Townsend WMA: 2026-27 seasons and deer harvest
Townsend WMA is 34,294 acres of public hunting land in Long and McIntosh counties, managed by Georgia DNR's WRD (Region 6). For 2026-27, WRD lists these deer dates on Townsend WMA - Buck Island Tract: archery, Sept. 12 to Oct. 9; primitive, Oct. 10 to 16; firearms, Oct. 17 to Jan. 10. Hunters reported 46 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check (27 bucks, 19 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.
Townsend WMAOther WRD WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 34,294 acres (WRD's 2026-27 regulations, page 48) |
|---|---|
| County | Long County, McIntosh County |
| WRD region | Region 6 |
| WRD's listing | Natural Area |
| Deer, 2026-27 | Archery: Sept. 12 to Oct. 9. Primitive: Oct. 10 to 16. Firearms: Oct. 17 to Jan. 10 |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 46 (27 bucks, 19 does) |
| Camping | Allowed (WRD) |
| Nearest towns | Ludowici (3 mi), Jesup (7 mi) and Walthourville (9 mi) |
What is Townsend WMA like?
NOAA for watergauge levels. Townsend WMA Townsend Wildlife Management Area is located in Long and McIntosh counties. The property offers deer, turkey, small game and waterfowl hunting. Townsend WMA is made up of four tracts of land: North Townsend, South Townsend, Buck Island, and Pine Island Tract. Together, they comprise 32,000 acres of land on the north side of the Altamaha River between Route 301 and the city of Darien.
WRD lists these facilities: canoe access and lake.
From WRD's page for Townsend WMA.
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Townsend WMA?
WRD sets each WMA's own dates. It lists 2 parts of Townsend WMA separately: Townsend WMA - Buck Island Tract and Townsend WMA - North, South and Pine Island Tracts. These are WRD's 2026-27 dates and notes for the area, as printed:
Townsend WMA - Buck Island Tract
| Season | 2026-27 dates and WRD's notes |
|---|---|
| Deer, archery | Sept. 12 to Oct. 9 |
| Deer, primitive | Oct. 10 to 16 |
| Deer, firearms | Oct. 17 to Jan. 10 |
| 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 |
Townsend WMA - North, South and Pine Island Tracts
| Season | 2026-27 dates and WRD's notes |
|---|---|
| Deer, archery | Sept. 12 to 30 |
| Deer, firearms | Bonus Oct. 1 to 3, Nov. 5 to 7 Buck Only: Oct. 17 to 25 Nov. 21 to 29, Dec. 19 to 27 |
| Turkey | Apr. 3 to May 15 |
| Coyote | May 16 to 31. Feral hogs may be hunted with dogs. |
| Small Game | 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 Townsend WMA?
Hunters reported 46 deer on Townsend WMA in the 2025-26 season: 27 bucks and 19 does. Over the 10 seasons WRD reports, the area averaged 46 deer a season, from 32 in 2016-17 to 60 in 2019-20.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Bucks per 100 deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 46 | 27 | 19 | 59 |
| 2024-25 | 50 | 24 | 26 | 48 |
| 2023-24 | 49 | 15 | 34 | 31 |
| 2022-23 | 58 | 24 | 34 | 41 |
| 2021-22 | 43 | 18 | 25 | 42 |
| 2020-21 | 42 | 16 | 26 | 38 |
| 2019-20 | 60 | 21 | 39 | 35 |
| 2018-19 | 41 | 18 | 23 | 44 |
| 2017-18 | 35 | 17 | 18 | 49 |
| 2016-17 | 32 | 18 | 14 | 56 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by WMA, adding WRD's lines for Townsend WMA Buck Island Tract and Townsend WMA North Tract, South Tract, and Pine Island Tract. 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 Townsend WMA in?
Townsend 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long County | 25,157 | 414 | 1 | 150th |
| McIntosh County | 9,130 | 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 Townsend WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: US 25, GA 38, GA 57 and US 84. Nearest towns: Ludowici (3 miles), Jesup (7 miles), Walthourville (9 miles) and Allenhurst (9 miles).
Besides hunting, WRD lists boating, canoeing, lake fishing, river fishing, wildlife viewing and primitive campsites here.
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Altamaha WMA (next to it), Penholoway Swamp WMA (next to it), Sansavilla WMA (next to it) and Morgan Lake WMA (next to it).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Townsend WMA in 2026-27?
WRD lists these 2026-27 deer dates for Townsend WMA: archery, Sept. 12 to Oct. 9; primitive, Oct. 10 to 16; firearms, Oct. 17 to Jan. 10. 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 Townsend WMA?
WRD's 2026-27 listing for Townsend 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 Townsend WMA last season?
46 deer were reported on Townsend WMA in the 2025-26 season, 27 bucks and 19 does, by WRD's Game Check reports by WMA.
Can you camp on Townsend WMA?
Yes. WRD's listing for Townsend WMA allows camping. Follow the area's posted rules.
What county is Townsend WMA in?
Long County (25,157 acres) and McIntosh County (9,130 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, Townsend 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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