564 Red-Eyed Vireo 2. You never minded going downhill, but when you had to make an hour and a half climb nearly straight up in the black darkness of early morning to reach your intended stand location, it was a considerable task. Anyone know an August Hunt? Cohutta WMA Bear Hunt Draws Crowd In 1985 Caprice Hunter's Journal - June 2022 Reader Contributed | May 30, 2022 Read this article now - for FREE! Day Use only in the Beech Bottom/Jacks River Falls area from April 1 through October 31 each year. He was only about 20 feet away, but he didnt see me. Official websites use .gov A .gov While all this was going on, I removed the nipple on the smokepole, dropped a few grains of powder inside the nipple hole, reinstalled nipple, pulled trigger, second WHOOM! When the man saw the huge rack he was carrying he exclaimed, Good gosh, where did you kill that buck?. He later became a warden at age 42. Youth hunt; Hunt & Learn exempt from antler restriction. Neither man had seen a deer all day. I had never seen a buck this big in all my years of hunting., After I regained my composure, I field-dressed him and dragged him a short distance from the gut pile. It took over an hour to reach my stand. Finally, at the check station, the wardens started to weigh it. Go north on Fullers Chapel 0.5 miles to Bryant Rd. Cohutta Wildlife Management Area is located in Murray, Fannin and Gilmer counties. Sept. 3, 10, 17-23, 26-30, Nov. 19-27, Dec. 19-Jan. 31. As it stands now I plan to spend 4 full days of hunting and will be packing into the wma to live out of my pack for said duration in hopes of being able to be mobile and cover as much ground as necessary in efforts of finding possible success in . Heres the story behind Cohutta WMAs No 2 of all time, which just happens to be Fannin Countys best ever. On a WMA hunt, I dont walk in on hunters intentionally if Im late. That's where we will likely start! Quail hunting on designated dates only. at WMA sign; go 2.5 miles to check station. 1-May 31. No ATVs, horses, or hog dogs. From Albany Take HWY 91 south 4 miles to jct. Only bucks with at least 4 points (1-inch or longer) on either antler or a minimum 15-inch outside antler spread are legal. From Rome Take U.S. Hwy 27 north 9 miles to GA HWY 156; turn right (east) and go 2.3 miles to Floyd Springs Rd; turn left and go 2 miles to area. The deer and my acquired knowledge of the woods taught me how to hunt. From Darien Take U.S. HWY 17 south 1.5 miles; check station is on the right. Previous Post I didnt know 12 people could fit in an 85 Caprice. When we got to Jacks River at Kenner Ford, we took off our boots and walked across. They don't come easy on Cohutta. Our group consisted of Don Clement, Dons brother Joe, Kenneth Woods, John Akin and Bill Nichols. Camping in designated sites only. OR Subscribe to GON for as little as $1.99/month! 2023 Georgia Outdoor News. Sign up as a FREE member (no credit card required) and you can read twice as many articles on our website every month for FREE. Go 7.9 miles to entrance on left. Save. Thread starter Vethunter; Start date Oct 2, 2022; Oct 2, 2022 #1 . The one from Blue Ridge made a decent pot holder. But there was one big advantage. of USFS Road #4; turn right and go 0.5 mile to check station. No camping. Tornadoes and windstorms accompanying hurrcinanes and tropical storms have left lots of the forest and wilderness almost impassible with deadfall and the brush growing up through it. Im drinking black coffee in front of the wood stove, wishing I was in the Tree Lounge. Firearms and archery equipment are prohibited on the campus and refuge. all men and women are created by the go ,,you know, you know the thing.! Turn Right on Williams Lake Rd; go 0.4 miles to impoundment on left. 533 Carolina Chickadee https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/conf/recarea/?recid=10465, Updated on Aska Trail System Closure Due Flat Creek Fire, Road Closures on the Chattooga River Ranger District, Panther Creek Trail Temporary Hiker Restrictions, Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Boating Information, Gold Panning, Rock Hounding, and Fossil Collecting. Be aware,,they might be doing a controlled burn of some of the forrest later this fall. The fishing regulatory body for Tennessee is Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Rhetts Island: Wed., Sat., Sun., & State Holidays during statewide season. Area includes Altamaha WMA lands west of Butler & Champney Islands. Creek bottoms, deep shady draws. Just p.m. me with that report ? As lifelong hunters and outdoor enthusiasts, we take our hunting seriously, and love sharing that passion with others through our articles, videos and podcast episodes! From Cleveland Take U.S. 129 north 10.5 miles to Turners Corner; turn left on U.S. 19; go 0.5 mile; turn right on Dicks Creek Rd. on right; WMA is 6 miles down Pennick Rd. From Milledgeville