Sapelo Island WMA: 2026-27 seasons, quota hunts and deer harvest
Sapelo Island WMA is 9,000 acres of public hunting land in McIntosh County, managed by Georgia DNR's WRD (Region 6). For 2026-27, WRD lists these deer dates: archery, Sept. 12 to Oct. 7, Nov. 23 to Jan. 10; South End: Sept. 12 to Jan. 10; firearms, Youth Bonus Oct. 9 to 11. Hunters reported 45 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check (16 bucks, 29 does). WRD drew 3 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.
Sapelo Island WMAOther WRD WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 9,000 acres (WRD's 2026-27 regulations, page 47) |
|---|---|
| County | McIntosh County |
| WRD region | Region 6 |
| WRD's listing | Traditional WMA |
| Deer, 2026-27 | Archery: Sept. 12 to Oct. 7, Nov. 23 to Jan. 10; South End: Sept. 12 to Jan. 10. Firearms: Youth Bonus Oct. 9 to 11 |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 45 (16 bucks, 29 does) |
| Quota hunts, 2026 lottery | 3, with 1,414 applications |
| Camping | Allowed (WRD) |
| Nearest towns | Darien (9 mi), Riceboro (18 mi) and Brunswick (21 mi) |
What is Sapelo Island WMA like?
Located midway on the Georgia coastline on the eastern fringe of McIntosh County, Sapelo Island is defined by the Sapelo River to the north, the waters of Doboy Sound to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Duplin River to the west. The 16,500-acre island is the 4th largest barrier island in the State of Georgia. Sapelo Island Wildlife Management Area is 9,000 acres and offers hunting opportunities for deer, small game and feral hog. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the island. Hunters drawn for Sapelo Island deer quota hunts must arrange for their own transportation to the island via private boat. A link to a list of private charters is provided below (under “Activities”/”Hunting”) as a convenience for customers. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources does not endorse any one business for use.
WRD lists these facilities: beach, canoe access, dock, Education Center, primitive campsites and nature trails.
From WRD's page for Sapelo Island WMA.
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Sapelo Island 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 Oct. 7, Nov. 23 to Jan. 10 South End: Sept. 12 to Jan. 10 |
| Deer, firearms | Youth Bonus Oct. 9 to 11 |
| Coyote | Mar. 1 to May 31. Feral hogs may be taken with dogs. |
| Small Game | State Seasons No furbearers. |
| 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 47 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 Sapelo Island WMA have quota hunts?
Yes. WRD's 2026 lottery reports list 3 quota hunts on Sapelo Island WMA. The most applied for was 2nd Hunt, Bonus Either Sex, Firearms (deer): 546 applicants for 125 spots.
| Hunt | Lottery | Applicants | Selected | First-choice applicants | Share selected | Priority points sure of a spot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Hunt, Bonus Either Sex, Primitive Weapons | Deer, 2026 | 461 | 129 | 221 | 28% | 1 |
| 2nd Hunt, Bonus Either Sex, Firearms | Deer, 2026 | 546 | 125 | 212 | 22.9% | 1 |
| 3rd Hunt, Bonus Either Sex, Firearms | Deer, 2026 | 407 | 125 | 117 | 30.7% | 0 |
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 Sapelo Island WMA?
Hunters reported 45 deer on Sapelo Island WMA in the 2025-26 season: 16 bucks and 29 does. Over the 10 seasons WRD reports, the area averaged 23 deer a season, from 7 in 2017-18 to 45 in 2025-26.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Bucks per 100 deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 45 | 16 | 29 | 36 |
| 2024-25 | 37 | 14 | 23 | 38 |
| 2023-24 | 35 | 13 | 22 | 37 |
| 2022-23 | 28 | 14 | 14 | 50 |
| 2021-22 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 61 |
| 2020-21 | 28 | 9 | 19 | 32 |
| 2019-20 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 50 |
| 2018-19 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 2017-18 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 29 |
| 2016-17 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 53 |
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 Sapelo Island WMA in?
All of Sapelo Island WMA lies in McIntosh 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McIntosh County | 9,326 | 422 | 1 | 149th |
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 Sapelo Island WMA?
WRD gives this address: 1766 Landing Road, Meridian, GA 31319 (GPS 31.45469, -81.3652). Highways within 5 miles: GA 99. Nearest towns: Darien (9 miles), Riceboro (18 miles), Brunswick (21 miles) and Midway (22 miles).
Besides hunting, WRD lists boating, canoeing, primitive camping, river fishing and wildlife viewing here.
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Altamaha WMA (3.9 miles), Richmond Hill WMA (7 miles), Altama Plantation WMA (11.9 miles) and Clayhole Swamp WMA (14.2 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Sapelo Island WMA in 2026-27?
WRD lists these 2026-27 deer dates for Sapelo Island WMA: archery, Sept. 12 to Oct. 7, Nov. 23 to Jan. 10; South End: Sept. 12 to Jan. 10; firearms, Youth Bonus Oct. 9 to 11. 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 Sapelo Island WMA last season?
45 deer were reported on Sapelo Island WMA in the 2025-26 season, 16 bucks and 29 does, by WRD's Game Check reports by WMA.
Is Sapelo Island WMA a quota hunt?
Some of its hunts are. WRD's 2026 lottery listed 3 quota hunts on Sapelo Island WMA, with 1,414 applications for 379 spots. Its other seasons need sign-in, not a draw.
Can you camp on Sapelo Island WMA?
Yes. WRD's listing for Sapelo Island WMA allows camping, with primitive campsites. Follow the area's posted rules.
What county is Sapelo Island WMA in?
All of it is in McIntosh 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, Sapelo Island 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 McIntosh County deer harvest