---
title: "Public Land: Hunting and Fishing in Georgia"
description: "With roughly 1.7 million acres of public lands (less than 5 percent of the state's surface area), Georgia doesn't have an abundance of accessible land. Fishing opportunities, however, are abundant with plenty of lakes, rivers, and streams."
date: "2013-04-25"
modified: "2013-04-25"
authors:
  - name: "Tony Hansen"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/tony-hansen/"
url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/open-country/2013/04/public-land-hunting-and-fishing-georgia/"
categories:
  - "Conservation"
  - "Fishing"
  - "Hunting"
  - "Public Lands & Waters"
---

# Public Land: Hunting and Fishing in Georgia

![](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/S2H4IQYDYOFRPHGMI5H2MXCQ2I.jpg>)

With roughly 1.7 million acres of public lands (less than 5 percent of the state's surface area), Georgia doesn't have an abundance of [accessible land](<https://www.georgiawildlife.com/hunting/>). Fishing opportunities, however, are abundant with plenty of lakes, rivers, and streams.

**[Chattahoochie-Oconee National Forest](<https://www.fs.fed.us/air/technical/class_1/wilds.php?recordID=13/>)**

• 866,468 acres in northern Georgia

• 2,200 miles of rivers and streams including more than 1,300 miles of trout streams

• Deer hunting, turkey hunting and ORV trails

**Blue Ridge WMA**

• 20,900 acres in Union County

• Offers deer, bear, turkey and small game hunting

• Abundant fishing opportunities on ponds, lakes, rivers and streams

**[Chestatee WMA](<https://www.eregulations.com/georgia/hunting/region-2-georgia-public-hunting-opportunities/#x--Tallulah-Gorge-State-Park/>)**

• 25,000 acres in Union County

• Offers deer, bear, turkey and small game hunting

• Deer hunters must check in; turkey hunters must sign in

**[B.F. Grant WMA](<https://www.eregulations.com/georgia/hunting/region-4-georgia-public-hunting-opportunities/#x--B.-F.-Grant-WMA/>)**

• 12,000 acres in Union County

• Quality deer hunting regulations (15-inch minimum spread)

• Turkey and small game hunting

**[Horse Creek WMA](<https://www.eregulations.com/georgia/hunting/region-6-georgia-public-hunting-opportunities/#x--Horse-Creek-WMA/>)**

• 8,100 acres

• Deer, small game hunting

• Alligator hunting allowed during state archery season

**More Links**

[Georgia WMAs](<https://www.georgiawildlife.com/hunting//wildlife-management-areas>)

[Find a Shooting Range](<https://www.georgiawildlife.com/FirearmRanges/Info/>)

[Boat Ramps and Fishing Maps](<https://www.georgiawildlife.com/maps/fishing/>)

Find more public land access opportunities with the [Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Hunt Planner](<https://www.rmef.org/TheHunt/HuntPlanner.aspx/>).

Photo: Brasstown Bald, Chattahoochee-Ocoee National Forest

Photo credit: [flickr](<https://www.flickr.com/photos/walraven/6551062983/>)

## Author
Tony Hansen is a contributing writer to Outdoor Life. A Michigan native, he lives in the southern Michigan community where he grew up chasing deer, turkeys, and football-sized smallmouths with the most meaningful catch of his life, his wife, Nichole.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/t.hansen_im2nd?utm_medium=copy_link>)