Ocmulgee WMA: 2026-27 seasons, quota hunts and deer harvest
Ocmulgee WMA is 15,000 acres of public hunting land in Bleckley, Pulaski and Twiggs counties, managed by Georgia DNR's WRD (Region 4). For 2026-27, WRD lists these deer dates on Ocmulgee WMA: archery, Sept. 12 to 25; Sept. 12 to Jan. 10; firearms, Youth Oct. 10 to 16; Bonus Either-sex Last Day: Oct. 22 to 24, Nov. 19 to 21; Dec. 10 to 13. Hunters reported 52 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check (18 bucks, 34 does). WRD drew 1 quota hunt here in its 2025 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 2025 lottery reports.
Ocmulgee WMAOther WRD WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 15,000 acres (WRD's 2026-27 regulations, page 43) |
|---|---|
| County | Bleckley County, Pulaski County, Twiggs County |
| WRD region | Region 4, office 229-426-5267 |
| WRD's listing | Traditional WMA |
| Deer, 2026-27 | Archery: Sept. 12 to 25; Sept. 12 to Jan. 10. Firearms: Youth Oct. 10 to 16; Bonus Either-sex Last Day: Oct. 22 to 24, Nov. 19 to 21; Dec. 10 to 13 |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 52 (18 bucks, 34 does) |
| Quota hunts, 2025 lottery | 1, with 932 applications |
| Camping | Not allowed (WRD) |
| Nearest towns | Hawkinsville (2 mi), Cochran (4 mi) and Chester (6 mi) |
What is Ocmulgee WMA like?
Ocmulgee Wildlife Management Area is located in Bleckley, Pulaski and Twiggs counties. This 15,000-acre property has hunting opportunities for deer, turkey and small game. The Gum Swamp Creek Tract is a 475-acre area open for archery hunting for deer, turkey and small game. No camping is allowed on this tract. The Main Gates are closed every year: March 1st through the day before turkey season and June 1st through August 14th. Ocmulgee Wildlife Management Area was purchased, in part, to provide lands for the Central Georgia Black Bear Population. Research has shown that the WMA is used more by bears during closed periods than during open periods. The Ocmulgee PFA campground is still open for year-round use and the area can still be used for hiking purposes.
WRD lists these facilities: Ocmulgee Archery Range, Shooting Range, pfa, canoe access, lake, nature trails, fishing dock, restrooms and parking.
From WRD's page for Ocmulgee WMA.
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Ocmulgee WMA?
WRD sets each WMA's own dates. It lists 2 parts of Ocmulgee WMA separately: Ocmulgee WMA - Gum Swamp Creek and Ocmulgee WMA. These are WRD's 2026-27 dates and notes for the area, as printed:
Ocmulgee WMA - Gum Swamp Creek
| Season | 2026-27 dates and WRD's notes |
|---|---|
| Deer, archery | Sept. 12 to Jan. 10 |
| Turkey, archery | Apr. 3 to May 15 |
| Bird Dog Training | Aug. 15 to Mar. 15 |
| Coyote | May 16 to 31 |
| Small Game | State Seasons |
| Waterfowl | State Season |
Ocmulgee WMA
| Season | 2026-27 dates and WRD's notes |
|---|---|
| Deer, archery | Sept. 12 to 25 WEST LAKE ROAD TRACT: Sept. 12 to Jan. 10 |
| Deer, firearms | Youth Oct. 10 to 16 Bonus Either-sex Last Day: Oct. 22 to 24, Nov. 19 to 21 Dec. 10 to 13 |
| Turkey | Apr. 10 to May 15 |
| Alligator | OCMULGEE PFA: Sept. 4 to 6. No hunting during daylight hours. |
| Coyote | May 16 to 31 |
| Small Game | State Seasons |
| Waterfowl | OCMULGEE PFA: Wednesdays Dec. 16 to Jan. 28 Legal hours end at 12 noon. |
Source: WRD WMA hunting opportunities, 2026-27 season (FY27). The area's full listing in the 2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations, page 43 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 Ocmulgee WMA have quota hunts?
Yes. WRD's 2025 lottery reports list 1 quota hunt on Ocmulgee WMA. The most applied for was Only Hunt (turkey): 932 applicants for 60 spots.
| Hunt | Lottery | Applicants | Selected | First-choice applicants | Share selected | Priority points sure of a spot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Only Hunt | Turkey, 2025 | 932 | 60 | 349 | 6.4% | 3 |
Source: WRD's 2025 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 Ocmulgee WMA?
Hunters reported 52 deer on Ocmulgee WMA in the 2025-26 season: 18 bucks and 34 does. Over the 10 seasons WRD reports, the area averaged 39 deer a season, from 27 in 2021-22 to 52 in 2025-26.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Bucks per 100 deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 52 | 18 | 34 | 35 |
| 2024-25 | 34 | 17 | 17 | 50 |
| 2023-24 | 28 | 11 | 17 | 39 |
| 2022-23 | 50 | 26 | 24 | 52 |
| 2021-22 | 27 | 11 | 16 | 41 |
| 2020-21 | 36 | 14 | 22 | 39 |
| 2019-20 | 27 | 20 | 7 | 74 |
| 2018-19 | 43 | 22 | 21 | 51 |
| 2017-18 | 42 | 26 | 16 | 62 |
| 2016-17 | 47 | 24 | 23 | 51 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by WMA, adding WRD's lines for Gum Swamp Creek, Ocmulgee WMA and Ocmulgee 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 Ocmulgee WMA in?
Ocmulgee WMA spreads over 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bleckley County | 7,274 | 689 | 3.2 | 127th |
| Pulaski County | 5,041 | 713 | 2.9 | 125th |
| Twiggs County | 3,390 | 1,338 | 3.7 | 70th |
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 Ocmulgee WMA?
WRD gives this address: 408 Ocmulgee PFA Road, Cochran, GA 31014 (GPS 32.4523, -83.4695). Highways through the area: GA 96. Nearest towns: Hawkinsville (2 miles), Cochran (4 miles), Chester (6 miles) and Warner Robins (10 miles).
WRD prints a map of the area: Ocmulgee WMA map (PDF).
Besides hunting, WRD lists archery, boating, canoeing, shooting, wildlife viewing and river fishing here.
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Oaky Woods WMA (next to it), Echeconnee Creek WMA (6.6 miles), River Bend WMA (23.1 miles) and Beaverdam WMA (23.2 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Ocmulgee WMA in 2026-27?
WRD lists these 2026-27 deer dates for Ocmulgee WMA: archery, Sept. 12 to 25; Sept. 12 to Jan. 10; firearms, Youth Oct. 10 to 16; Bonus Either-sex Last Day: Oct. 22 to 24, Nov. 19 to 21; Dec. 10 to 13. 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 Ocmulgee WMA?
WRD's 2026-27 listing for Ocmulgee 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 Ocmulgee WMA last season?
52 deer were reported on Ocmulgee WMA in the 2025-26 season, 18 bucks and 34 does, by WRD's Game Check reports by WMA.
Is Ocmulgee WMA a quota hunt?
Some of its hunts are. WRD's 2025 lottery listed 1 quota hunt on Ocmulgee WMA, with 932 applications for 60 spots. Its other seasons need sign-in, not a draw.
Can you camp on Ocmulgee WMA?
No. WRD's page for Ocmulgee WMA says camping is not allowed on the area.
What county is Ocmulgee WMA in?
Bleckley County (7,274 acres), Pulaski County (5,041 acres) and Twiggs County (3,390 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, Ocmulgee 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 Bleckley County deer harvest Pulaski County deer harvest Twiggs County deer harvest