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Walker County, Georgia
Zahnd WMA Hunting Notes
2026-27 dates for whitetails, black bears, gobblers and coyotes, quota lines, reported harvest, access rules and the nearest towns.
Photo: StephenGA (CC0 1.0)
Getting to Zahnd WMA
Where Zahnd WMA sits and who runs it
Zahnd WMA is a wildlife management area run by WRD in Walker County. It falls in Game Management Region 1, served by the Armuchee office. It is run by the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division. Size: 1,642 acres, number 87 of 121 WMAs. Look west of LaFayette (the nearest town we cover), about 11 miles out.
County context for Zahnd WMA
| County | Seat | People (2024) | Private-land deer zone | Bear zone | Gator zone | Deer checked 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walker County | LaFayette | 69,340 | Green | Northern | — | 2,098 |
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 Zahnd WMA is open this season
Zahnd WMA has 5 season lines in the 2026-27 guide, for deer & bear, turkey, coyote, small game and waterfowl.
| Species | Season | Days open | Symbols | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer & bear | Archery | Sept. 12-Jan. 1 | — | |
| Turkey | — | Apr. 3-May 15 | — | |
| Coyote | — | May 16-31 | — | |
| Small game | — | State Seasons | — | |
| Waterfowl | — | State Seasons | — |
Dates and symbols from the 2026-27 Georgia regulations listing, wording as printed by the source. Checked October 13, 2026.
Zahnd WMA harvest from Game Check
Game Check logged 9 deer from Zahnd WMA in 2025-26: 6 antlered, 3 antlerless. Since 2016-17, totals have run from 7 to 15. The 2026-27 season is under way: 4 deer reported so far. Turkey hunters reported 3 gobblers from Zahnd WMA in spring 2026, and 35 across the springs shown. Unadjusted Game Check reports, the finest level WRD publishes.
Deer by season at Zahnd WMA
| Year | Bucks | Does | Deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 (in progress) | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 2025-26 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| 2024-25 | 5 | 8 | 13 |
| 2023-24 | 7 | 6 | 13 |
| 2022-23 | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| 2021-22 | 7 | 2 | 9 |
| 2020-21 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| 2019-20 | 5 | 7 | 12 |
| 2018-19 | 7 | 6 | 13 |
| 2017-18 | 10 | 5 | 15 |
| 2016-17 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
Zahnd WMA turkey table
| Spring | Turkeys |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | 3 |
| Spring 2025 | 4 |
| Spring 2024 | 5 |
| Spring 2023 | 4 |
| Spring 2022 | 3 |
| Spring 2021 | 2 |
| Spring 2020 | 3 |
| Spring 2019 | 3 |
| Spring 2018 | 4 |
| Spring 2017 | 3 |
| Spring 2016 | 1 |
Bears near Zahnd WMA
| County | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walker | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
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.
Hunting Zahnd WMA legally
The first card is specific to this ground; the rest are statewide rules that matter here.
Rules on Zahnd 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.
- No ATVs
Paperwork for Zahnd 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.
Zahnd 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.
Directions to Zahnd WMA
From Cloudland: Take HWY 157 north 8.2 miles, turn right on Dougherty Gap Rd. and go 3.5 miles, Dougherty Gap Rd. becomes West Cove Rd., Continue straight for 3.5 miles, Turn left on S. Cedar Lane to end of road. General Info Department of Natural Resources Department Message Contact Information Definitions Chronic Wasting Disease Map of State Properties Licenses, Permits & Fees Licenses, Permits & Passes Hunting Licenses Hunting Regulations Deer Hunting Regulations Hunting Information Quota Hunts Unlawful Activities Seasons & Limits Dog-Deer Seasons Deer Seasons and Either-Sex Days Big Game Seasons, Dates & Limits Small Game & Trapping Seasons, Dates & Limits Migratory Birds Seasons Bear, Turkey, Feral Hog, Alligator & Small Game Management Areas Unlawful Activities on WMAs WMA Regulations: A-C WMA Regulations: D-H WMA Regulations: I-P WMA Regulations: Q-S WMA Regulations: T-Z Federal Area Regulations State Park Hunting Opportunities Voluntary Public Access Opportunities Hunting Opportunities Public Hunting Opportunities Dove & Specialty Hunts Dog Training Shooting Ranges Youth Hunts Mobility-Impaired Hunts PDF Downloads Outdoors Beyond Barriers New Hunter & Youth Opportunities
Inside Zahnd WMA
Agency description, field lists and related areas.
