Penholoway Swamp WMA: 2026-27 seasons and deer harvest
Penholoway Swamp WMA is 11,177 acres of public hunting land in Wayne County, managed by Georgia DNR's WRD (Region 6). For 2026-27, WRD lists these deer dates: archery, Sept. 12 to 24, Sept. 28 to Oct. 7, Oct. 11 to Nov. 20, Nov. 30 to Jan. 10; firearms, Youth Sept. 25 to 27; Bonus Oct. 8 to 10; Nov. 21 to 29. Hunters reported 7 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check (3 bucks, 4 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.
Penholoway Swamp WMAOther WRD WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 11,177 acres (WRD's 2026-27 regulations, page 44) |
|---|---|
| County | Wayne County |
| WRD region | Region 6 |
| WRD's listing | Natural Area |
| Deer, 2026-27 | Archery: Sept. 12 to 24, Sept. 28 to Oct. 7, Oct. 11 to Nov. 20, Nov. 30 to Jan. 10. Firearms: Youth Sept. 25 to 27; Bonus Oct. 8 to 10; Nov. 21 to 29 |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 7 (3 bucks, 4 does) |
| Camping | Not listed (WRD) |
| Nearest towns | Ludowici (7 mi), Jesup (7 mi) and Walthourville (13 mi) |
What is Penholoway Swamp WMA like?
Penholoway Swamp Wildlife Management Area is located in Jesup, GA. This 10,546-acre property has hunting opportunities for deer, turkey and small game. All areas north of Paradise Park Road are archery only. Cogden Lake and Hogan Lake offer great fishing opportunities. This area includes the Boyles Island Tract. Access to Boyles Island is by river only.
WRD lists these facilities: boat ramp, canoe access and lake.
From WRD's page for Penholoway Swamp WMA.
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Penholoway Swamp 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. 12 to 24, Sept. 28 to Oct. 7, Oct. 11 to Nov. 20, Nov. 30 to Jan. 10 |
| Deer, firearms | Youth Sept. 25 to 27 Bonus Oct. 8 to 10 Nov. 21 to 29 |
| Turkey | Apr. 3 to May 15 |
| Bird Dog Training Area | Aug. 15 to Mar. 19 Designated in the areas of Redman and Deadend Rds. |
| Coyote | May 16 to 31. Feral hogs may be hunted with dogs. |
| Waterfowl | State Seasons |
| Small Game | State Seasons No furbearers in archery only areas. |
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.
How many deer are taken on Penholoway Swamp WMA?
Hunters reported 7 deer on Penholoway Swamp WMA in the 2025-26 season: 3 bucks and 4 does. Over the 10 seasons WRD reports, the area averaged 13 deer a season, from 7 in 2025-26 to 21 in 2023-24.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Bucks per 100 deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 43 |
| 2024-25 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 50 |
| 2023-24 | 21 | 8 | 13 | 38 |
| 2022-23 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 33 |
| 2021-22 | 20 | 8 | 12 | 40 |
| 2020-21 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 25 |
| 2019-20 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 38 |
| 2018-19 | 15 | 4 | 11 | 27 |
| 2017-18 | 16 | 7 | 9 | 44 |
| 2016-17 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 38 |
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 Penholoway Swamp WMA in?
All of Penholoway Swamp WMA lies in Wayne 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | 11,168 | 914 | 1.4 | 102nd |
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 Penholoway Swamp WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: US 25, GA 27, US 341 and GA 57. Nearest towns: Ludowici (7 miles), Jesup (7 miles), Walthourville (13 miles) and Allenhurst (14 miles).
Besides hunting, WRD lists boating, canoeing, lake fishing, river fishing and wildlife viewing here.
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Sansavilla WMA (next to it), Townsend WMA (next to it), Morgan Lake WMA (3.1 miles) and Altamaha WMA (4.2 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Penholoway Swamp WMA in 2026-27?
WRD lists these 2026-27 deer dates for Penholoway Swamp WMA: archery, Sept. 12 to 24, Sept. 28 to Oct. 7, Oct. 11 to Nov. 20, Nov. 30 to Jan. 10; firearms, Youth Sept. 25 to 27; Bonus Oct. 8 to 10; Nov. 21 to 29. 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 Penholoway Swamp WMA?
WRD's 2026-27 listing for Penholoway Swamp 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 Penholoway Swamp WMA last season?
7 deer were reported on Penholoway Swamp WMA in the 2025-26 season, 3 bucks and 4 does, by WRD's Game Check reports by WMA.
Can you camp on Penholoway Swamp WMA?
WRD's listing for Penholoway Swamp WMA does not show camping. Ask the region office before planning to stay on the area.
What county is Penholoway Swamp WMA in?
All of it is in Wayne 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, Penholoway Swamp 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.