Chickasawhatchee WMA: 2026-27 seasons, quota hunts and deer harvest
Chickasawhatchee WMA is 19,700 acres of public hunting land in Dougherty, Calhoun and Baker counties, managed by Georgia DNR's WRD (Region 5). For 2026-27, WRD lists these deer dates: archery, Buck Only: Sept. 12 to 27; Sept. 28 to Oct. 9, Dec. 24 to Jan. 31; primitive, Oct. 10 to 23; firearms, Youth Nov. 20 to 27, Dec. 18 to 23. Hunters reported 168 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check (85 bucks, 83 does). WRD drew 6 quota hunts here in its 2026 lottery.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 WMA listings. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Quota hunts: WRD's 2026 lottery reports.
Chickasawhatchee WMAOther WRD WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 19,700 acres (WRD's 2026-27 regulations, page 36) |
|---|---|
| County | Dougherty County, Calhoun County, Baker County |
| WRD region | Region 5, office 229-430-4254 |
| WRD's listing | Traditional WMA |
| Deer, 2026-27 | Archery: Buck Only: Sept. 12 to 27; Sept. 28 to Oct. 9, Dec. 24 to Jan. 31. Primitive: Oct. 10 to 23. Firearms: Youth Nov. 20 to 27, Dec. 18 to 23 |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 168 (85 bucks, 83 does) |
| Quota hunts, 2026 lottery | 6, with 5,062 applications |
| Camping | Allowed (WRD) |
| Nearest towns | Leary (2 mi), Morgan (8 mi) and Newton (9 mi) |
What is Chickasawhatchee WMA like?
Chickasawhatchee Wildlife Management Area is located 12 miles southwest of Albany. The 19,700-acre WMA includes the Mike Commander Shooting Range, a managed dove field and campsites for tents and RVs. The property is a managed pine savannah that supports varied hunting opportunities, including for deer, turkey, dove, quail, small game, waterfowl and furbearers. Bird watchers will also find a number of different species at Chickasawhatchee.
WRD lists these facilities: Mike Commander Archery Range, Mike Commander Shooting Range, canoe access, hiking trails and primitive campsites.
From WRD's page for Chickasawhatchee WMA.
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Chickasawhatchee WMA?
WRD sets each WMA's own dates. These are WRD's 2026-27 dates and notes for the area, as printed:
| Season | 2026-27 dates and WRD's notes |
|---|---|
| Deer, archery | Buck Only: Sept. 12 to 27 Sept. 28 to Oct. 9, Dec. 24 to Jan. 31 |
| Deer, primitive | Oct. 10 to 23 |
| Deer, firearms | Youth Nov. 20 to 27, Dec. 18 to 23 Deer hunting is not allowed during quail quota hunts. |
| Turkey | Apr. 24 to May 15 |
| Quail | Daily bag limit is 3/person. Quail hunting on designated dates only. Hunting party must check in at kiosk or online. Complete 1 harvest survey per party. Sign-in Nov. 28, Dec. 8 |
| Dove | Quota on designated fields only. All other areas are open. Sept. 12 to Oct. 11, Nov. 21 to 29, Dec. 19 to Jan. 31 |
| Coyote | May 16 to 31. Feral hogs may be hunted with dogs. |
| Small Game | State Seasons No fox squirrel hunting. |
| Waterfowl | State Seasons |
Source: WRD WMA hunting opportunities, 2026-27 season (FY27). The area's full listing in the 2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations, page 36 adds its quota, youth and special hunts and its area notes, and is the final word. WRD can change a hunt during the year: check WRD's page for the area before you go.
Does Chickasawhatchee WMA have quota hunts?
Yes. WRD's 2026 lottery reports list 6 quota hunts on Chickasawhatchee WMA. The most applied for was 2nd Hunt, Bonus Either Sex, Firearms (deer): 1,639 applicants for 351 spots.
| Hunt | Lottery | Applicants | Selected | First-choice applicants | Share selected | Priority points sure of a spot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Hunt, Either Sex, Firearms | Deer, 2026 | 1,240 | 350 | 551 | 28.2% | 1 |
| 2nd Hunt, Bonus Either Sex, Firearms | Deer, 2026 | 1,639 | 351 | 925 | 21.4% | 2 |
| (Canceled Hunt; Do not Select) Chickasawhatchee WMA, 4th Hunt 41 0 10 0 % 0 0 Alapaha River WMA, Only Hunt | Turkey, 2025 | 691 | 15 | 445 | 2.2% | 5 |
| 1st Hunt | Turkey, 2025 | 796 | 31 | 443 | 3.9% | 4 |
| 2nd Hunt | Turkey, 2025 | 455 | 31 | 45 | 6.8% | 1 |
| 3rd Hunt | Turkey, 2025 | 241 | 30 | 12 | 12.4% | 0 |
Source: WRD's 2026 quota lottery reports. "Share selected" is WRD's selected count divided by its applicant count for that year's lottery, not a forecast. "Priority points sure of a spot" is WRD's own column: applicants with at least that many priority points were selected; the rest went to a random draw.
