Paulding Forest WMA: 2026-27 seasons, quota hunts and deer harvest
Paulding Forest WMA is 28,183 acres of public hunting land in Paulding and Polk counties, managed by Georgia DNR's WRD (Region 1). For 2026-27, WRD lists these deer dates: archery, Sept. 12 to Oct. 9, Oct. 12 to Nov. 4, 9 to 13; firearms, Bonus Specialty Oct. 10 to 11; Bonus Either-Sex Last Day: Nov. 5 to 8; Dec. 10 to 13. Hunters reported 106 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check (67 bucks, 39 does). WRD drew 2 quota hunts 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.
Paulding Forest WMAOther WRD WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 28,183 acres (WRD's 2026-27 regulations, page 44) |
|---|---|
| County | Paulding County, Polk County |
| WRD region | Region 1, office 706-295-6041 |
| WRD's listing | Traditional WMA |
| Deer, 2026-27 | Archery: Sept. 12 to Oct. 9, Oct. 12 to Nov. 4, 9 to 13. Firearms: Bonus Specialty Oct. 10 to 11; Bonus Either-Sex Last Day: Nov. 5 to 8; Dec. 10 to 13 |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 106 (67 bucks, 39 does) |
| Quota hunts, 2025 lottery | 2, with 2,182 applications |
| Camping | Allowed (WRD) |
| Nearest towns | Braswell (next to it), Taylorsville (2 mi) and Dallas (2 mi) |
What is Paulding Forest WMA like?
Posted 10/8/26 Paulding Forest WMA Paulding Forest Wildlife Management Area is located in Paulding and Polk counties. This 25,707-acre property offers hunting opportunities for deer, bear, turkey, and small game. Raccoon Creek, one of the southernmost trout fishing opportunities is located on the WMA. Horse and bike trails and areas, except the Silver Comet Trail, are closed all day during firearm deer hunts and before 10:00 a.m. during archery deer and turkey hunts. No ATVs allowed on the property.
WRD lists these facilities: lake, Silver Comet Trail and primitive campsites.
From WRD's page for Paulding Forest WMA.
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Paulding Forest 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 | Sept. 12 to Oct. 9, Oct. 12 to Nov. 4, 9 to 13 |
| Deer and bear, firearms | Bonus Specialty Oct. 10 to 11 Bonus Either-Sex Last Day: Nov. 5 to 8 Dec. 10 to 13 |
| Turkey | Apr. 26 to May 15 |
| Bird and Rabbit Dog Training | Aug. 15 to Mar. 19 except during firearms deer hunts. |
| Coyote | May 16 to 31 |
| Small Game | State Seasons except during firearm deer hunts. |
| Waterfowl | 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 44 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 Paulding Forest WMA have quota hunts?
Yes. WRD's 2025 lottery reports list 2 quota hunts on Paulding Forest WMA. The most applied for was 1st Hunt (turkey): 1,367 applicants for 50 spots.
| Hunt | Lottery | Applicants | Selected | First-choice applicants | Share selected | Priority points sure of a spot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Hunt | Turkey, 2025 | 1,367 | 50 | 838 | 3.7% | 5 |
| 2nd Hunt | Turkey, 2025 | 815 | 50 | 113 | 6.1% | 2 |
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 Paulding Forest WMA?
Hunters reported 106 deer on Paulding Forest WMA in the 2025-26 season: 67 bucks and 39 does. Over the 10 seasons WRD reports, the area averaged 70 deer a season, from 43 in 2018-19 to 106 in 2025-26.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Bucks per 100 deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 106 | 67 | 39 | 63 |
| 2024-25 | 78 | 49 | 29 | 63 |
| 2023-24 | 97 | 55 | 42 | 57 |
| 2022-23 | 72 | 43 | 29 | 60 |
| 2021-22 | 87 | 53 | 34 | 61 |
| 2020-21 | 51 | 34 | 17 | 67 |
| 2019-20 | 50 | 30 | 20 | 60 |
| 2018-19 | 43 | 21 | 22 | 49 |
| 2017-18 | 58 | 36 | 22 | 62 |
| 2016-17 | 60 | 36 | 24 | 60 |
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 Paulding Forest WMA in?
Paulding Forest 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paulding County | 23,185 | 1,372 | 4.4 | 65th |
| Polk County | 5,203 | 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 Paulding Forest WMA?
WRD gives this address: 6700 Braswell Mountain Road, Rockmart, GA 30153, W -84.957. Highways through the area: GA 6 and US 278. Nearest towns: Braswell (next to it), Taylorsville (2 miles), Dallas (2 miles) and Rockmart (3 miles).
WRD prints a map of the area: Paulding Forest WMA map (PDF).
Besides hunting, WRD lists biking, hiking, lake fishing, primitive camping, trout fishing and wildlife viewing here.
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Sheffield WMA (next to it), Tallapoosa River WMA (3.2 miles), J.L. Lester WMA (8.2 miles) and Treat Mountain WMA (12.1 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Paulding Forest WMA in 2026-27?
WRD lists these 2026-27 deer dates for Paulding Forest WMA: archery, Sept. 12 to Oct. 9, Oct. 12 to Nov. 4, 9 to 13; firearms, Bonus Specialty Oct. 10 to 11; Bonus Either-Sex Last Day: Nov. 5 to 8; 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 Paulding Forest WMA?
WRD's 2026-27 listing for Paulding Forest WMA gives turkey: Apr. 26 to May 15. On a WMA the limit is one gobbler a season per area.
How many deer were killed on Paulding Forest WMA last season?
106 deer were reported on Paulding Forest WMA in the 2025-26 season, 67 bucks and 39 does, by WRD's Game Check reports by WMA.
Is Paulding Forest WMA a quota hunt?
Some of its hunts are. WRD's 2025 lottery listed 2 quota hunts on Paulding Forest WMA, with 2,182 applications for 100 spots. Its other seasons need sign-in, not a draw.
Can you camp on Paulding Forest WMA?
Yes. WRD's listing for Paulding Forest WMA allows camping, with primitive campsites. Follow the area's posted rules.
What county is Paulding Forest WMA in?
Paulding County (23,185 acres) and Polk County (5,203 acres), measured on 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, Paulding Forest 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 Paulding County deer harvest Polk County deer harvest