Lake Seminole WMA: 2026-27 seasons and deer harvest
Lake Seminole WMA is 8,300 acres of public hunting land in Decatur and Seminole counties, managed by Georgia DNR's WRD (Region 5). For 2026-27, WRD lists these deer dates: archery, Sept. 28 to Oct. 9, Jan. 16 to 31; Buck Only: Sept. 12 to 27; primitive, Oct. 10 to 16; firearms, Oct. 17 to Jan. 15. Hunters reported 67 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check (34 bucks, 33 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.
Lake Seminole WMAOther WRD WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 8,300 acres (WRD's 2026-27 regulations, page 41) |
|---|---|
| County | Decatur County, Seminole County |
| WRD region | Region 5, office 229-430-4254 |
| WRD's listing | WMA on leased or partner land |
| Deer, 2026-27 | Archery: Sept. 28 to Oct. 9, Jan. 16 to 31; Buck Only: Sept. 12 to 27. Primitive: Oct. 10 to 16. Firearms: Oct. 17 to Jan. 15 |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 67 (34 bucks, 33 does) |
| Camping | Not allowed (WRD) |
| Nearest towns | Bainbridge (3 mi), Brinson (8 mi) and Donalsonville (9 mi) |
What is Lake Seminole WMA like?
Lake Seminole Wildlife Management Area consists of four separate tracts of land in southwest Georgia totaling 8,635 acres. Hunting opportunities include deer, turkey, and small game. No hunting is allowed within 200 yards of a house, dock, building, structure or developed recreation area. No camping is allowed on this property.
WRD lists these facilities: boat ramp, canoe access and lake.
From WRD's page for Lake Seminole WMA.
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Lake Seminole 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. 28 to Oct. 9, Jan. 16 to 31 Buck Only: Sept. 12 to 27 |
| Deer, primitive | Oct. 10 to 16 |
| Deer, firearms | Oct. 17 to Jan. 15 |
| Turkey | Apr. 3 to May 15 |
| Waterfowl | State Seasons No hunting within 300 yards of a developed recreation area, house, dock, building or other structure. |
| 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 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.
How many deer are taken on Lake Seminole WMA?
Hunters reported 67 deer on Lake Seminole WMA in the 2025-26 season: 34 bucks and 33 does. Over the 10 seasons WRD reports, the area averaged 62 deer a season, from 39 in 2021-22 to 111 in 2017-18.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Bucks per 100 deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 67 | 34 | 33 | 51 |
| 2024-25 | 61 | 26 | 35 | 43 |
| 2023-24 | 60 | 16 | 44 | 27 |
| 2022-23 | 62 | 24 | 38 | 39 |
| 2021-22 | 39 | 14 | 25 | 36 |
| 2020-21 | 45 | 22 | 23 | 49 |
| 2019-20 | 63 | 36 | 27 | 57 |
| 2018-19 | 39 | 22 | 17 | 56 |
| 2017-18 | 111 | 41 | 70 | 37 |
| 2016-17 | 74 | 32 | 42 | 43 |
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 Lake Seminole WMA in?
Lake Seminole 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur County | 4,214 | 1,494 | 2.5 | 52nd |
| Seminole County | 4,021 | 307 | 1.3 | 155th |
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 Lake Seminole WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: GA 253, GA 97, GA 38 and US 84. Nearest towns: Bainbridge (3 miles), Brinson (8 miles), Donalsonville (9 miles) and Jakin (10 miles).
Besides hunting, WRD lists boating, canoeing, hiking, lake fishing, river fishing and wildlife viewing here.
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Featherfield WMA (next to it), Silver Lake WMA (next to it), Mayhaw WMA (18.2 miles) and River Creek the Rolf and Alexandra Kauka WMA (31.3 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Lake Seminole WMA in 2026-27?
WRD lists these 2026-27 deer dates for Lake Seminole WMA: archery, Sept. 28 to Oct. 9, Jan. 16 to 31; Buck Only: Sept. 12 to 27; primitive, Oct. 10 to 16; firearms, Oct. 17 to Jan. 15. 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 Lake Seminole WMA?
WRD's 2026-27 listing for Lake Seminole 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 Lake Seminole WMA last season?
67 deer were reported on Lake Seminole WMA in the 2025-26 season, 34 bucks and 33 does, by WRD's Game Check reports by WMA.
Can you camp on Lake Seminole WMA?
No. WRD's page for Lake Seminole WMA says camping is not allowed on the area.
What county is Lake Seminole WMA in?
Decatur County (4,214 acres) and Seminole County (4,021 acres), measured on 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, Lake Seminole 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 Decatur County deer harvest Seminole County deer harvest