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2026-27 · State park
Richard B. Russell State Park for Hunters
Who runs it, what the regulations list for whitetails, how many deer and gobblers are reported, and the public land around it in Elbert County.
Photo: Shawn Taylor (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Richard B. Russell State Park
Parking, trailheads and gates near Richard B. Russell State Park
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Richard B. Russell State Park by the numbers
Hunters find Richard B. Russell State Park in Elbert County; it is a state park that opens for scheduled WRD hunts. Game Management Region 2 (Gainesville) takes in this ground. Manager on record: the Georgia DNR State Parks & Historic Sites Division (hunts administered with WRD). At 2,508 acres it ranks 5th of 13 Georgia state parks with a published size. From Elberton, our nearest town guide, head northeast for roughly 8 miles.
Richard B. Russell State Park, county by county
| County | Seat | Residents | ESZ colour | Bear | Gator | Checked deer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elbert County | Elberton | 20,152 | Green | None | — | 2,075 |
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.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Richard B. Russell State Park
Richard B. Russell State Park hunt dates and quota lines
The 2026-27 regulations list 2 dated lines for Richard B. Russell State Park, covering deer. 80 quota permits are spread over 2 dated lines. It also carries 1 bonus deer line and 1 mobility-impaired hunt.
| Species | Hunt | Open days | Guide symbols | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Firearms | Dec. 1-2 | Quota 60 Bonus deer | Bag limit: 5, no more than 2 antlered |
| Deer | Firearms | Dec. 1-2 | Quota 20 Mobility-impaired | Bag limit: 5, no more than 2 antlered |
Dates and symbols from the 2026-27 Georgia regulations listing, wording as printed by the source. Checked October 13, 2026.
Richard B. Russell State Park licenses and access
What applies here, card by card.
Entry and limits, Richard B. Russell State Park
Hunting only during the listed state park hunts (mostly quota hunts); follow park check-in rules. Apply for quota hunts through Go Outdoors Georgia.
- No ATVs
What to buy before Richard B. Russell State Park
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 Richard B. Russell State Park
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 Richard B. Russell State Park hunts
Draw results come by email; unsuccessful applicants gain a point.
Richard B. Russell State Park by road
From Elberton: Take GA-77 Northeast 1.2 miles, turn right on Ruckersville Rd, travel 7.9 miles, turn right on Russell State Park Rd.
How many deer come off Richard B. Russell State Park
Game Check shows 1 deer for Richard B. Russell State Park in the 2024-25 season. 2017-18 was the top season (4); 2023-24 the leanest (1). Reported numbers only: WRD publishes no compliance-adjusted estimate for a single area.
Richard B. Russell State Park bucks and does
| Season | Bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2023-24 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2017-18 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
Deer from WRD deer harvest reports, turkeys from WRD turkey harvest layer; as of 2026-10-13. Checked October 13, 2026.
Richard B. Russell State Park: game list
Whitetails, per the area record.
White-tailed deer
First line in the listing: Dec. 1-2 (firearms).
Species from the area record; bag limits from the WRD bag limit table. Checked October 13, 2026.
The ground at Richard B. Russell State Park
The agency text first, then linked areas.
Richard B. Russell State Park as the state regulations guide describes it
Prior to hunting, hunters must check in with the Park Office or Check-in Station for site specific information, or attend a pre-hunt meeting scheduled the day before the hunt. Hunt participants will be charged a $30 nonrefundable, nontransferable hunt fee and a ParkPass is required. Cabins and campsites (hunters only) may be reserved through the park office at (706) 213-2045. All park access is closed to the public during the hunt.
Mobility-impaired hunters must apply by letter by Oct. 15 to: Mobility-impaired Hunt RBR State Park, 2650 Russell State Park Drive, Elberton, GA 30635.
Text and lists from the source page, WRD GIS, WRD GIS; retrieved 2026-10-13, checked October 13, 2026.
