Tallapoosa River WMA: 2026-27 seasons and quota hunts
Tallapoosa River WMA is 5,215 acres of public hunting land in Haralson and Polk counties, managed by Georgia DNR's WRD (Region 1). For 2026-27, WRD lists these deer dates: archery, Nov. 30 to Jan. 1; firearms, Specialty Bonus Oct. 2 to 4. WRD drew 2 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.
Tallapoosa River WMAOther WRD WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 5,215 acres (WRD's 2026-27 regulations, page 48) |
|---|---|
| County | Haralson County, Polk County |
| WRD region | Region 1, office 706-295-6041 |
| WRD's listing | Traditional WMA |
| Deer, 2026-27 | Archery: Nov. 30 to Jan. 1. Firearms: Specialty Bonus Oct. 2 to 4 |
| Quota hunts, 2026 lottery | 2, with 999 applications |
| Camping | Allowed (WRD) |
| Nearest towns | Buchanan (4 mi), Rockmart (7 mi) and Cedartown (8 mi) |
What is Tallapoosa River WMA like?
Tallapoosa River WMA is a 3,053-acre property located between Cedartown and Buchanan. Hunting opportunities include deer, turkey (for youth only) and small game. See regulations for details. No ATVs or camping allowed. Hunters utilizing this area for deer or turkey hunting should be sure to check their game using Georgia Game Check and select Public Land option, Polk County, and then Tallapoosa River WMA. In person access to maps and sign-in sheets for this property are provided at J.L. Lester WMA . Directions From Cedartown: Take U.S. Highway 27 south to Felton. In Felton, turn left onto Felton Rockmart Road. Go 0.9 miles and turn right onto Rainey Lake Road. The property begins 0.7 miles down Rainey Lake Road.
From WRD's page for Tallapoosa River WMA.
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Tallapoosa River 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 | Nov. 30 to Jan. 1 |
| Deer and bear, firearms | Specialty Bonus Oct. 2 to 4 |
| Turkey | Specialty Apr. 3 to May 15 |
| Small Game | State Seasons |
| Waterfowl | Waterfowl allowed during state season dates that overlap with small game dates. |
| Coyote | May 16 to 31 |
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.
Does Tallapoosa River WMA have quota hunts?
Yes. WRD's 2026 lottery reports list 2 quota hunts on Tallapoosa River WMA. The most applied for was 1st Hunt, Bonus Either Sex, Firearms (deer): 505 applicants for 200 spots.
| Hunt | Lottery | Applicants | Selected | First-choice applicants | Share selected | Priority points sure of a spot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Hunt, Bonus Either Sex, Firearms | Deer, 2026 | 505 | 200 | 189 | 39.6% | 0 |
| 2nd Hunt, Bonus Either Sex, Firearms | Deer, 2026 | 494 | 203 | 127 | 41.1% | 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.
Which county is Tallapoosa River WMA in?
Tallapoosa River 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haralson County | 5,039 | 1,442 | 5.1 | 55th |
| Polk County | 179 | 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 Tallapoosa River WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: GA 1, US 27, GA 120 and GA 100. Nearest towns: Buchanan (4 miles), Rockmart (7 miles), Cedartown (8 miles) and Braswell (9 miles).
WRD prints a map of the area: Tallapoosa River WMA map (PDF).
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Treat Mountain WMA (2 miles), J.L. Lester WMA (2.2 miles), Paulding Forest WMA (3.2 miles) and Sheffield WMA (11.6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Tallapoosa River WMA in 2026-27?
WRD lists these 2026-27 deer dates for Tallapoosa River WMA: archery, Nov. 30 to Jan. 1; firearms, Specialty Bonus Oct. 2 to 4. 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 Tallapoosa River WMA?
WRD's 2026-27 listing for Tallapoosa River WMA gives turkey: Specialty Apr. 3 to May 15. On a WMA the limit is one gobbler a season per area.
Is Tallapoosa River WMA a quota hunt?
Some of its hunts are. WRD's 2026 lottery listed 2 quota hunts on Tallapoosa River WMA, with 999 applications for 403 spots. Its other seasons need sign-in, not a draw.
Can you camp on Tallapoosa River WMA?
Yes. WRD's listing for Tallapoosa River WMA allows camping. Follow the area's posted rules.
What county is Tallapoosa River WMA in?
Haralson County (5,039 acres) and Polk County (179 acres), measured on 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, Tallapoosa River 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 Haralson County deer harvest Polk County deer harvest