Take US 441 south 3.1 miles, turn left; continue 2.9 miles on US 441/GA29 and make U-turn to return north; go 0.1 miles to 1st pull-in on right. No camping. I moved to Georgia in 1969. Tons of pigs & bears. Bell Telephone Tract, From Hazlehurst: From the Police station on Hwy 23, travel 0.1 mile east and turn south (right) on S Cromartie St. (S Cromartie St. becomes Bell Telephone Rd.) That compass will be worth its weight in gold if your up for the hike. Passport in Time, a volunteer archaeology and historic preservation program. Here you will find a place for sharing informtion, history, experiences, and preservation methods in and around the Cohutta Wilderness Area in Northwest Georgia. For a full list of WMAs open for the spring turkey season, pick up a copy of the Georgia DNR's 2021-2022 Hunting Regulations. From Eatonton Take HWY 16 west 0.7 miles; turn right on HWY 441 Bypass; go 1.5 miles to Godfrey Rd at the flashing traffic light; turn left and go 6 miles to Check-In station. Prices and optons are listed including non resident fishing licenses. No ATVs. Keep us posted & good luck! Temporary closure to vehicles is required to protect and maintain roads adjacent to sensitive wildlife habitat and streams. Turn left (southwest) on Hwy 99 crossing back over I-95 toward Sterling and proceed approx. during statewide season.Waterfowl shooting hours end at noon. Sept. 10, 17, Oct. 1, 8, Nov. 19-27, Dec. 19-Jan. 31. ( COHUTTA WMA attributes COHUTTA WMA covers an area that is 143.86 square miles. Opening day was Saturday, and we hiked in on Thursday so that we would have plenty of time to make camp and do some scouting on Friday. Standing there on the spine of the ridge at almost point-blank range was the biggest buck I had ever seen in my life. Expect most of the acorns on the ground by then to be eaten up by then so just going to send it and use basically same strategy get away from the crowds find the nasty accessible areas and start there. He is now retired. Sign up for our newsletters, and let Explore Georgia provide inspiration for your next trip. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. No furbearer season. The only other person in our group to shoot a buck during the week was Don Clements. From Waynesboro Take GA HWY 24 east 6 miles; turn right on Harrison Rd. Share sensitive information only No ATVs except by wheelchair-bound hunters during the wheelchair hunt. Several of them had done this before, so they knew the ropes. On WMA lands, weapons used to hunt hogs are limited to the weapons that are allowed for the current open season on each WMA. 2023 Georgia Outdoor News. The end product is really what matters. 2h 38m The Emery Creek/Holly Creek Trail is a moderately challenging, beautiful trail culminating with a two-step set of falls. We haven't nailed down a plan yet, we're not even sure if we're leaving Thursday evening or Friday evening, but we're going to Cohutta Wildlife Management Area this weekend, and we mean business. WRD Kicks Off Public Meetings With Deer Season Dates, Bears and Gators, New State-Record Crossbow Buck Nets 173 Typical Inches, 150-Inch Southeast Georgia Bow-Buck For The Record Books, Hart County 19-Point Buck Grosses In Mid 160s, Late-Season Northeast Georgia Bow Buck Ends 2-Year Quest, Wilcox County Typical 12 Could Bust Booner, Hot Doe After Peak Rut Results In Big Buck Down. The DNR Wildlife Resources Division owns 15,000 acres of the forest, with the City of Atlanta owning . From Dahlonega take GA 60 north for 28 miles to jct. Check with the DNR before you go onto the wilderness area,, just to be safe. If you need a fishing licence you can purchase one directly from Little Ooltewah Creek Fishing License 24/7. All dogs used in the dog-bear hunt must be marked with the selected hunters name and phone number. I started deer hunting in 1965 on Fort Bragg in North Carolina. From Chatsworth to Holly Creek Check Station: Take US Hwy 411 north to Eton; turn right at traffic light and follow Holly Creek Rd 11.6 miles to check station. A rib deflected the first round up into the spine. They smell as bad as a polecat. I dont use lures or scents. We would simply find a promising spot to hunt on the side of a ridge and wait for a deer to come by. 1 mile; turn right on Rowland Rd. Come in on old hwy 2 go straight past the check station there's a big campground on the left before you cross the river. someone correct me if i'm wrong , but i believe you're going to to be limited to small game weapons on a WMA.. so hogs would be .22 mag or ?? What is a Quota Hunt? Shooting hours end at noon. The Cohutta Wilderness was designated in 1975, expanded in 1986, and currently consists of 36,977 acres (149.64 km2). Bill Prather (left) crosses the Jacks River at Kenner Ford with John Akin as they make their way to a remote hunting camp. I'll still poke around on some of the other WMA's south