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2026-27 · Ranger district
Chattooga River Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest) for Hunters
Who runs it, what the regulations list for black bears, whitetails, gobblers and squirrels and rabbits, how many deer and gobblers are reported, and the public land around it in Rabun, White, Habersham, Stephens and 3 more counties.
Photo: twslivxe26 (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Chattooga River Ranger District by the numbers
Hunters find Chattooga River Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest) in Rabun, White, Habersham, Stephens and 3 more counties; it is a ranger district of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Game Management Region 2 (Gainesville) takes in this ground. It is run by the USDA Forest Service. At 261,439 acres it ranks 2nd of 4 Georgia ranger districts with a published size. From Clayton, our nearest town guide, head southwest for roughly 8 miles. Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests is the parent area.
Chattooga River Ranger District, county by county
| County | Seat | Residents | ESZ colour | Bear | Gator | Checked deer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rabun County | Clayton | 17,711 | Yellow | Northern | — | 371 |
| White County | Cleveland | 29,668 | Orange | Northern | — | 1,092 |
| Habersham County | Clarkesville | 49,665 | Orange | Northern | — | 1,338 |
| Stephens County | Toccoa | 27,498 | Orange | Northern | — | 646 |
| Towns County | Hiawassee | 13,184 | Yellow | Northern | — | 505 |
| Union County | Blairsville | 27,601 | Cyan | Northern | — | 1,755 |
| Banks County | Homer | 20,318 | Green | Northern | — | 1,731 |
From the source page (USFS EDW Lands Area Statistics (USDA Forest Service ownership in the district, 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.
Chattooga River Ranger District hunt dates and quota lines
The 2026-27 regulations list 14 dated lines for Chattooga River Ranger District, covering bear, deer (east of I-75), deer (west of I-75), turkey, small game and waterfowl.
| Species | Hunt | Open days | Guide symbols | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear | Archery | Sept. 12-Oct. 9, Jan. 2-10 | — | |
| Bear | Primitive | Oct. 10-16 | — | |
| Bear | Firearms | Oct. 17-Jan. 1 | — | |
| Deer (East of I-75) | Archery | Buck Only: Sept. 12-Oct. 9, Jan. 2-10 | — | |
| Deer (East of I-75) | Primitive | Buck Only: Oct. 10-16 | — | |
| Deer (East of I-75) | Firearms | Buck Only: Oct. 17-Jan. 1 | — | |
| Deer (West of I-75) | Archery | Sept. 12-Oct. 9, Jan. 2-10 | — | |
| Deer (West of I-75) | Primitive | Oct. 10-16 | — | |
| Deer (West of I-75) | Firearms | Buck Only (except during county either-sex days): Oct. 17-Jan. 1 | — | |
| Turkey | — | Apr. 3-May 15 | — | Bag Limit: 1 gobbler |
| Small game | — | State Seasons | — | |
| Small game | Quail (West of i-75) | Jan. 1-31 | — | |
| Waterfowl | — | State Seasons | — | |
| Dog training | — | Aug. 1-Sept. 7, Jan. 2-March 31, 2027 | — |
Dates and symbols from the 2026-27 Georgia regulations listing, wording as printed by the source. Checked October 13, 2026.
Chattooga River Ranger District licenses and access
What applies here, card by card.
Entry and limits, Chattooga River Ranger District
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
What to buy before Chattooga River Ranger District
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 Chattooga River Ranger District
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.
How many deer come off Chattooga River Ranger District
There is no Game Check location for Chattooga River Ranger District; the table shows its counties.
| County | Deer checked | WRD adjusted | Gobblers 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabun | 371 | 463 | 104 |
| White | 1,092 | 1,434 | 95 |
| Habersham | 1,338 | 1,759 | 89 |
| Stephens | 646 | 847 | 37 |
| Towns | 505 | 620 | 78 |
| Union | 1,755 | 2,133 | 169 |
| Banks | 1,731 | 2,308 | 45 |
Bears by county near Chattooga River Ranger District
| County | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rabun | 33 | 29 | 42 | 21 |
| White | 72 | 36 | 59 | 38 |
| Habersham | 38 | 14 | 25 | 19 |
| Stephens | 6 | 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Towns | 4 | 15 | 24 | 5 |
| Union | 30 | 33 | 31 | 15 |
| Banks | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
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.
Chattooga River Ranger District: game list
Black bears, whitetails, gobblers, squirrels and rabbits, ducks and geese, feral hogs and coyotes, per the area record.
Black bear
First line in the listing: Sept. 12-Oct. 9, Jan. 2-10 (archery).
White-tailed deer
First line in the listing: Buck Only: Sept. 12-Oct. 9, Jan. 2-10 (archery).
Small game
First line in the listing: Jan. 1-31 (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.
The ground at Chattooga River Ranger District
The agency text first, then linked areas.
Chattooga River Ranger District as the Forest Service describes it
Address: 9975 Highway 441S, Lakemont, GA 30552; phone 706-754-6221. USFS: "The Chattooga River Ranger District covers 261,035 acres in the northeast part of Georgia. Terrain ranges from the Piedmont in the southern part of the district to Georgia's second highest mountain, Rabun Bald at 4,696 feet above sea level." Lake Burton, Seed Lake and Lake Rabun are in the central part of the district. 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.
