Horse Creek WMA: 2026-27 seasons and deer harvest
Horse Creek WMA is 7,397 acres of public hunting land in Telfair County, managed by Georgia DNR's WRD (Region 4). For 2026-27, WRD lists these deer dates: archery, Sept. 12 to 16, Sept. 20 to Oct. 2, 5 to 20, Jan. 1 to 10; primitive, Sept. 17 to 19; firearms, Specialty Oct. 3 to 4; Bonus Nov. 19 to 21; Oct 21 to 24, Dec. 10 to 12. Hunters reported 69 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check (28 bucks, 41 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.
Horse Creek WMAOther WRD WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 7,397 acres (WRD's 2026-27 regulations, page 40) |
|---|---|
| County | Telfair County |
| WRD region | Region 4, office 229-426-5267 |
| WRD's listing | Traditional WMA |
| Deer, 2026-27 | Archery: Sept. 12 to 16, Sept. 20 to Oct. 2, 5 to 20, Jan. 1 to 10. Primitive: Sept. 17 to 19. Firearms: Specialty Oct. 3 to 4; Bonus Nov. 19 to 21; Oct 21 to 24, Dec. 10 to 12 |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 69 (28 bucks, 41 does) |
| Camping | Allowed (WRD) |
| Nearest towns | Jacksonville (5 mi), Lumber City (9 mi) and Denton (10 mi) |
What is Horse Creek WMA like?
Horse Creek WMA resides on just over 7,397 acres in Georgia's coastal plains. Home to the world record Largemouth Bass, which weighed in at over 22 pounds and was caught in 1932, Horse Creek offers a unique spot for visitors, hunters, and anglers alike. Hunting opportunities include deer, turkey and small game and waterfowl hunting in 2 impoundments.
WRD lists these facilities: boat ramp, canoe access, lake and primitive campsites.
From WRD's page for Horse Creek WMA.
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Horse 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 16, Sept. 20 to Oct. 2, 5 to 20, Jan. 1 to 10 |
| Deer, primitive | Sept. 17 to 19 |
| Deer, firearms | Specialty Oct. 3 to 4 Bonus Nov. 19 to 21 Oct 21 to 24, Dec. 10 to 12 |
| Turkey | Apr. 3 to May 15 |
| Coyote | May 16 to 31 |
| Small Game | State Seasons |
| Waterfowl | State Season |
Source: WRD WMA hunting opportunities, 2026-27 season (FY27). The area's full listing in the 2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations, page 40 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 Horse Creek WMA?
Hunters reported 69 deer on Horse Creek WMA in the 2025-26 season: 28 bucks and 41 does. Over the 10 seasons WRD reports, the area averaged 36 deer a season, from 13 in 2024-25 to 69 in 2025-26.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Bucks per 100 deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 69 | 28 | 41 | 41 |
| 2024-25 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 54 |
| 2023-24 | 36 | 13 | 23 | 36 |
| 2022-23 | 44 | 15 | 29 | 34 |
| 2021-22 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 52 |
| 2020-21 | 46 | 19 | 27 | 41 |
| 2019-20 | 25 | 9 | 16 | 36 |
| 2018-19 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 52 |
| 2017-18 | 41 | 16 | 25 | 39 |
| 2016-17 | 40 | 23 | 17 | 57 |
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 Horse Creek WMA in?
All of Horse Creek WMA lies in Telfair County. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telfair County | 7,387 | 1,384 | 3.2 | 64th |
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 Horse Creek WMA?
WRD gives this address: 1336 East River Road, Jacksonville, GA 31544 (GPS 31.836223, -82.869719). Highways through the area: GA 117. Nearest towns: Jacksonville (5 miles), Lumber City (9 miles), Denton (10 miles) and Hazlehurst (11 miles).
Besides hunting, WRD lists canoeing, lake fishing, primitive camping, river fishing and wildlife viewing here.
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Flat Tub WMA (next to it), Alligator Creek WMA (9.5 miles), Bullard Creek WMA (13.9 miles) and Moody Forest WMA (26.7 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Horse Creek WMA in 2026-27?
WRD lists these 2026-27 deer dates for Horse Creek WMA: archery, Sept. 12 to 16, Sept. 20 to Oct. 2, 5 to 20, Jan. 1 to 10; primitive, Sept. 17 to 19; firearms, Specialty Oct. 3 to 4; Bonus Nov. 19 to 21; Oct 21 to 24, Dec. 10 to 12. 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 Horse Creek WMA?
WRD's 2026-27 listing for Horse 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 Horse Creek WMA last season?
69 deer were reported on Horse Creek WMA in the 2025-26 season, 28 bucks and 41 does, by WRD's Game Check reports by WMA.
Can you camp on Horse Creek WMA?
Yes. WRD's listing for Horse Creek WMA allows camping, with primitive campsites. Follow the area's posted rules.
What county is Horse Creek WMA in?
All of it is in Telfair County, by 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, Horse 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 Telfair County deer harvest