of Stewart just to see if the grass is greenerIt ain't. I knew I would need some help getting him out, so I dropped off the ridge and headed back to camp. When he stepped out, I shot him in the neck at about 15 feet. While hiking out, Bill ran into another hunter walking in. You are responsible for understanding all firearms restrictions as theypertain to specific seasons, wildlife, and hunting zones. Some trails are open to horses. I was just there last weekend hunting bear. (see links if you don't know what they are). Montgomery County Tract: access is limited to foot or boat travel only. Hunting party must report harvest at kiosk or online; one survey per party. Please ensure to adhere to the fishing regulations for the state. Hunters must sign-in for big game hunts and check-out bonus deer and bear at the Carters Lake WMA check station, From Chatsworth: Go 11 miles south on old US 411; turn left at Carters Lake Powerhouse sign; go 1 mile to check station. For more information, or to purchase a map of the Cohutta Wilderness, call the Conasauga Ranger District at 706-695-6736, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Im S of you in Macon. You may also find random discussions regarding bluegrass, cold beer, and backpacking junk. Do not attempt when water is high. Entrance is 2.2 miles on left. He dropped in his tracks, and I just sat there for a few minutes in stunned silence, trying to catch my breath. There were no trucks anywhere around the check station. Kiosk is just down that road. Daily bag limit is 3/person. Feral hogs may also be taken. When they saw the size of my buck, their jaws dropped to their feet. Additionally, horse and bicycle trails and areas are closed before 10:00 a.m. during archery deer and turkey season. I eased around behind it and put my last load in its neck. The morning hours passed without much activity. I learned how to deer hunt all on my own. All other areas are open. (Hwy 384) towards Cleveland, go 5.4 miles, entrance to area is on the right. Camping, ATVs & horses prohibited. Legal waterfowl hours end at noon. Personal training dogs must have a hunting license. Call Conasauga Ranger District at 706-695-6736 for a map showing the restricted area. Going back down was always so much easier, although you knew you might not end up where you wanted to be. I later came back to that sapling with a saw and cut out about an 8-inch section where my bullet had splintered the small tree. The weekend prior I killed my two good bucks on my club, so I was done for bucks, except for free tags on some of the WMA hunts, which back then usually started later in the season. A variety of hunting is available, including deer, turkey, dove, feral hog, small game and furbearers. You may also sign in at Altamaha Regional Park, Champney Island Boat Ramp, and Darien City Docks. One said the bear weighed 160, one said 260, one said 360, one said more than 360. Day use access is available on River Rd. Daily bag Limit: 3/person. Congratulations on a successful hunt. ATVs prohibited. So I couldnt hunt anymore, but I just wanted to be there. One cold and frosty morning I heard a deer coming toward me right at daylight, Bill said. Areas west of U.S. HWY 78/GA HWY 17 are open for hunting during statewide seasons only, except turkey (see dates above). All other areas open to the public. This 25,500-acre property offers hunting for deer, bear, turkey, small game, dove, and waterfowl. Q50 s Sept. 3, 10. What was yalls tactics if I might ask. United States. Of this 211.69 square miles(147.15 percent) is public lands. Legal waterfowl hours end at noon. Hunters must check kiosk daily for prescribed burning schedule and locations. With no cell phones and no handheld GPS devices in 1981, a man had to depend on his woods sense, his wits and his outdoor skills to navigate his way around and keep from getting lost. Other rounds damaged heart and lungs. No ATVs or horses. Howdy, we should definitely connect. When they asked Bill why he had returned so early, he said, Boys, Ive just killed the biggest deer Ive ever seen in my life., Yeah, yeah, weve heard that one before, John said. It's one that Wildlife Resources Division officials have already confirmed is the heaviest ever taken in Georgia at a whopping 673 pounds! I can scoutand find a better place later in the day. Include a phone number. I sat down and leaned against a tree. Wed/Fri/Sat from Nov-Feb, except during firearms deer hunts. No ATVs. No ATVs. Shooting hours end at noon, except last day of season when shooting hours end at sunset. Over 158 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails are open to the public. Sig line removed for failing to follow the rules of this forum.