Chattooga River Ranger District: parent, units and overlapping ground
| Name | Type | Counties | Acreage | Deer, last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests | National forest | Rabun, Fannin, Union | 869,017 | 1,531 |
| Blue Ridge Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest) | Ranger district | Union, Lumpkin, Fannin | 302,238 | — |
| 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 |
| Chattahoochee WMA | WMA | White, Union, Towns | 25,150 | 17 |
| Warwoman WMA | WMA | Rabun | 15,800 | 2 |
| Lake Russell WMA | WMA | Stephens, Habersham, Banks | 17,300 | 11 |
Text and lists from the source page, USFS EDW, USFS EDW, Georgia regulations; retrieved 2026-10-13, checked October 13, 2026.
Chattooga River Ranger District on the map, with its neighbours
Chattooga River Ranger District sits at the orange pin, with 12 public neighbours inside 30 miles. Together they publish 115,961 acres.
| Name | Type | Acres | Away | Bearing | Deer checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tallulah Gorge WMA | WMA | 2,689 | 7 mi | southeast | 2 |
| Swallow Creek WMA | WMA | 19,000 | 13 mi | northwest | 6 |
| Warwoman WMA | WMA | 15,800 | 14 mi | northeast | 2 |
| Dukes Creek – Smithgall Woods State Park | State park | 4,500 | 17 mi | southwest | 18 |
| Buck Shoals WMA | WMA | 582 | 18 mi | southwest | — |
| Lake Russell WMA | WMA | 17,300 | 19 mi | south | 11 |
| Chattahoochee WMA | WMA | 25,150 | 19 mi | west | 17 |
| London Farms Dove Field | Dove field | 111 | 19 mi | southwest | — |
| Wilson Shoals WMA | WMA | 2,800 | 25 mi | south | 50 |
| Lula Bridge WMA | WMA | 513 | 27 mi | southwest | 2 |
| Chestatee WMA | WMA | 27,123 | 29 mi | west | 6 |
| Tugaloo State Park | State park | 393 | 30 mi | southeast | 1 |
Points from WRD, USFS, USFWS, NPS, DoD and Recreation.gov layers (USFS EDW Ranger District boundary (polygon centroid, Georgia portion)). Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Chattooga River Ranger District: nearest towns and businesses
Town guides first, then businesses in the same and neighbouring counties.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton | Rabun | 8 mi | 2,090 | 96,466 |
| Mountain City | Rabun | 11 mi | 964 | 92,861 |
| Clarkesville | Habersham | 12 mi | 2,159 | 44,152 |
| Tate City | Towns | 14 mi | — | 68,320 |
Its counties, each with a guide: Rabun County, White County, Habersham County, Stephens County, Towns County, Union County, Banks County.
Local businesses for Chattooga River Ranger District hunters
Who to call about Chattooga River Ranger District
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.
Closest public range to Chattooga River Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest)
No range sits on Chattooga River Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest); the nearest WRD-listed range is Unicoi Air Rifle Range, about 15 miles away. The other cards are private ranges within 30 miles.
Facilities: Air Gun Range
Lines for handgun, rifle and archery
From the WRD range list and the GA DNR range layer, checked October 13, 2026.
Chattooga River Ranger District 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 Chattooga River Ranger District 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.
Chattooga River Ranger District hunting kit
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Common Chattooga River Ranger District questions
Is Chattooga River Ranger District big enough for a full day?
261,439 acres, per USFS EDW Lands Area Statistics (USDA Forest Service ownership in the district, sum of gis_acres).
Which town makes a good base for Chattooga River Ranger District?
It lies in Rabun, White, Habersham, Stephens and 3 more counties. Clayton sits 8 miles away.
What paperwork does Chattooga River Ranger District 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
What are the deer dates for Chattooga River Ranger District?
Buck Only: Sept. 12-Oct. 9, Jan. 2-10, archery, is the first listed. More lines sit in the season table.
What are the spring turkey dates at Chattooga River Ranger District?
Turkey runs Apr. 3-May 15. Each hunter may take one gobbler from the area.
What can be hunted at Chattooga River Ranger District?
Per the area record, black bears, whitetails, gobblers, squirrels and rabbits, ducks and geese, feral hogs and coyotes.
Is Chattooga River Ranger District a quota hunt?
Nothing is quota only.
Can I hunt bears on Chattooga River Ranger District?
Northern zone; bear appears in the listing.
Which areas are close to Chattooga River Ranger District?
Within reach are Tallulah Gorge WMA (7 miles), Swallow Creek WMA (13 miles) and Warwoman WMA (14 miles), nearest first.
Is blaze pink legal on Chattooga River Ranger District?
Orange or pink, 500 square inches, whenever firearms or primitive weapons deer or bear hunts are on.
Where do I check game taken on Chattooga River Ranger District?
Game Check within 24 hours, after noting date and county on the Harvest Record.
Can I put out corn on Chattooga River Ranger District?
No; bait is only legal on private land with written permission.
Chattooga River Ranger District: confirm before you go
The manager has the last word on Chattooga River Ranger District. Read its page and the WRD guide the week of your hunt.
Sources for this page: USFS: chattooga river ranger district · USFS EDW · USFS EDW · Georgia regulations: federal area regulations; regulations from the 2026-27 Georgia hunting regulations. Checked October 13, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0).