee NF); Trembling Bridge Range is closed. Other requirements apply, see Dog Training. On all National Forest lands, discharging a firearm or any implement capable of causing injury or property damage is prohibited within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site, or occupied area; across or on a Forest Service road; across any water body; or into or within a cave.
Transportation of any loaded weapon in a motor vehicle is prohibited. Coyotes may be taken during hunts using legal firearms or archery equipment for the specified game species; electronic calls are allowed; night hunting is prohibited. Placing, leaving, or depositing food, bait, or refuse in any manner likely to attract or concentrate wildlife — whether for hunting or viewing — is prohibited, as is failing to properly store food or refuse to prevent wildlife access.
Hunting bears with dogs is prohibited on the Chattahoochee National Forest lands outside of designated WMAs.
Units and neighbours of Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
| Unit | Type | Counties | Acres | Deer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Ridge Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest) | Ranger district | Union, Lumpkin, Fannin | 302,238 | — |
| Chattooga River Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest) | Ranger district | Rabun, White, Habersham | 261,439 | — |
| Conasauga Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest) | Ranger district | Murray, Fannin, Gilmer | 188,617 | — |
| Oconee Ranger District (Oconee National Forest) | Ranger district | Putnam, Jasper, Greene | 116,724 | 385 |
Text and lists from the source page, USFS, USFS EDW, Georgia regulations; retrieved 2026-10-13, checked October 13, 2026.
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests: rules before the first hunt
Prices are the WRD figures for this license year.
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests access
Hunting on national forest land outside WMAs follows Georgia statewide seasons and licensing plus the national forest listings in the Georgia regulations; WMAs on the forest have their own WMA seasons and sign-in rules. No bear hunting with dogs outside designated WMAs. No shooting within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area, or across a Forest Service road or body of water; no loaded weapons in vehicles; baiting prohibited.
- Hogs may be taken during daylight hours only
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests: licenses and passes
Deer, bear or turkey means a Harvest Record (no charge) on top of the license; the Sportsman's License covers the rest for residents.
Before the shot at Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
During primitive weapons and firearms deer or bear dates, hunters show 500 square inches of orange or pink. No bait on public ground: hunting game or hogs over bait is illegal on state and federal land. Record the kill first, then report it through Game Check inside 24 hours.
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests species and bags
Game on the list: black bears, whitetails, gobblers, squirrels and rabbits, ducks and geese, feral hogs and coyotes.
White-tailed deer
The guide lists Buck Only: Sept. 12-Oct. 9, Jan. 2-10 first (archery).
Small game
The guide lists Jan. 1-31 first (quail (west of i-75)).
Feral hog
Coyote
Species from the area record; bag limits from the WRD bag limit table. Checked October 13, 2026.
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests plotted with nearby areas
Orange pins mark the 4 places that make up Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests sits at the orange pin, with 12 public neighbours inside 30 miles. Combined, about 284,873 acres are on record.
| Area | Type | Acres | Distance | Direction | Deer 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper's Creek WMA | WMA | 30,000 | 1 mi | south | 9 |
| B.F. Grant WMA | WMA | 11,400 | 3 mi | north | 47 |
| Little River WMA | WMA | 1,475 | 4 mi | southeast | 14 |
| Tallulah Gorge WMA | WMA | 2,689 | 7 mi | southeast | 2 |
| Cohutta WMA | WMA | 92,647 | 7 mi | northwest | 4 |
| Chestatee WMA | WMA | 27,123 | 8 mi | southeast | 6 |
| Blue Ridge WMA | WMA | 20,900 | 10 mi | southwest | 38 |
| Cedar Creek WMA | WMA | 41,000 | 11 mi | south | 93 |
| Rich Mountain WMA | WMA | 20,674 | 12 mi | southeast | 6 |
| Swallow Creek WMA | WMA | 19,000 | 13 mi | northwest | 6 |
| Rich Mountain WMA: Cartecay Tract | WMA | 2,165 | 13 mi | south | 33 |
| Warwoman WMA | WMA | 15,800 | 14 mi | northeast | 2 |
Points from WRD, USFS, USFWS, NPS, DoD and Recreation.gov layers (not set: the forest is two separate blocks (Chattahoochee in north Georgia, Oconee in central Georgia); see the ranger district records). Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests: nearest towns and businesses
Town guides first, then businesses in the same and neighbouring counties.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Godfrey | Morgan | 5 mi | — | 30,096 |
| Shady Dale | Jasper | 6 mi | 296 | 35,292 |
| Eatonton | Putnam | 7 mi | 6,641 | 47,004 |
| Clayton | Rabun | 8 mi | 2,090 | 96,466 |
County pages for this ground: Rabun County, Fannin County, Union County, Towns County, Lumpkin County, Gilmer County, Murray County, White County, Habersham County, Putnam County.
Services close to Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
Nearest offices to Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
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.
Bring this to Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
Four picks matched to this ground and its seasons.
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Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests: daily hunting hours
Hunting opens 30 minutes before sunup statewide. Most game runs to 30 minutes after sundown, while migratory birds close at sunset.
Worked out for Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests 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.
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests: what hunters ask
Is Game Check required for Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests?
Report through Game Check within a day; bonus deer go to the area check station instead.
Can I hunt over bait on Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests?
No. State and federal land prohibit bait.
Which agency is in charge of Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests?
A national forest hunted under Georgia licenses; the manager is the USDA Forest Service.
Is Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests big enough for a full day?
Roughly 869,017 acres.
Which town makes a good base for Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests?
Rabun, Fannin, Union, Towns and 21 more counties; Godfrey is the nearest town we cover, 5 miles away.
What paperwork does Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests require?
Hunting on national forest land outside WMAs follows Georgia statewide seasons and licensing plus the national forest listings in the Georgia regulations; WMAs on the forest have their own WMA seasons and sign-in rules. No bear hunting with dogs outside designated WMAs. No shooting within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area, or across a Forest S
When do deer hunts start on Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests?
First deer line: Buck Only: Sept. 12-Oct. 9, Jan. 2-10 (archery). Every other line is in the season table above.
When does spring turkey open at Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests?
Spring dates: Apr. 3-May 15. One gobbler per area per person on public land.
What does Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests hold for hunters?
Black bears, whitetails, gobblers, squirrels and rabbits, ducks and geese, feral hogs and coyotes.
Must I win a draw for Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests?
No draw is listed for it.
What was last season's deer harvest at Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests?
Game Check: 1,234 bucks and 297 does in 2025-26.
Which bear rules apply on Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests?
Georgia puts it in the Northern zone. Bear is listed.
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, the last word
Double-check Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests with its manager: open areas, gates, sign-in and any drawn hunts.
Sources for this page: USFS: hunting shooting · USFS: chattahoochee oconee · USFS EDW · Georgia regulations: federal area regulations · DNR Law Enforcement: specialfederalregulations; regulations from the 2026-27 Georgia hunting regulations. Checked October 13, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).