DMU Tattnall, Georgia

Tattnall County lies entirely within the Lower Coastal Plain of southeast Georgia, 484 square miles of flat to gently rolling terrain at low elevation. The dominant cover is southern pine plantation and bottomland hardwood forest, with agricultural land cleared for Vidalia sweet onions, poultry operations, and row crops. The Altamaha River forms the southern border and its broad floodplain hosts oxbow lakes, cypress sloughs, and extensive bottomland hardwood stands. The Ohoopee River also drains portions of the county. Upland stands carry a wiregrass understory; river bottoms feature palmetto, river cane, and dense hardwood thicket.

Low to moderate overall. Tattnall County's rural character, small population (~25,000), and distance from major metro areas keep pressure well below Georgia's suburban fringe counties. Big Hammock WMA draws regional hunters during firearms season but its flooding-prone river-bottom access and remote trail system limit crowds considerably. Private land is organized through local hunting clubs that typically manage pressure intentionally. Tattnall ranks among the lower-pressure Coastal Plain counties in the state.

Statewide limit of 12 deer per season: no more than 10 antlerless and no more than 2 antlered. One antlered deer must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one side, or a minimum 15-inch outside spread. Tattnall County falls in the Green region — either-sex hunting is permitted throughout the entire firearms season (Oct 18–Jan 11 on private land; Oct 25–Nov 9 at Big Hammock WMA). No CWD restrictions or additional county-level antler rules apply.

Deer: archery Sept 13–Oct 10; primitive weapons Oct 11–17; firearms (private land) Oct 18–Jan 11, 2026, either-sex throughout in the Green region. At Big Hammock WMA, archery runs Sept 13–Oct 8, Oct 12–24, and Nov 10–Jan 11; primitive weapons Oct 9–11; WMA firearms Oct 25–Nov 9. Turkey: private land Mar 28–May 15, 2026 (2 gobblers per season, 1 per day); Big Hammock WMA Apr 4–May 15, 2026 (1 gobbler per person per public area). Feral hog: no closed season on private land, no bag limit; at Big Hammock WMA hogs may be hunted with dogs during any open big or small game season plus a dedicated May 16–31 hog and coyote season using any legal firearm. Small game: squirrel Aug 15–Feb 28; quail Nov 8–Feb 28; rabbit Nov 15–Feb 28. Dove statewide Sept 6.

Tattnall County's defining hunting asset is the Altamaha River corridor, one of the most biologically rich river systems in the eastern United States. Big Hammock WMA's 7,315 acres of old-growth bottomland hardwood and cypress deliver a true big-woods experience — wide mast flats, flooded oxbows, and swamp thicket that hold deer well into late season. The Altamaha bottom supports strong feral hog numbers, making Big Hammock one of the more reliable WMA hog destinations in southeast Georgia. Private land hunting centers on pine plantation and agricultural edge habitat, where deer can be sizable given light pressure and nutrition-rich forage including Vidalia onion field margins. Turkey hunting in the open hardwood hammocks above the flood line is underrated for the quality available. The WMA's flood-prone access rewards hunters willing to navigate the swamp with near-solitude conditions even during peak firearms season.