Clarks Hill WMA: 2026-27 seasons and deer harvest
Clarks Hill WMA is 13,291 acres of public hunting land in McDuffie, Wilkes and Lincoln counties, managed by Georgia DNR's WRD (Region 3). For 2026-27, WRD lists these deer dates on Clarks Hill WMA - East: archery, Sept. 12 to Oct. 9; primitive, Oct. 10 to 16; firearms, Oct. 17 to Nov. 30. Hunters reported 159 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check (83 bucks, 76 does).
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.
Clarks Hill WMAOther WRD WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 13,291 acres (WRD's 2026-27 regulations, page 36) |
|---|---|
| County | McDuffie County, Wilkes County, Lincoln County, Warren County |
| WRD region | Region 3, office 706-595-4222 |
| WRD's listing | WMA on leased or partner land |
| Deer, 2026-27 | Archery: Sept. 12 to Oct. 9. Primitive: Oct. 10 to 16. Firearms: Oct. 17 to Nov. 30 |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 159 (83 bucks, 76 does) |
| Camping | Allowed (WRD) |
| Nearest towns | Thomson (7 mi), Sharon (8 mi) and Washington (8 mi) |
What is Clarks Hill WMA like?
Clarks Hill Wildlife Management Area – East is located in McDuffie, Wilkes and Lincoln counties. This 10,224-acre property is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and managed by the Georgia DNR-Wildlife Resources Division. It offers hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, small game, dove and waterfowl. The WMA borders the Little River branch of Clarks Hill Lake. The habitat there is mostly rolling hills of mature mixed pine-hardwood forests composed of loblolly and shortleaf pine as well as white and northern red oaks. Camping is only allowed in designated sites.
WRD lists these facilities: Clarks Hill Archery Range, boat ramp, primitive campsites, canoe access and lake.
From WRD's page for Clarks Hill WMA.
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Clarks Hill WMA?
WRD sets each WMA's own dates. It lists 2 parts of Clarks Hill WMA separately: Clarks Hill WMA - East and Clarks Hill WMA - West. These are WRD's 2026-27 dates and notes for the area, as printed:
Clarks Hill WMA - East
| Season | 2026-27 dates and WRD's notes |
|---|---|
| Deer, archery | Sept. 12 to Oct. 9 |
| Deer, primitive | Oct. 10 to 16 |
| Deer, firearms | Oct. 17 to Nov. 30 |
| Turkey | Apr. 3 to May 15 |
| Dove | AREA WIDE Sept. 12, 19, Oct. 3, 10, Nov. 21 to 29, Dec. 19 to Jan. 31 |
| Coyote | May 16 to 31 |
| Small Game | State Seasons |
| Quail | State season. Hunting party must report harvest at kiosk or online, complete one survey per party. |
| Waterfowl | Waterfowl allowed during state season dates that overlap with small game dates. |
Clarks Hill WMA - West
| Season | 2026-27 dates and WRD's notes |
|---|---|
| Deer, archery | Sept. 12 to Oct. 9 |
| Deer, primitive | Oct. 10 to 16 |
| Deer, firearms | Oct. 17 to Jan. 10 |
| Turkey | Apr. 3 to May 15 |
| Coyote | May 16 to 31 |
| Small Game | State Seasons |
| Waterfowl | Waterfowl allowed during state season dates that overlap with small game dates. |
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.
How many deer are taken on Clarks Hill WMA?
Hunters reported 159 deer on Clarks Hill WMA in the 2025-26 season: 83 bucks and 76 does. Over the 10 seasons WRD reports, the area averaged 105 deer a season, from 65 in 2018-19 to 159 in 2025-26.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Bucks per 100 deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 159 | 83 | 76 | 52 |
| 2024-25 | 131 | 82 | 49 | 63 |
| 2023-24 | 115 | 59 | 56 | 51 |
| 2022-23 | 107 | 58 | 49 | 54 |
| 2021-22 | 97 | 50 | 47 | 52 |
| 2020-21 | 99 | 54 | 45 | 55 |
| 2019-20 | 93 | 42 | 51 | 45 |
| 2018-19 | 65 | 31 | 34 | 48 |
| 2017-18 | 93 | 59 | 34 | 63 |
| 2016-17 | 89 | 41 | 48 | 46 |
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 Clarks Hill WMA in?
Clarks Hill WMA spreads over 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDuffie County | 11,213 | 1,508 | 5.9 | 49th |
| Wilkes County | 5,875 | 2,775 | 5.9 | 9th |
| Lincoln County | 258 | 1,316 | 6.3 | 72nd |
| Warren County | 129 | 2,034 | 7.2 | 25th |
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 Clarks Hill WMA?
WRD gives this address: 2610 Smith Mill Road, Thomson, GA 30824 (GPS 33.62751, -82.5314). Highways through the area: GA 10, GA 17 and US 78. Nearest towns: Thomson (7 miles), Sharon (8 miles), Washington (8 miles) and Lincolnton (9 miles).
WRD prints a map of the area: Clarks Hill WMA map (PDF).
Besides hunting, WRD lists archery, boating, canoeing, lake fishing, primitive camping, river fishing and wildlife viewing here.
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Germany Creek WMA (next to it), Keg Creek WMA (8.5 miles), Soap Creek WMA (10.1 miles) and Fishing Creek WMA (10.4 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Clarks Hill WMA in 2026-27?
WRD lists these 2026-27 deer dates for Clarks Hill WMA: archery, Sept. 12 to Oct. 9; primitive, Oct. 10 to 16; firearms, Oct. 17 to Nov. 30. 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 Clarks Hill WMA?
WRD's 2026-27 listing for Clarks Hill WMA gives turkey: Apr. 3 to May 15. On a WMA the limit is one gobbler a season per area.
How many deer were killed on Clarks Hill WMA last season?
159 deer were reported on Clarks Hill WMA in the 2025-26 season, 83 bucks and 76 does, by WRD's Game Check reports by WMA.
Can you camp on Clarks Hill WMA?
Yes. WRD's listing for Clarks Hill WMA allows camping, with primitive campsites. Follow the area's posted rules.
What county is Clarks Hill WMA in?
McDuffie County (11,213 acres), Wilkes County (5,875 acres), Lincoln County (258 acres) and Warren County (129 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, Clarks Hill 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 McDuffie County deer harvest Wilkes County deer harvest Lincoln County deer harvest