DMU Clarke, 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
- 651
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 · sourcedClarke County sits in Georgia's upper Piedmont, anchored by Athens and the University of Georgia. The county is managed under Georgia WRD's county-based system and falls within the statewide Green Zone — meaning liberal antlerless regulations apply throughout the entire deer season. No dedicated WMAs lie within Clarke County itself; hunting is almost entirely on private land, and access is tight given the suburban-urban character of the county. Deer numbers are high due to limited hunting pressure and abundant edge habitat around subdivisions, agricultural fields, and riparian corridors along the Middle Oconee and North Oconee Rivers. Clarke is one of 29 Georgia counties granted an extended archery-only season through January 31, providing bowhunters an extra three weeks beyond the statewide January 11 close. Firearms hunting occurs but is subject to local ordinances and property constraints common in densely populated Piedmont counties.
Upper Piedmont rolling hills; mixed hardwood-pine forest, riparian bottomlands along the Middle Oconee and North Oconee Rivers, and fragmented agricultural fields transitioning to suburban and university-area development. Elevations modest, 600–800 ft. Dense edge habitat throughout.
Low-to-moderate on private land given limited hunter access; suburban setting reduces overall hunting pressure significantly compared to rural Georgia counties. Deer see relatively light harvest pressure, contributing to healthy local populations. Competition for private parcels is high among those who do hunt.
Green Zone (statewide majority zone) — either-sex deer legal throughout the full season with no antlerless restrictions. Statewide bag limit 12 deer per season (max 10 antlerless, max 2 antlered). Clarke County is among 29 counties with extended archery-only either-sex season through January 31 (vs. statewide close of January 11). New for 2025-26: Oct 4-5 early antlerless-only firearms weekend statewide.
Deer: Archery Sep 13 – Jan 31 (extended county); Primitive weapons Oct 11–17; Firearms Oct 18 – Jan 11, 2026 (either-sex throughout under Green Zone rules). Turkey: Spring season typically April–May statewide. Deer and turkey are primary game species; squirrel, rabbit, and dove opportunities exist on private land.
Extended archery season to January 31 gives bowhunters three bonus weeks unavailable in most Georgia counties. High deer density from low hunting pressure in a suburban-edge environment rewards hunters who can secure private land access. Liberal either-sex rules under the Green Zone mean no antlerless restrictions to navigate. Proximity to Athens provides hunter services and UGA Extension resources.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about DMU Clarke— 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 Clarke.
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.