Coopers Creek WMA: 2026-27 seasons and deer harvest
Coopers Creek WMA is 30,000 acres of public hunting land in Union and Fannin counties, managed by Georgia DNR's WRD (Region 2). For 2026-27, WRD lists these deer dates: archery, Buck Only: Sept. 12 to 25, Oct. 3 to 9; primitive, Buck Only: Oct. 21 to 24; firearms, Bonus Specialty Buck Only: Nov. 4 to 7; Bonus Buck Only: Nov. 25 to 28; Buck Only: Dec. 26 to Jan. 1; Bear Only: Sept. 26 to Oct. 2. Hunters reported 9 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check (9 bucks, 0 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.
Coopers Creek WMAOther WRD WMAsNational forestNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 30,000 acres (WRD's 2026-27 regulations, page 37) |
|---|---|
| County | Union County, Fannin County |
| WRD region | Region 2, office 770-535-5700 |
| WRD's listing | WMA on leased or partner land |
| Deer, 2026-27 | Archery: Buck Only: Sept. 12 to 25, Oct. 3 to 9. Primitive: Buck Only: Oct. 21 to 24. Firearms: Bonus Specialty Buck Only: Nov. 4 to 7; Bonus Buck Only: Nov. 25 to 28; Buck Only: Dec. 26 to Jan. 1; Bear Only: Sept. 26 to Oct. 2 |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 9 (9 bucks, 0 does) |
| Camping | Allowed (WRD) |
| Nearest towns | Blairsville (7 mi), Morganton (7 mi) and Blue Ridge (10 mi) |
What is Coopers Creek WMA like?
Cooper's Creek Wildlife Management Area is one of Georgia's larger wildlife management areas. It spans more than 30,000 acres, and lies within the Chattahoochee National Forest. This WMA is located in the extreme northeast corner of Georgia and nearly borders North Carolina. This WMA offers hunting opportunities for deer, bear, turkey and small game. This property is owned by the U.S. Forest Service who manages all non-hunting aspects of their property such as roads, recreation, and land management. The trails in this wildlife management area offer nearly eight miles of easy to moderate hiking. The trails follow old logging trails and new footpaths through a variety of hardwood, mixed pine and hardwood, and white pine and hemlock forests. Vehicle Usage: ATVs and UTVs are not allowed on U.S. Forest Service roads. They may only be used on roads/trails designated specifically for their use. For more information, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/conf/home/?cid=fseprd1154774 . Check Road Closures: Road closures due to damage or weather-related conditions for this property will be listed at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/conf/ .
WRD lists these facilities: hiking trails and primitive campsites.
From WRD's page for Coopers Creek WMA.
Nearly all of the area lies on national forest land, measured on the U.S. Forest Service map. On national forest land the Forest Service runs the roads and campgrounds; WRD runs the hunting.
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Coopers Creek 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 and bear, archery | Buck Only: Sept. 12 to 25, Oct. 3 to 9 |
| Deer and bear, primitive | Buck Only: Oct. 21 to 24 |
| Deer and bear, firearms | Bonus Specialty Buck Only: Nov. 4 to 7 Bonus Buck Only: Nov. 25 to 28 Buck Only: Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 Bear Only: Sept. 26 to Oct. 2 |
| Turkey | Apr. 3 to May 15 |
| Coyote | May 16 to 31. Feral hogs may be hunted with dogs. |
| Small Game | 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 37 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 Coopers Creek WMA?
Hunters reported 9 deer on Coopers Creek WMA in the 2025-26 season: 9 bucks and 0 does. Over the 10 seasons WRD reports, the area averaged 7 deer a season, from 2 in 2018-19 to 10 in 2022-23.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Bucks per 100 deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 100 |
| 2024-25 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 100 |
| 2023-24 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 100 |
| 2022-23 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 100 |
| 2021-22 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 100 |
| 2020-21 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 100 |
| 2019-20 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 100 |
| 2018-19 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50 |
| 2017-18 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 70 |
| 2016-17 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 33 |
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 Coopers Creek WMA in?
Coopers Creek WMA spreads over 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | 21,798 | 1,755 | 5.4 | 37th |
| Fannin County | 7,249 | 1,740 | 4.5 | 39th |
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 Coopers Creek WMA?
WRD gives this address: 8653 Mulkey Gap Road, Suches, GA 30572 (GPS 34.7705, -84.0681). Highways within 5 miles: GA 60, GA 11, US 129 and US 19. Nearest towns: Blairsville (7 miles), Morganton (7 miles), Blue Ridge (10 miles) and Dahlonega (12 miles).
Besides hunting, WRD lists hiking, primitive camping, river fishing and wildlife viewing here.
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Chestatee WMA (next to it), Blue Ridge WMA (next to it), Rich Mountain WMA (6 miles) and Chattahoochee WMA (6.9 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Coopers Creek WMA in 2026-27?
WRD lists these 2026-27 deer dates for Coopers Creek WMA: archery, Buck Only: Sept. 12 to 25, Oct. 3 to 9; primitive, Buck Only: Oct. 21 to 24; firearms, Bonus Specialty Buck Only: Nov. 4 to 7; Bonus Buck Only: Nov. 25 to 28; Buck Only: Dec. 26 to Jan. 1; Bear Only: Sept. 26 to Oct. 2. 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 Coopers Creek WMA?
WRD's 2026-27 listing for Coopers Creek 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 Coopers Creek WMA last season?
9 deer were reported on Coopers Creek WMA in the 2025-26 season, 9 bucks and 0 does, by WRD's Game Check reports by WMA.
Can you camp on Coopers Creek WMA?
Yes. WRD's listing for Coopers Creek WMA allows camping, with primitive campsites. Follow the area's posted rules.
What county is Coopers Creek WMA in?
Union County (21,798 acres) and Fannin County (7,249 acres), measured on WRD's boundary.
Get a Georgia hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Georgia are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Georgia included.
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, Coopers Creek 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 Union County deer harvest Fannin County deer harvest