---DaddyPaul 2/29/08. Cohutta Wildlife Management Area Information Coordinates: 34.9084129N, -84.6165997W Approx. After a lengthy climb, Don took me to a small gap where he had killed a 6-point buck the year before. W Q1 Mobility Impaired: Apr. Ive always enjoyed guns and hunting, so I just started hunting and shooting with friends. Bartram Forest is a multi-use forest; other users may be present during open hunting seasons. I think Don shot a nice 6-pointer.. Only bucks with at least 4 points (1-inch or longer) on either antler or a minimum 15-inch outside antler spread are legal. Is there any good trout fishing in the Cohutta? Around 1:30 p.m., I got hungry and pulled out an Almond Joy candy bar. We drove over to Beech Bottom Trail and walked in from there. The WMA offers numerous outdoor recreation opportunities, including hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, bird watching and mountain biking. You must log in or register to reply here. Yall ever smelled a bear? At about 12:30 p.m., he hiked out the same way his group had come in. When they say wilderness, they mean it. COHUTTA WMA is available under layer Wildlife Managment Areas. But since the goal was to shoot a nice buck, and since a willing hunter knew there were at least some good bucks hiding up there among those high ridges, the pain and agony became tolerable. WMA Regulations: A-C. is the week of april 7th a good time to hike. From Ellijay to Holly Creek Check Station: Take Hwy 52 west 9.2 miles; turn right at Conasauga Lake sign; go 3.5 miles; turn right on USFS road #68; go 2 miles to check station. Cohutta Wildlife Management Area Length: 5.9 mi Est. Training limited to designated areas (see map). Consult WMA map for specific limitations. ) or https:// means you've safely No fox squirrel or quail hunting. As strothershacker said, they were all in the lower elevations. ; go 1.4 miles. and travel approximately 11 miles to the area kiosk on the right. Now more than ever, our favorite outdoor spaces are playing an important role in our lives. Hunting alone is fun but hunting with friends can be even better. Some days everything goes wrong. " General hunting regulations in Georgia include: Deer and turkey must be checked through the Georgia Game Check. Some years it shot round balls OK, some years it shot sabots OK. Just OK. Not real good. At the time, there was only a one-buck limit, Bill said. United States government. If the river stage is 9 feet or higher, measured at the Doctortown Gauge, the gates will be closed. LockA locked padlock 4 WMA Regulations Q-S. Oct 4 2017. No camping. I asked the three or four game wardens for help getting the bear out, but they all had something to do and scattered. Legal hours end at noon. Hogs may not be transported alive. The Benton MacKaye Trail is in and the Pinhoti Trail Borders the Wilderness I posted a few days ago about a new bowhunter, my friend Danny. That year Bill was hunting with a lightweight Remington Model 600 bolt-action in 6mm that he had purchased just for backpacking. What did you kill, a spike?. Picture in your mind the second Saturday of Georgia deer seasonin the year 1991. Official website of the Georgia Department of Economic Development 2023. At least you knew you would eventually hit a creek or a river or a trail that could help tell you how far from camp you were.. As soon as it was light enough to see, I realized that my bullet had dead-centered a small sapling right where he had been standing. Approximately 35,268 acres (142.72 km2) are located in Georgia in the Chattahoochee National Forest and approximately 1,709 acres (6.92 km2) are located in Tennessee in the Cherokee National Forest. At a Glance Activities Hiking Those are some serious lakers! It may not display this or other websites correctly. Need to register your guns and follow the rules to the T but it's worth it. He fished a lot in Lake Blue Ridge for smallmouth. Quail hunting on designated dates only. . Their trek would eventually lead Bill to a 150-class buck thats now the current No. A lot of draws are still hardwood with pine top ridges. Boats are restricted to one motor of 25hp or less. I could see that it was a large buckprobably very close to the size of the buck I had killed the previous year.. Firearms restrictions apply to certain portions of the WMA. There was a muzzleloaderhunt going on at Cohutta WMA for deer, bear and hogs. No furbearer hunting or dog training in archery only areas. I loaded the smokepole and made a slow circular stalk toward the den area with the wind in my face as much as I could. Sept. 10-Oct. 9, Nov. 19-27, Dec. 19-Jan. 31. I dont consider myself to be a mountain man by any stretch, not today and not back then, says Bill Prather, a lifelong native of Blue Ridge who shouldered the challenge more than once over the years. I ate half of it and had just placed the other half on my knee when I heard a little noise to my left. I tried to tell them I had killed an exceptional trophy, but they didnt believe me. Take GA Hwy 234 west 11 miles; turn right on