Description from WRD
This 1,642-acre Wildlife Management Area is located in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of Northwest Georgia in Walker County sharing a boundary with the adjacent Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA. Hunting interests primarily include turkey, archery deer and squirrel. Most of the area was originally acquired as a state natural area. Portions are leased annually to provide improved access and increase recreational opportunity. This property features many protected plants and animals as well as gorgeous overlooks and rock outcrops popular for climbing.
Text and lists from the source page, Georgia regulations, WRD GIS, WRD GIS; retrieved 2026-10-13, checked October 13, 2026.
Game at Zahnd WMA, with limits
Listed game for Zahnd WMA: whitetails, black bears, gobblers, coyotes, squirrels and rabbits and ducks and geese.
Species from the area record; bag limits from the WRD bag limit table. Checked October 13, 2026.
Zahnd WMA on the map, with its neighbours
Zahnd WMA sits at the orange pin, with 6 public neighbours inside 30 miles. That is 65,247 acres of listed ground.
| Area | Category | Acreage | Straight line | Direction | Game Check deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA | WMA | 21,895 | 5 mi | east | 81 |
| Otting WMA | WMA | 700 | 8 mi | south | 8 |
| John's Mountain WMA | WMA | 23,710 | 23 mi | east | 19 |
| Rocky Mountain Recreation Area & PFA | Public fishing area | 3,000 | 24 mi | southeast | 22 |
| Arrowhead WMA | WMA | 337 | 24 mi | southeast | 1 |
| Berry College WMA | WMA | 15,605 | 26 mi | southeast | 19 |
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.
Zahnd WMA: nearest ranges
Rocky Mountain Archery Range in Floyd County is the nearest range on the WRD list, 24 miles out. Closer private options sit beside it.
Facilities: Bullseye Targets (3)
Lines for sporting clays, rifle, handgun, smallbore, muzzleloader, air gun and shotgun
From the WRD range list and the GA DNR range layer, checked October 13, 2026.
Zahnd WMA: nearest towns and businesses
Closest towns first; businesses by county and distance.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LaFayette | Walker | 11 mi | 7,028 | 30,401 |
| Summerville | Chattooga | 15 mi | 4,421 | 20,599 |
| Trenton | Dade | 15 mi | 2,205 | — |
| Rock Spring | Walker | 16 mi | — | 14,024 |
Counties covered: Walker County.
Help near Zahnd WMA
Zahnd 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.
A week of shooting light for Zahnd 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 Zahnd 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.
Zahnd WMA, asked and answered
How many deer get reported from Zahnd WMA?
Hunters reported 9 deer in 2025-26 (6 bucks).
What bear zone covers Zahnd WMA?
Northern. Bears are on the game list.
What areas neighbour Zahnd WMA?
Try Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA (5 miles), Otting WMA (8 miles) and John's Mountain WMA (23 miles); each has its own page.
How much orange does Zahnd 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 Zahnd WMA?
Log it on the Harvest Record before moving it, then report it to Game Check the same day or next.
Is it legal to bait hogs on Zahnd WMA?
Not here: the baiting allowance covers private land only.
What kind of place is Zahnd WMA?
It is a wildlife management area run by WRD, managed by the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division.
Is Zahnd WMA big enough for a full day?
About 1,642 acres.
Which town makes a good base for Zahnd WMA?
In Walker County, about 11 miles from LaFayette.
Which license covers Zahnd WMA?
A Georgia hunting or fishing license works; otherwise buy the Lands Pass, $30.00 for residents.
Must I register before hunting Zahnd WMA?
Online sign-in on Go Outdoors Georgia is required for big game and turkey.
When is the first deer hunt at Zahnd WMA?
The guide lists Sept. 12-Jan. 1 first for deer. The table has every segment.
Zahnd WMA: confirm before you go
Public land rules change more often than the printed guide. Recheck Zahnd WMA with the manager before you go.
Sources for this page: WRD: zahnd wma · Georgia regulations: wma regulations t z · WRD GIS · WRD GIS · WRD GIS; regulations from the 2026-27 Georgia hunting regulations. Checked October 13, 2026.
Other photos on this page: gary_leavens (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).