Silver Lake WMA: 2026-27 seasons, quota hunts and deer harvest
Silver Lake WMA is 9,200 acres of public hunting land in Decatur County, managed by Georgia DNR's WRD (Region 5). For 2026-27, WRD lists these deer dates: archery, Buck Only: Sept. 12 to 27; Sept. 28 to Oct. 9, Jan. 16 to 31; primitive, Oct. 10 to 18; firearms, Oct. 29 to 31; Buck Only: Nov. 14 to 20, 22 to 27, Dec. 26 to Jan. 15; Youth Dec. 19 to 25. Hunters reported 84 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check (40 bucks, 44 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.
Silver Lake WMAOther WRD WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 9,200 acres (WRD's 2026-27 regulations, page 47) |
|---|---|
| County | Decatur County |
| WRD region | Region 5, office 229-430-4254 |
| WRD's listing | Natural Area |
| Deer, 2026-27 | Archery: Buck Only: Sept. 12 to 27; Sept. 28 to Oct. 9, Jan. 16 to 31. Primitive: Oct. 10 to 18. Firearms: Oct. 29 to 31; Buck Only: Nov. 14 to 20, 22 to 27, Dec. 26 to Jan. 15; Youth Dec. 19 to 25 |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 84 (40 bucks, 44 does) |
| Quota hunts, 2026 lottery | 3, with 1,395 applications |
| Camping | Allowed (WRD) |
| Nearest towns | Bainbridge (8 mi), Brinson (10 mi) and Attapulgus (11 mi) |
What is Silver Lake WMA like?
Silver Lake Wildlife Management Area is a 9,200-acre property located in southern Decatur County. This WMA offers hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, small game, quail and waterfowl. The property supports 30 groups of red-cockaded woodpeckers, a significant population of Bachman's sparrows, gopher tortoises, nesting bald eagles and many other high priority species. The property has a 350-acre lake and four smaller ponds with boat ramps and docks.
WRD lists these facilities: silver lake pfa, boat ramps, equestrian trails, hiking trails, lake, picnic sites, primitive campsites, fishing dock and parking.
From WRD's page for Silver Lake WMA.
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Silver Lake 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 | Buck Only: Sept. 12 to 27 Sept. 28 to Oct. 9, Jan. 16 to 31 |
| Deer, primitive | Oct. 10 to 18 |
| Deer, firearms | Oct. 29 to 31 Buck Only: Nov. 14 to 20, 22 to 27, Dec. 26 to Jan. 15 Youth Dec. 19 to 25 |
| Turkey | Youth Apr. 15 to 19 May 4 to 15 |
| Dove | Sept. 5, 12, 19 to Oct. 11, Nov. 21 to 29, Dec. 19 to Jan. 31 |
| Quail | Daily bag limit: 3/person. Quail hunting on designated dates only. Hunting party must check in harvest at kiosk or online. Complete 1 check-in (survey) per party. Sign-in Dec. 1, 15 |
| Small Game | State Seasons No fox squirrel, bobcat, or fox hunting. |
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 Silver Lake WMA have quota hunts?
Yes. WRD's 2026 lottery reports list 3 quota hunts on Silver Lake WMA. The most applied for was Only Hunt, Bonus Either Sex, Firearms (deer): 741 applicants for 160 spots.
| Hunt | Lottery | Applicants | Selected | First-choice applicants | Share selected | Priority points sure of a spot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Only Hunt, Bonus Either Sex, Firearms | Deer, 2026 | 741 | 160 | 289 | 21.6% | 1 |
| 1st Hunt | Turkey, 2025 | 450 | 36 | 250 | 8% | 3 |
| 2nd Hunt | Turkey, 2025 | 204 | 35 | 33 | 17.2% | 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 Silver Lake WMA?
Hunters reported 84 deer on Silver Lake WMA in the 2025-26 season: 40 bucks and 44 does. Over the 10 seasons WRD reports, the area averaged 82 deer a season, from 73 in 2023-24 to 87 in 2021-22.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Bucks per 100 deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 84 | 40 | 44 | 48 |
| 2024-25 | 84 | 42 | 42 | 50 |
| 2023-24 | 73 | 41 | 32 | 56 |
| 2022-23 | 77 | 46 | 31 | 60 |
| 2021-22 | 87 | 44 | 43 | 51 |
| 2020-21 | 86 | 47 | 39 | 55 |
| 2019-20 | 78 | 52 | 26 | 67 |
| 2018-19 | 85 | 56 | 29 | 66 |
| 2017-18 | 83 | 50 | 33 | 60 |
| 2016-17 | 86 | 44 | 42 | 51 |
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 Silver Lake WMA in?
All of Silver Lake WMA lies in Decatur 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur County | 9,743 | 1,494 | 2.5 | 52nd |
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 Silver Lake WMA?
WRD gives this address: 520 Lake Lane, Bainbridge, GA 39817 (GPS 30.29, -84.56). Highways through the area: GA 310. Nearest towns: Bainbridge (8 miles), Brinson (10 miles), Attapulgus (11 miles) and Iron City (13 miles).
Besides hunting, WRD lists boating, canoeing, hiking trails, horseback riding, lake fishing, primitive camping and wildlife viewing here.
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Lake Seminole WMA (next to it), Featherfield WMA (6 miles), Mayhaw WMA (22.2 miles) and River Creek the Rolf and Alexandra Kauka WMA (34.4 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Silver Lake WMA in 2026-27?
WRD lists these 2026-27 deer dates for Silver Lake WMA: archery, Buck Only: Sept. 12 to 27; Sept. 28 to Oct. 9, Jan. 16 to 31; primitive, Oct. 10 to 18; firearms, Oct. 29 to 31; Buck Only: Nov. 14 to 20, 22 to 27, Dec. 26 to Jan. 15; Youth Dec. 19 to 25. 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 Silver Lake WMA?
WRD's 2026-27 listing for Silver Lake WMA gives turkey: Youth Apr. 15 to 19; May 4 to 15. On a WMA the limit is one gobbler a season per area.
How many deer were killed on Silver Lake WMA last season?
84 deer were reported on Silver Lake WMA in the 2025-26 season, 40 bucks and 44 does, by WRD's Game Check reports by WMA.
Is Silver Lake WMA a quota hunt?
Some of its hunts are. WRD's 2026 lottery listed 3 quota hunts on Silver Lake WMA, with 1,395 applications for 231 spots. Its other seasons need sign-in, not a draw.
Can you camp on Silver Lake WMA?
Yes. WRD's listing for Silver Lake WMA allows camping, with primitive campsites. Follow the area's posted rules.
What county is Silver Lake WMA in?
All of it is in Decatur 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, Silver Lake 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.
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