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McIntosh County, Georgia
Sapelo Island WMA Hunting Notes
2026-27 dates for whitetails, coyotes, squirrels and rabbits and ducks and geese, quota lines, reported harvest, access rules and the nearest towns.
Photo: sgharvey (CC BY 2.0)
Where Sapelo Island WMA sits and who runs it
Sapelo Island WMA is a wildlife management area run by WRD in McIntosh County. It falls in Game Management Region 6, served by the Brunswick office. It is run by the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division. Size: 9,000 acres, number 37 of 121 WMAs. Look southeast of Crescent (the nearest town we cover), about 8 miles out.
County context for Sapelo Island WMA
| County | Seat | People (2024) | Private-land deer zone | Bear zone | Gator zone | Deer checked 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McIntosh County | Darien | 11,800 | Green | None | Zone 7 | 422 |
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 Sapelo Island WMA is open this season
Sapelo Island WMA has 9 season lines in the 2026-27 guide, for deer, coyote, small game, waterfowl and turkey. 2 of the lines carry a quota symbol, 250 hunters in all. The symbols flag 3 bonus deer lines and 1 youth line.
| Species | Season | Days open | Symbols | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | Sept. 12-Oct. 7, Nov. 23-Jan. 10 | — | Maps of open hunting areas available at kiosk, Brunswick DNR office, and georgiawildlife.com |
| Deer | Archery | South End: Sept. 12-Jan. 10 | — | Maps of open hunting areas available at kiosk, Brunswick DNR office, and georgiawildlife.com |
| Deer | Primitive | Oct. 22-24 | Quota 125 Bonus deer | Maps of open hunting areas available at kiosk, Brunswick DNR office, and georgiawildlife.com |
| Deer | Firearms | Oct. 9-11 | Youth Bonus deer | Maps of open hunting areas available at kiosk, Brunswick DNR office, and georgiawildlife.com |
| Deer | Firearms | Nov. 5-7, 19-21 | Quota 125 Bonus deer | Maps of open hunting areas available at kiosk, Brunswick DNR office, and georgiawildlife.com |
| Coyote | — | Mar. 1-May 31. Feral hogs may be taken with dogs. | — | |
| Small game | — | State Seasons | — | No furbearers. |
| Waterfowl | — | State Seasons | — | |
| Turkey | — | — | — | Area is closed to turkey hunting. |
Dates and symbols from the 2026-27 Georgia regulations listing, wording as printed by the source. Checked October 13, 2026.
Sapelo Island WMA harvest from Game Check
Game Check logged 45 deer from Sapelo Island WMA in 2025-26: 16 antlered, 29 antlerless. Since 2016-17, totals have run from 7 to 45. The 2026-27 season is under way: 29 deer reported so far. Unadjusted Game Check reports, the finest level WRD publishes.
Deer by season at Sapelo Island WMA
| Year | Bucks | Does | Deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 (in progress) | 6 | 23 | 29 |
| 2025-26 | 16 | 29 | 45 |
| 2024-25 | 14 | 23 | 37 |
| 2023-24 | 13 | 22 | 35 |
| 2022-23 | 14 | 14 | 28 |
| 2021-22 | 11 | 7 | 18 |
| 2020-21 | 9 | 19 | 28 |
| 2019-20 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 2018-19 | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| 2017-18 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| 2016-17 | 8 | 7 | 15 |
Deer from WRD deer harvest reports, turkeys from WRD turkey harvest layer; as of 2026-10-13. Checked October 13, 2026.
Sapelo Island WMA: rules before the first hunt
The first card is specific to this ground; the rest are statewide rules that matter here.
Rules on Sapelo Island 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.
- No motorized vehicles are allowed on the island
- No motorized vehicles allowed on island
Paperwork for Sapelo Island 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.
Sapelo Island 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 Sapelo Island WMA
Quota draws use priority points, one per year without a draw.
Directions to Sapelo Island WMA
From Savannah: Take I-95 south to Exit 58, turn left on GA HWY 57, go 1 mile to flashing light, continue straight on HWY 99, go 9.1 mi. to Landing Rd. (in Meridian), turn left and proceed to Sapelo Island Visitors Center.
Inside Sapelo Island WMA
Agency description, field lists and related areas.
Description from WRD
Located midway on the Georgia coastline on the eastern fringe of McIntosh County, Sapelo Island is defined by the Sapelo River to the north, the waters of Doboy Sound to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Duplin River to the west. The 16,500-acre island is the 4th largest barrier island in the State of Georgia. Sapelo Island Wildlife Management Area is 9,000 acres and offers hunting opportunities for deer, small game and feral hog.
Hunters drawn for Sapelo Island deer quota hunts must arrange for their own transportation to the island via private boat. A link to a list of private charters is provided below (under "Activities"/"Hunting") as a convenience for customers. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources does not endorse any one business for use. Hunters are required to furnish their own boat transportation to/from Sapelo. Access is allowed only at Moses Hammock Dock at head of Duplin River.
