Fishing Creek WMA: 2026-27 seasons and deer harvest
Fishing Creek WMA is 2,900 acres of public hunting land in Wilkes and Lincoln counties, managed by Georgia DNR's WRD (Region 3). For 2026-27, WRD lists these deer dates: archery, Sept. 12 to Oct. 9; primitive, Oct. 10 to 16; firearms, Oct. 17 to Jan. 10. Hunters reported 18 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check (11 bucks, 7 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.
Fishing Creek WMAOther WRD WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 2,900 acres (WRD's 2026-27 regulations, page 39) |
|---|---|
| County | Wilkes County, Lincoln 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 Jan. 10 |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 18 (11 bucks, 7 does) |
| Camping | Not listed (WRD) |
| Nearest towns | Lincolnton (7 mi), Tignall (8 mi) and Washington (11 mi) |
What is Fishing Creek WMA like?
The Fishing Creek Wildlife Management Area is located in Tignall. This 2,900-acre property offers hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, small game, and waterfowl.
WRD lists these facilities: lake.
From WRD's page for Fishing Creek WMA.
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Fishing 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, 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 |
| Dove | Sept. 5 to Oct. 11, Nov. 21 to 29, Dec. 19 to Jan. 31 |
| Waterfowl | Wednesdays, Saturdays during state season on waterfowl impoundments. Legal hours end at noon. |
| 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 39 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 Fishing Creek WMA?
Hunters reported 18 deer on Fishing Creek WMA in the 2025-26 season: 11 bucks and 7 does. Over the 10 seasons WRD reports, the area averaged 24 deer a season, from 13 in 2024-25 to 39 in 2017-18.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Bucks per 100 deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 61 |
| 2024-25 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 46 |
| 2023-24 | 24 | 13 | 11 | 54 |
| 2022-23 | 29 | 18 | 11 | 62 |
| 2021-22 | 24 | 16 | 8 | 67 |
| 2020-21 | 25 | 16 | 9 | 64 |
| 2019-20 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 56 |
| 2018-19 | 22 | 14 | 8 | 64 |
| 2017-18 | 39 | 17 | 22 | 44 |
| 2016-17 | 27 | 12 | 15 | 44 |
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 Fishing Creek WMA in?
Fishing 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilkes County | 1,201 | 2,775 | 5.9 | 9th |
| Lincoln County | 1,152 | 1,316 | 6.3 | 72nd |
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 Fishing Creek WMA?
WRD gives this address: 2260 Jones Chapel Road, Tignall, GA 30668 (GPS 33.85697, -82.5898). Highways within 5 miles: GA 79 and GA 44. Nearest towns: Lincolnton (7 miles), Tignall (8 miles), Washington (11 miles) and Rayle (18 miles).
Besides hunting, WRD lists lake fishing and wildlife viewing here.
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Soap Creek WMA (4.7 miles), Lower Broad River WMA (6.4 miles), Clarks Hill WMA (10.4 miles) and Elbert County WMA (11.6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Fishing Creek WMA in 2026-27?
WRD lists these 2026-27 deer dates for Fishing Creek WMA: archery, Sept. 12 to Oct. 9; primitive, Oct. 10 to 16; firearms, Oct. 17 to Jan. 10. 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 Fishing Creek WMA?
WRD's 2026-27 listing for Fishing 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 Fishing Creek WMA last season?
18 deer were reported on Fishing Creek WMA in the 2025-26 season, 11 bucks and 7 does, by WRD's Game Check reports by WMA.
Can you camp on Fishing Creek WMA?
WRD's listing for Fishing Creek WMA does not show camping. Ask the region office before planning to stay on the area.
What county is Fishing Creek WMA in?
Wilkes County (1,201 acres) and Lincoln County (1,152 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, Fishing 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 Wilkes County deer harvest Lincoln County deer harvest