DMU Catoosa, Georgia
Unit info
- Game species
- White-tailed Deer, Wild Turkey
- Group
- Green Zone
- Area
- N/A
- Public land
- N/A
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 1,124
Draw odds for White-tailed Deeraren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
Season & harvest data is published for White-tailed Deer so far. Wild Turkey also occur here — that data can be added as the community contributes.
About this unit
AI-compiled · sourcedCatoosa County sits in the extreme northwest corner of Georgia in the Ridge and Valley physiographic province, directly south of Chattanooga, TN. It falls within Georgia WRD's liberal antlerless management area — most of the state — where antlerless deer may be taken throughout the entire firearms season with no county-specific doe-day restrictions. The county is largely agricultural and suburban/exurban with limited dedicated public hunting land; most deer hunting occurs on private land. Hunting pressure is moderate to high given the county's proximity to Chattanooga and the greater Atlanta metro corridor. White-tailed deer densities are solid in the agricultural creek bottoms and hardwood hollows that dissect Taylor's Ridge and the parallel ridges running northeast-southwest through the county.
Ridge and Valley province — parallel sandstone and chert ridges (Taylor's Ridge is the dominant feature, reaching ~1,300 ft) separated by narrow agricultural valleys and creek bottoms. Elevations range roughly 700–1,350 ft. Hardwood coves (oak, hickory, poplar) on ridge flanks transition to mixed pine-hardwood on upper ridges. Valley floors are row-crop agriculture (corn, soybeans) and pasture interspersed with riparian hardwood strips — classic whitetail edge habitat.
Moderate-high on available public ground due to proximity to Chattanooga metro and northwest Georgia hunting culture. Pressure spikes opening weekend of firearms season (mid-October) and during the rut (late October through mid-November). Private land pressure varies; leased ground can be exclusive and lightly hunted. Public NF tracts on Taylor's Ridge see consistent boot traffic — e-scouting into secondary drainages and saddles away from road access helps avoid crowds.
Catoosa County falls in Georgia's statewide liberal antlerless zone — no county-specific doe-day restrictions. Antlerless deer (does and button bucks) may be harvested any open day of archery, primitive weapons, and firearms seasons on private land. Statewide bag limit: 12 deer per season, max 10 antlerless and max 2 antlered. One antlered buck must have 4+ points (1 inch or longer) on one side OR a minimum 15-inch outside spread. A new Oct. 4–5 antlerless-only early firearms weekend was added for 2025-2026 for most counties including Catoosa.
2025-2026 season dates (statewide framework, private land): Archery: Sept. 13, 2025 – Jan. 11, 2026. Primitive weapons (muzzleloader/air rifle .30 cal+, muzzleloading shotgun 20 ga+): Oct. 11, 2025 – Jan. 11, 2026. General firearms: Oct. 18, 2025 – Jan. 11, 2026. Early antlerless-only firearms weekend: Oct. 4–5, 2025. Wild turkey: spring season typically opens late March; limited fall archery opportunity in some counties. CWD: Catoosa is in Georgia's CWD Management Zone given its proximity to Tennessee; hunters should confirm current carcass transport restrictions before crossing state lines.
The ridge-to-valley topography creates defined travel corridors — deer funnel through saddles and benches on Taylor's Ridge between bedding cover on the upper slopes and agricultural feed in the valley floors. Rut activity (scraping, chasing) typically peaks late October through mid-November, coinciding with the firearms opener. The liberal antlerless rules and 10-doe bag limit make Catoosa excellent for meat hunters. Limited but real public access on NF tracts rewards hunters willing to hike past the first ridge. Spring turkey hunting in the hardwood coves can be very productive given low hunting pressure compared to deer season.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about DMU Catoosa— or drop a tip or trick: access points, where game holds, glassing spots, conditions, crowding, gear that worked. This is where the unit's species-specific intel gets built, hunter by hunter.
Nothing posted yet about DMU Catoosa.
Be the first — ask a question (“Best public access on the north end?”) or share a tip (“Glass the burn scars off the main ridge at first light”).
Boundaries: GADNR Wildlife Resources Division official deer zones. Community info last updated 16d ago.