Joe Kurz WMA: 2026-27 seasons, quota hunts and deer harvest
Joe Kurz WMA is 3,700 acres of public hunting land in Meriwether County, managed by Georgia DNR's WRD (Region 1). For 2026-27, WRD lists these deer dates: archery, Sept. 12 to 20, Nov. 8 to 15. Hunters reported 31 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check (12 bucks, 19 does). WRD drew 4 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.
Joe Kurz WMAOther WRD WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 3,700 acres (WRD's 2026-27 regulations, page 41) |
|---|---|
| County | Meriwether County |
| WRD region | Region 1, office 706-295-6041 |
| WRD's listing | Traditional WMA |
| Deer, 2026-27 | Archery: Sept. 12 to 20, Nov. 8 to 15 |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 31 (12 bucks, 19 does) |
| Quota hunts, 2026 lottery | 4, with 3,721 applications |
| Camping | Allowed (WRD) |
| Nearest towns | Gay (next to it), Concord (5 mi) and Molena (5 mi) |
What is Joe Kurz WMA like?
Located in the Piedmont region, Joe Kurz Wildlife Management Area is 3,700 acres and offers hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, small game, dove and quail.
WRD lists these facilities: boat ramp, canoe access, lake and parking (ADA).
From WRD's page for Joe Kurz WMA.
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Joe Kurz 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 | Antler Restricted Area Sept. 12 to 20, Nov. 8 to 15 |
| Small Game | State Seasons Small game hunting prohibited during deer hunts and quota quail. Rabbit daily bag limit: 3/person. |
| Dove | Sept. 5, 12, 19, 26, Oct. 3, 10 to 11, Nov. 21 to 29, Dec. 19 to Jan. 31 |
| Waterfowl | Wednesdays, Saturdays during small game dates and Federal Youth Day. Legal hours end at noon. |
| Bird Dog Training | Aug. 15 to Mar. 19 in designated area only except during deer and quota quail hunts. |
| Coyote | May 16 to 31 |
Source: WRD WMA hunting opportunities, 2026-27 season (FY27). The area's full listing in the 2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations, page 41 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 Joe Kurz WMA have quota hunts?
Yes. WRD's 2026 lottery reports list 4 quota hunts on Joe Kurz WMA. The most applied for was 1st Hunt, Bonus Quality Buck and Antlerless, Firearms (deer): 1,351 applicants for 100 spots.
| Hunt | Lottery | Applicants | Selected | First-choice applicants | Share selected | Priority points sure of a spot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Hunt, Bonus Quality Buck and Antlerless, Firearms | Deer, 2026 | 1,351 | 100 | 781 | 7.4% | 3 |
| 2nd Hunt, Bonus Quality Buck and Antlerless Last Day, Firearms | Deer, 2026 | 1,179 | 101 | 428 | 8.6% | 3 |
| 1st Hunt | Turkey, 2025 | 829 | 25 | 376 | 3% | 5 |
| 2nd Hunt | Turkey, 2025 | 362 | 25 | 45 | 6.9% | 2 |
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 Joe Kurz WMA?
Hunters reported 31 deer on Joe Kurz WMA in the 2025-26 season: 12 bucks and 19 does. Over the 10 seasons WRD reports, the area averaged 37 deer a season, from 21 in 2018-19 to 46 in 2017-18.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Bucks per 100 deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 31 | 12 | 19 | 39 |
| 2024-25 | 40 | 18 | 22 | 45 |
| 2023-24 | 44 | 14 | 30 | 32 |
| 2022-23 | 35 | 13 | 22 | 37 |
| 2021-22 | 39 | 17 | 22 | 44 |
| 2020-21 | 28 | 8 | 20 | 29 |
| 2019-20 | 35 | 11 | 24 | 31 |
| 2018-19 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 29 |
| 2017-18 | 46 | 13 | 33 | 28 |
| 2016-17 | 46 | 21 | 25 | 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 Joe Kurz WMA in?
All of Joe Kurz WMA lies in Meriwether 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meriwether County | 3,756 | 2,942 | 5.9 | 6th |
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 Joe Kurz WMA?
WRD gives this address: 2663 Mt. Carmel Road, Gay, GA 30218 (GPS 33.11406, -84.5376). Highways within 5 miles: GA 85, GA 362, GA 18 and GA 74. Nearest towns: Gay (next to it), Concord (5 miles), Molena (5 miles) and Haralson (6 miles).
WRD prints a map of the area: Joe Kurz WMA map (PDF).
Besides hunting, WRD lists canoeing, river fishing and wildlife viewing here.
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Sprewell Bluff WMA (12.1 miles), Big Lazer Creek WMA (20.5 miles), West Point WMA (28.2 miles) and Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA (34.7 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Joe Kurz WMA in 2026-27?
WRD lists these 2026-27 deer dates for Joe Kurz WMA: archery, Sept. 12 to 20, Nov. 8 to 15. WMA dates can differ from the statewide dates, and sign-in is required for deer hunts unless WRD's listing says otherwise.
How many deer were killed on Joe Kurz WMA last season?
31 deer were reported on Joe Kurz WMA in the 2025-26 season, 12 bucks and 19 does, by WRD's Game Check reports by WMA.
Is Joe Kurz WMA a quota hunt?
Some of its hunts are. WRD's 2026 lottery listed 4 quota hunts on Joe Kurz WMA, with 3,721 applications for 251 spots. Its other seasons need sign-in, not a draw.
Can you camp on Joe Kurz WMA?
Yes. WRD's listing for Joe Kurz WMA allows camping. Follow the area's posted rules.
What county is Joe Kurz WMA in?
All of it is in Meriwether 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, Joe Kurz 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 Meriwether County deer harvest