River Bend Wildlife Management Area held an adult/child deer hunt on Oct. 27-28.

  • 42 hunters
  • 8 deer (6 bucks)

The next River Bend WMA hunt is Nov. 8-10 should it should be a great one!

Nice buck from the adult/child hunt at River Bend WMA Oct. 27-28.

The North Georgia bear harvest is off to a fairly slow start, and appears that it will be much lower than the record 529 bears harvested in 2011. The lower harvest is primarily a result of the fall’s abundant acorn crop. Acorns are readily available everywhere, and as a result, bears (and deer) are not having to travel far to find food, which is likely making them less susceptible to harvest.

Preliminary totals for North Georgia (Regions 1 and 2):

  • Archery/Crossbow: 54 bears
  • Muzzleloader/Firearm: 48 bears
  • Preliminary total: 102 bears

Figures should not be considered final, as they represent a minimum number of bears harvested in North Georgia thus far. Although this seems drastically lower than last year’s harvest, consider the 2008 and 2010 archery harvests for perspective.

Big Lazer Creek Wildlife Management Area  held a check-in hunt on Oct. 18-20.

  • 191 hunters checked in
  • 32 deer harvested (15 bucks, 17 does)

One of the bucks harvested at the Big Lazer Creek WMA check-in hunt.

An early firearms hunt was held at Cohutta Wildlife Management Area Oct. 11-14.

  • 17 total bears harvested (7 male, 10 female)
  • 5 bucks harvested
  • 6 hogs harvested

Black bear harvested at Cohutta WMA early firearms hunt Oct. 11-14.

An adult/child hunt was held on Cooper’s Creek Wildlife Management Area on Oct. 5 – 6 where both adult and child could hunt.

  • 506 hunters checked-in
  • 28 deer harvested
  • 6 bears harvested
  • 2 coyotes harvested

Each year at this hunt, the local Cooper’s Creek Sportsman’s Club sponsors lunch for everyone on Saturday and gives out door prizes, which always results in a big crowd at the check station on Saturday!

A crowd gathers at Cooper’s Creek WMA adult/child hunt on Oct. 6

Close of 9-day South Georgia bear season report:

  • 88 total bears harvested (62 male, 26 female
  • Largest bear = 528 lbs.
  • Dixon Memorial Wildlife Management Area 3-day primitive weapons hunt: No harvest reported. One 3-day firearms hunt still to come in November.

The Fresh Sign Hunting Club of Athens held a work day at Warwoman Wildlife Management Area, which has become an annual tradition. They help install T-gates and maintain some wildlife openings on the area.  Thanks to Fresh Sign Hunting Club for their help!

L-R: Bob Birchmore, Bo Thurston, Gene Howard, Brian Banister, and John McLeod of Fresh Sign Hunting Club. Wildlife Technician David Reed is seated in the tractor.

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