Stream anchorage may be required. Hunters may check in starting at 9:00 a.m. EST one day prior to hunt. Camps must be removed by noon on the day following each hunt. Hunters are required to stay outside the boundaries of the safety zones. For information on local charter options or transportation to the Moses Hammock hunt camp, please contact the Sapelo Island Visitors Center (912) 437-3224.
Text and lists from the source page, Georgia regulations, WRD GIS, WRD GIS; retrieved 2026-10-13, checked October 13, 2026.
Game at Sapelo Island WMA, with limits
Listed game for Sapelo Island WMA: whitetails, coyotes, squirrels and rabbits, ducks and geese, gobblers and feral hogs.
White-tailed deer
Opening line: Sept. 12-Oct. 7, Nov. 23-Jan. 10, archery.
Wild turkey
Feral hog
Species from the area record; bag limits from the WRD bag limit table. Checked October 13, 2026.
Sapelo Island WMA on the map, with its neighbours
Sapelo Island WMA sits at the orange pin, with 11 public neighbours inside 30 miles. That is 146,790 acres of listed ground.
| Area | Category | Acreage | Straight line | Direction | Game Check deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 5,591 | 4 mi | northeast | 23 |
| Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 2,755 | 12 mi | north | 14 |
| Altamaha WMA | WMA | 31,569 | 15 mi | west | 21 |
| Altama Plantation WMA | WMA | 4,612 | 17 mi | southwest | 13 |
| Clayhole Swamp WMA | WMA | 5,242 | 20 mi | west | 9 |
| Richmond Hill WMA | WMA | 7,400 | 23 mi | north | 52 |
| Ossabaw Island WMA | WMA | 9,000 | 24 mi | north | — |
| Paulks Pasture WMA | WMA | 16,066 | 24 mi | southwest | 17 |
| Sansavilla WMA | WMA | 19,084 | 25 mi | west | 47 |
| Townsend WMA | WMA | 34,294 | 27 mi | west | 46 |
| Penholoway Swamp WMA | WMA | 11,177 | 28 mi | west | 7 |
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.
Sapelo Island WMA: nearest ranges
Richmond Hill Archery Range in Bryan County is the nearest range on the WRD list, 24 miles out. Closer private options sit beside it.
Facilities: 4 static archery range target stations, Archery tower with 6 3D targets, 3D archery trail with 15 targets
Lines for sporting clays and shotgun
Lines for rifle, handgun, smallbore, action pistol and shotgun
From the WRD range list and the GA DNR range layer, checked October 13, 2026.
Sapelo Island WMA: nearest towns and businesses
Closest towns first; businesses by county and distance.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crescent | McIntosh | 8 mi | — | 16,654 |
| Eulonia | McIntosh | 12 mi | — | 10,020 |
| Darien | McIntosh | 13 mi | 1,747 | 38,585 |
| Country Club Estates | Glynn | 22 mi | — | 10,166 |
Counties covered: McIntosh County.
Help near Sapelo Island WMA
Sapelo Island 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 Sapelo Island 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 Sapelo Island 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.
Sapelo Island WMA, asked and answered
Which town makes a good base for Sapelo Island WMA?
In McIntosh County, about 8 miles from Crescent.
Which license covers Sapelo Island WMA?
A Georgia hunting or fishing license works; otherwise buy the Lands Pass, $30.00 for residents.
Must I register before hunting Sapelo Island WMA?
Online sign-in on Go Outdoors Georgia is required for big game and turkey.
When is the first deer hunt at Sapelo Island WMA?
The guide lists Sept. 12-Oct. 7, Nov. 23-Jan. 10 first for deer. The table has every segment.
What game is listed for Sapelo Island WMA?
The area lists whitetails, coyotes, squirrels and rabbits, ducks and geese, gobblers and feral hogs.
Are hunts on Sapelo Island WMA limited?
Quota: 2 lines, 250 hunters.
Can I camp during a hunt at Sapelo Island WMA?
The area allows camping in designated spots.
How many deer get reported from Sapelo Island WMA?
Hunters reported 45 deer in 2025-26 (16 bucks).
Are alligators hunted around Sapelo Island WMA?
It is in zone 7; apply in the alligator draw.
What areas neighbour Sapelo Island WMA?
Try Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge (4 miles), Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge (12 miles) and Altamaha WMA (15 miles); each has its own page.
How much orange does Sapelo Island WMA require?
500 square inches of orange or blaze pink above the waist during primitive weapons and firearms deer and bear hunts.
What reporting applies at Sapelo Island WMA?
Log it on the Harvest Record before moving it, then report it to Game Check the same day or next.
Sapelo Island WMA: confirm before you go
Public land rules change more often than the printed guide. Recheck Sapelo Island WMA with the manager before you go.
Sources for this page: WRD: sapelo island wma · Georgia regulations: wma regulations q s · WRD GIS · WRD GIS · WRD GIS; regulations from the 2026-27 Georgia hunting regulations. Checked October 13, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); seabamirum (CC BY 2.0).