Pins around Richard B. Russell State Park
The orange pin is Richard B. Russell State Park; 9 other public areas lie within 30 miles. Together they publish 9,733 acres.
| Name | Type | Acres | Away | Bearing | Deer checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elbert County WMA | WMA | 2,500 | 6 mi | south | 32 |
| Hart County WMA | WMA | 1,000 | 11 mi | northwest | 40 |
| Lower Broad River WMA | WMA | 1,500 | 14 mi | south | 23 |
| Richard B. Russell Lake | Corps lake | — | 18 mi | southeast | 121 |
| Hartwell Lake | Corps lake | — | 22 mi | northwest | 99 |
| Broad River WMA | WMA | 440 | 22 mi | west | 12 |
| Fishing Creek WMA | WMA | 2,900 | 23 mi | southeast | 18 |
| Soap Creek WMA | WMA | 1,000 | 28 mi | southeast | 12 |
| Tugaloo State Park | State park | 393 | 29 mi | northwest | 1 |
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.
Richard B. Russell State Park, dinners, courses and trials
Adaptive hunt: 1 upcoming event. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
Next dates
| Day | Listing | Venue | Tickets or entry | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2–3, 2026 | Adaptive/Supported Hunt – DEER at Richard B Russell State Park · Adaptive hunt | Richard B. Russell State Park, Elberton, Elbert Co. | Apply | Source |
Richard B. Russell State Park: nearest towns and businesses
Town guides first, then businesses in the same and neighbouring counties.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elberton | Elbert | 8 mi | 4,760 | 3,461 |
| Hartwell | Hart | 16 mi | 4,701 | 1,005 |
| Danielsville | Madison | 27 mi | 868 | 436 |
| Lexington | Oglethorpe | 29 mi | 217 | 1,182 |
Its counties, each with a guide: Elbert County.
Local businesses for Richard B. Russell State Park hunters
Who to call about Richard B. Russell State Park
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.
Richard B. Russell State Park: nearest ranges
No range sits on Richard B. Russell State Park; the nearest WRD-listed range is Bobby Brown Archery Range, about 16 miles away. The other cards are private ranges within 30 miles.
Facilities: Static Archery Range with 4 Targets, 20 3-D Target Trail
Lines for archery and 3D archery
Lines for trap, skeet, sporting clays, 5-stand, rifle, handgun and archery
From the WRD range list and the GA DNR range layer, checked October 13, 2026.
Richard B. Russell State Park 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 Richard B. Russell State Park 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.
Common Richard B. Russell State Park questions
What sort of property is Richard B. Russell State Park?
State park that opens for scheduled WRD hunts, under the Georgia DNR State Parks & Historic Sites Division (hunts administered with WRD).
What is the published acreage for Richard B. Russell State Park?
2,508 acres, per Georgia 2026-27 Hunting Regulations (eRegulations) area listing.
Where is Richard B. Russell State Park?
It lies in Elbert County. Elberton sits 8 miles away.
What paperwork does Richard B. Russell State Park require?
Hunting only during the listed state park hunts (mostly quota hunts); follow park check-in rules. Apply for quota hunts through Go Outdoors Georgia.
What are the deer dates for Richard B. Russell State Park?
Dec. 1-2, firearms, is the first listed. More lines sit in the season table.
What can be hunted at Richard B. Russell State Park?
Per the area record, whitetails.
Is Richard B. Russell State Park a draw hunt?
Some hunts are drawn (80 permits across 2 lines).
Does Richard B. Russell State Park allow camping?
Camping is permitted where designated.
What public land is near Richard B. Russell State Park?
Within reach are Elbert County WMA (6 miles), Hart County WMA (11 miles) and Lower Broad River WMA (14 miles), nearest first.
Is blaze pink legal on Richard B. Russell State Park?
Orange or pink, 500 square inches, whenever firearms or primitive weapons deer or bear hunts are on.
Where do I check game taken on Richard B. Russell State Park?
Game Check within 24 hours, after noting date and county on the Harvest Record.
Can I put out corn on Richard B. Russell State Park?
No; bait is only legal on private land with written permission.
Richard B. Russell State Park: confirm before you go
The manager has the last word on Richard B. Russell State Park. Read its page and the WRD guide the week of your hunt.
Sources for this page: Georgia regulations: state park hunting opportunities · WRD GIS · WRD GIS; regulations from the 2026-27 Georgia hunting regulations. Checked October 13, 2026.
Other photos on this page: irio.jyske (CC BY 2.0); Peter Sheik (CC BY 2.0).