DMU Turner, Georgia

Turner County sits in the Upper Coastal Plain, a flat to gently rolling landscape of sandy loams and loamy sands at roughly 200–350 feet elevation across its 286 square miles. The county is dominated by row-crop agriculture — peanuts, cotton, and pecans — earning the county seat of Ashburn the nickname Peanut Capital of the World. Scattered longleaf pine and loblolly pine stands, hardwood creek bottoms, and farm field edges supply the bulk of deer habitat. The Alapaha River drains the eastern two-thirds of the county before flowing south toward Florida; the Little River drains the southwestern corner. Both waterways support ribbons of bottomland hardwood — water oak, tupelo, and sweetgum — that concentrate deer movement and provide travel corridors between agricultural fields.

Low to moderate. Turner County is rural and sparsely populated, with hunting concentrated on leased farmland and timber tracts. The absence of any in-county WMA means little draw for out-of-county walk-in hunters. Pressure is highest on farm field edges during the early archery season and the November rut window, but those with private-land access typically encounter modest competition by Georgia standards.

Statewide bag limit: 12 deer per season total, no more than 10 antlerless and no more than 2 antlered. At least one antlered deer must carry a minimum of 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one side of the antlers, or a minimum 15-inch outside spread. Georgia allows liberal either-sex harvest in south-central counties throughout the season — there is no bucks-only mandatory period. Turner County (Green region) permits antlerless deer during archery, primitive weapons, and all of firearms season. All harvested deer must be reported via Georgia Game Check within 24 hours of harvest.

Deer: Archery Sept 13–Oct 10, 2025 (either-sex). Early antlerless-only firearms weekend Oct 4–5, 2025. Primitive weapons and youth firearms Oct 11–17, 2025. Statewide firearms Oct 18, 2025–Jan 11, 2026 (either-sex). Peak rut for Turner County: Nov 10–16. Turkey (spring gobbler): Private land March 28–May 15, 2026; public land (WMAs) April 4–May 15, 2026. Season limit 2 gobblers, daily limit 1; public land limit 1 gobbler per area per season. Shotgun, muzzleloader, and archery legal for turkey. Feral hog: No closed season and no bag limit on private land; night hunting and baiting permitted on private land. On WMAs, hogs taken only with weapons legal for the concurrent deer, turkey, or small game season. Small game (squirrel, rabbit, dove) also available per statewide seasons.

Turner County delivers a classic south Georgia agricultural hunting experience: standing peanut and cotton fields provide heavy pre-rut nutrition, pushing deer into excellent body condition heading into the Nov 10–16 rut peak. The Alapaha River and Little River bottomlands act as natural sanctuaries and travel corridors, giving deer cover within an otherwise open landscape. Without a major in-county WMA drawing pressure, a leased peanut farm or creek-bottom timber tract offers comparatively uncrowded hunting. Turkey populations are solid across the south Georgia Coastal Plain, and year-round hog hunting on private land adds value to any lease. Hunters working creek-bottom hardwood edges adjacent to peanut stubble fields during the rut will find bucks cruising actively.