How many deer are taken on Chickasawhatchee WMA?
Hunters reported 168 deer on Chickasawhatchee WMA in the 2025-26 season: 85 bucks and 83 does. Over the 10 seasons WRD reports, the area averaged 148 deer a season, from 115 in 2020-21 to 195 in 2023-24.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Bucks per 100 deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 168 | 85 | 83 | 51 |
| 2024-25 | 176 | 111 | 65 | 63 |
| 2023-24 | 195 | 110 | 85 | 56 |
| 2022-23 | 188 | 124 | 64 | 66 |
| 2021-22 | 119 | 68 | 51 | 57 |
| 2020-21 | 115 | 71 | 44 | 62 |
| 2019-20 | 132 | 79 | 53 | 60 |
| 2018-19 | 125 | 73 | 52 | 58 |
| 2017-18 | 126 | 69 | 57 | 55 |
| 2016-17 | 133 | 69 | 64 | 52 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by WMA. Deer from bonus hunts are tagged at the check station and may not be in Game Check's count. WRD records the 2026-27 season as it goes; it is left out until it ends.
Which county is Chickasawhatchee WMA in?
Chickasawhatchee WMA spreads over 3 counties. Each county's deer harvest for 2025-26, for the whole county, private land included:
| County | WMA acres in it | County deer reported, 2025-26 | Deer per square mile | Rank of 159 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dougherty County | 9,572 | 674 | 2.1 | 130th |
| Calhoun County | 6,808 | 1,347 | 4.8 | 66th |
| Baker County | 3,332 | 1,041 | 3 | 96th |
County harvest: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check). WMA acres in each county measured by FilledTag on WRD's boundary map and the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries; the mapped boundary can take in water or tracts that WRD's stated acreage leaves out.
How do you get to Chickasawhatchee WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: GA 62, GA 37, GA 55 and GA 234. Nearest towns: Leary (2 miles), Morgan (8 miles), Newton (9 miles) and Albany (11 miles).
Besides hunting, WRD lists archery range, camping, canoeing, fishing, hiking, shooting range and wildlife viewing here.
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Elmodel WMA (2.6 miles), Albany Nursery WMA (5.6 miles), Mayhaw WMA (22.2 miles) and Doerun Pitcher Plant Bog WMA (30.2 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Chickasawhatchee WMA in 2026-27?
WRD lists these 2026-27 deer dates for Chickasawhatchee WMA: archery, Buck Only: Sept. 12 to 27; Sept. 28 to Oct. 9, Dec. 24 to Jan. 31; primitive, Oct. 10 to 23; firearms, Youth Nov. 20 to 27, Dec. 18 to 23. WMA dates can differ from the statewide dates, and sign-in is required for deer hunts unless WRD's listing says otherwise.
When is turkey season on Chickasawhatchee WMA?
WRD's 2026-27 listing for Chickasawhatchee WMA gives turkey: Apr. 24 to May 15. On a WMA the limit is one gobbler a season per area.
How many deer were killed on Chickasawhatchee WMA last season?
168 deer were reported on Chickasawhatchee WMA in the 2025-26 season, 85 bucks and 83 does, by WRD's Game Check reports by WMA.
Is Chickasawhatchee WMA a quota hunt?
Some of its hunts are. WRD's 2026 lottery listed 6 quota hunts on Chickasawhatchee WMA, with 5,062 applications for 808 spots. Its other seasons need sign-in, not a draw.
Can you camp on Chickasawhatchee WMA?
Yes. WRD's listing for Chickasawhatchee WMA allows camping, with primitive campsites. Follow the area's posted rules.
What county is Chickasawhatchee WMA in?
Dougherty County (9,572 acres), Calhoun County (6,808 acres) and Baker County (3,332 acres), measured on WRD's boundary.
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Where these numbers come from
- Seasons and notes: WRD WMA hunting opportunities, 2026-27 season (FY27); general WMA rules: 2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations, pages 19 to 21.
- Deer harvest by WMA and county: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check).
- Quota hunts: WRD quota hunt lottery reports, 2026.
- Area description, facilities and address: WRD, Chickasawhatchee WMA. Boundary and acres: WRD WMA boundaries.
- Counties, highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries; U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer. National forest and refuges: U.S. Forest Service national forest ownership; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries.
FilledTag is not part of Georgia DNR. Numbers are copied from WRD or measured from public maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
Georgia hunting All Georgia WMAs Dougherty County deer harvest Calhoun County deer harvest Baker County deer harvest