J.L. Lester WMA: 2026-27 seasons, quota hunts and deer harvest
J.L. Lester WMA is 477 acres of public hunting land in Polk County, managed by Georgia DNR's WRD (Region 1). For 2026-27, WRD lists these deer dates: archery, Nov. 22 to 29, Dec. 21 to Jan. 1. Hunters reported 8 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check (3 bucks, 5 does). WRD drew 2 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.
J.L. Lester WMAOther WRD WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 477 acres (WRD's 2026-27 regulations, page 40) |
|---|---|
| County | Polk County |
| WRD region | Region 1, office 706-295-6041 |
| WRD's listing | Traditional WMA |
| Deer, 2026-27 | Archery: Nov. 22 to 29, Dec. 21 to Jan. 1 |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 8 (3 bucks, 5 does) |
| Quota hunts, 2026 lottery | 2, with 258 applications |
| Camping | Not listed (WRD) |
| Nearest towns | Cedartown (5 mi), Rockmart (9 mi) and Buchanan (10 mi) |
What is J.L. Lester WMA like?
J.L. Lester Wildlife Management Area is located in Polk County. This 477-acre property offers hunting opportunities for deer, bear, turkey, small game, dove and waterfowl. No ATVs allowed on the property. No night hunting. Please review the J.L. Lester 2025 –2026 Schedule (PDF) before visiting. Field trials occur throughout the year and may close the property to all hunting, fishing, and recreation.
WRD lists these facilities: j.l. lester archery range and lake.
From WRD's page for J.L. Lester WMA.
When are the 2026-27 seasons on J.L. Lester 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 | Nov. 22 to 29, Dec. 21 to Jan. 1 |
| Turkey | Apr. 3 to May 15 |
| Waterfowl | State Seasons |
| Bird and Rabbit Dog Training | Aug. 15 to Mar. 19, except during deer hunts, quota hunts, and field trials. |
| Dove | Youth Sept. 5, 12 Sept. 19, 26 |
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.
Does J.L. Lester WMA have quota hunts?
Yes. WRD's 2026 lottery reports list 2 quota hunts on J.L. Lester WMA. The most applied for was 1st Hunt, Bonus Either Sex, Youth, Firearms (youth deer): 142 applicants for 20 spots.
| Hunt | Lottery | Applicants | Selected | First-choice applicants | Share selected | Priority points sure of a spot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Hunt, Bonus Either Sex, Youth, Firearms | Youth deer, 2026 | 142 | 20 | 72 | 14.1% | 2 |
| 2nd Hunt, Bonus Either Sex, Youth, Firearms | Youth deer, 2026 | 116 | 20 | 46 | 17.2% | 1 |
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 J.L. Lester WMA?
Hunters reported 8 deer on J.L. Lester WMA in the 2025-26 season: 3 bucks and 5 does. Over the 10 seasons WRD reports, the area averaged 11 deer a season, from 6 in 2021-22 to 16 in 2023-24.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Bucks per 100 deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 38 |
| 2024-25 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14 |
| 2023-24 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 56 |
| 2022-23 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 36 |
| 2021-22 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 50 |
| 2020-21 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 29 |
| 2019-20 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 50 |
| 2018-19 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 13 |
| 2017-18 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 69 |
| 2016-17 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 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 J.L. Lester WMA in?
All of J.L. Lester WMA lies in Polk 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County | 468 | 1,982 | 6.4 | 28th |
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 J.L. Lester WMA?
WRD gives this address: 2568 Antioch Road, Cedartown, GA 30125 (GPS 33.94832, -85.1989). Highways within 5 miles: GA 1, US 27, GA 6 and US 278. Nearest towns: Cedartown (5 miles), Rockmart (9 miles), Buchanan (10 miles) and Aragon (10 miles).
WRD prints a map of the area: J.L. Lester WMA map (PDF).
Besides hunting, WRD lists archery, boating, lake fishing and wildlife viewing here.
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Tallapoosa River WMA (2.2 miles), Treat Mountain WMA (3.5 miles), Paulding Forest WMA (8.2 miles) and Sheffield WMA (14.9 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on J.L. Lester WMA in 2026-27?
WRD lists these 2026-27 deer dates for J.L. Lester WMA: archery, Nov. 22 to 29, Dec. 21 to Jan. 1. 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 J.L. Lester WMA?
WRD's 2026-27 listing for J.L. Lester 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 J.L. Lester WMA last season?
8 deer were reported on J.L. Lester WMA in the 2025-26 season, 3 bucks and 5 does, by WRD's Game Check reports by WMA.
Is J.L. Lester WMA a quota hunt?
Some of its hunts are. WRD's 2026 lottery listed 2 quota hunts on J.L. Lester WMA, with 258 applications for 40 spots. Its other seasons need sign-in, not a draw.
Can you camp on J.L. Lester WMA?
WRD's listing for J.L. Lester WMA does not show camping. Ask the region office before planning to stay on the area.
What county is J.L. Lester WMA in?
All of it is in Polk County, by 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, J.L. Lester 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.