Swallow Creek WMA: 2026-27 seasons and deer harvest
Swallow Creek WMA is 19,000 acres of public hunting land in Towns County, managed by Georgia DNR's WRD (Region 2). For 2026-27, WRD lists these deer dates: archery, Buck Only: Sept. 12 to 25, Oct. 3 to 9; firearms, Bonus Buck Only: Nov. 11 to 14, Dec. 2 to 5; Buck Only: Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. Hunters reported 6 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check (6 bucks, 0 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.
Swallow Creek WMAOther WRD WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 19,000 acres (WRD's 2026-27 regulations, page 48) |
|---|---|
| County | Towns County |
| WRD region | Region 2, office 770-535-5700 |
| WRD's listing | WMA on leased or partner land |
| Deer, 2026-27 | Archery: Buck Only: Sept. 12 to 25, Oct. 3 to 9. Firearms: Bonus Buck Only: Nov. 11 to 14, Dec. 2 to 5; Buck Only: Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 6 (6 bucks, 0 does) |
| Camping | Allowed (WRD) |
| Nearest towns | Hiawassee (3 mi), Helen (6 mi) and Young Harris (8 mi) |
What is Swallow Creek WMA like?
Swallow Creek Wildlife Management Area is located in Towns County on property owned by the U.S. Forest Service. This 19,000-acre property has hunting opportunities for deer, bear, turkey and small game. Vehicle Usage: ATVs and UTVs are not allowed on U.S. Forest Service roads. They may only be used on roads/trails designated specifically for their use. For more information, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/conf/home/?cid=fseprd1154774 . Check Road Closures: Road closures due to damage or weather-related conditions for this property will be listed at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/conf/ .
WRD lists these facilities: primitive campsites and hiking trails.
From WRD's page for Swallow Creek WMA.
Nearly all of the area lies on national forest land, measured on the U.S. Forest Service map. On national forest land the Forest Service runs the roads and campgrounds; WRD runs the hunting.
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Swallow Creek 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 | Buck Only: Sept. 12 to 25, Oct. 3 to 9 |
| Deer and bear, firearms | Bonus Buck Only: Nov. 11 to 14, Dec. 2 to 5 Buck Only: Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 |
| Bear, firearms | Sept. 26 to Oct. 2 |
| Turkey | Apr. 3 to May 15 |
| Coyote | May 16 to 31. Feral hogs may be hunted with dogs. |
| Small Game | State Seasons |
| 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 48 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 Swallow Creek WMA?
Hunters reported 6 deer on Swallow Creek WMA in the 2025-26 season: 6 bucks and 0 does. Over the 10 seasons WRD reports, the area averaged 4 deer a season, from 1 in 2021-22 to 10 in 2017-18.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Bucks per 100 deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 100 |
| 2024-25 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 100 |
| 2023-24 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 100 |
| 2022-23 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 100 |
| 2021-22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100 |
| 2020-21 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 100 |
| 2019-20 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 100 |
| 2018-19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100 |
| 2017-18 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 70 |
| 2016-17 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 67 |
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 Swallow Creek WMA in?
All of Swallow Creek WMA lies in Towns 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Towns County | 18,354 | 505 | 3 | 145th |
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 Swallow Creek WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: GA 75, US 76, GA 17 and GA 2. Nearest towns: Hiawassee (3 miles), Helen (6 miles), Young Harris (8 miles) and Tiger (11 miles).
Besides hunting, WRD lists hiking, primitive camping, river fishing and wildlife viewing here.
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Chattahoochee WMA (next to it), Chestatee WMA (7.7 miles), Coopers Creek WMA (12.1 miles) and Warwoman WMA (14.1 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Swallow Creek WMA in 2026-27?
WRD lists these 2026-27 deer dates for Swallow Creek WMA: archery, Buck Only: Sept. 12 to 25, Oct. 3 to 9; firearms, Bonus Buck Only: Nov. 11 to 14, Dec. 2 to 5; Buck Only: Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. 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 Swallow Creek WMA?
WRD's 2026-27 listing for Swallow Creek 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 Swallow Creek WMA last season?
6 deer were reported on Swallow Creek WMA in the 2025-26 season, 6 bucks and 0 does, by WRD's Game Check reports by WMA.
Can you camp on Swallow Creek WMA?
Yes. WRD's listing for Swallow Creek WMA allows camping, with primitive campsites. Follow the area's posted rules.
What county is Swallow Creek WMA in?
All of it is in Towns 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, Swallow Creek 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.