Tallahassee Rd. The property is owned by the U.S. Forest Service, but managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources as a wildlife management area. Quota on designated fields only. Hunting on official, secure websites. if so, how did it go? Please review the legend below. Sign In box is 1.5 miles on left. No hunting on or access through pastures. Get you a NF map before going up there. Hunting Mule Deer: Theres an App for That! I don't really firearm hunt, but I do hunt the N GA mountains a good bit. The Cohutta Wilderness Area is the largest designated wilderness east of the Mississippi River. Did they get the online gun registration working properly ? Aug. 15-Nov. 15, Feb. 1-Feb. 28. Then continue to Mainz by train. Multi-use trail and areas are closed all day during firearms deer hunts and before 10:00 a.m. during archery and turkey seasons. its walkin or horse only. No ATVs. Dog-bear hunters must check in at the Chestatee WMA check station prior to hunting and are required to attend a pre-hunt meeting as directed in their notification email. From JCT Hwy 80 and 355, go south 8.1 miles. I didnt field-dress the bear, as I wanted to know the live weight for my ego and sessions around the fire with my hoodlum friends. Sept. 10-Dec. 9, 11-16, 18-23, Dec. 25-Jan. 1. The bear was still coming toward me and squalling at the top of its lungs. I hated this situation. From Eton to Bryant Rd North Tract: Go west on Hwy 282, 4.2 miles to Fullers Chapel Rd. Each listing will have a list of applicable symbols located in its header as a quick reference. Thanks, You can hunt both areas within regulations put forth by. Find recreation activities by district on clickable map. Re: Suggested Rhine Itinerary. Montgomery Tract: Only bucks with at least 4 points (1-inch or longer) on either antler or a minimum 15-inch outside antler spread are legal. Rhetts Island is closed to fishing, shrimping & crabbing during early teal & statewide waterfowl season. Your shoes will get wet. No camping, ATVs, or horses. I couldnt move it. It took him almost three hours to reach his truck. I knew an area across the road that had hog dens. From Blairsville Take Old Blue Ridge HWY west 5 miles to Mulkey Gap Rd. Its pretty and all but you'll be real lucky to even see a pig there in a week of hunting. Georgia Outdoor News is your best source for timely news about hunting, fishing and everything outdoors in the state of Georgia. No one else had even seen a deer that day. I looked over and my heart almost stopped. No night hunting for small game. Honestly Cohutta is the last WMA I'd going looking for pork at. You are using an out of date browser. Please ensure to adhere to the fishing regulations for the state. of USFS Road #236; turn left and go 4 miles to jct. January Sat. Shooting hours end at noon. They were astounded. if you hunt the wilderness area keep in mind no wheeled items are allowed, such as game carts, bikes, etc. My list of game wardens I like went south. Packing into the Cohutta Wilderness to hunt deer is not for the faint of heart. Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24, Oct. 1-9, Nov. 20-27, Dec. 19-Jan. 31. Sept. 3-Oct. 9, Nov. 19-27, Dec. 19-Jan. 31, No ATVs. 1 buck ever recorded from Fannin County. Access for scheduled events is available on Cloverleaf Dr. and Buck Shoals Dr. From Cleveland: Take Hwy 115 east towards Clarkesville to Hwy 384 (Duncan Bridge Rd. Enjoy the MTN and just consider a pig a bonus. I didnt tell him where we were hunting, but he was pretty excited, Bill said. I reckon he walked. with HWY 62; turn right and go 15 miles; follow signs to check station. There were three more WHOOMS and reloads before the bear, which was snapping at everythingthat touched it, got hung between two trees 10 feet from me. After this hunt, I bought an inline, which was more accurate. May 16-31. Turn right on Fish Hatchery Rd. Left onto Possum Point Rd. The Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area is located in Dawson County. ), turn right, go 2.1 miles, entrance to area is on the left. Ocmulgee Tract, From Hazlehurst: Take U.S. 221 north 6 miles; turn left on Towns Bluff Rd. turn left and follow signs 1.1 miles. Hikers and backpackers should leave a detailed trip plan with someone expecting their return since cell service is unpredictable in this mountainous area. Quail hunting on designated dates only.Hunting party must report harvest at kiosk or online; one survey per party. I trekked to the check station where one of the game wardens asked me how many people shot the bear. Description. Cohutta WMA Dec Firearms Hunt. He immediately ran off, said Bill. You are using an out of date browser. From Mansfield Take HWY 11 south 5.7 miles to Shepherd Rd. Yes,,this info is current,, i live near the CohuttaWMA. Will be checking the lower areas for sign,, thanks! 0.5 to entrance on right. Legal waterfowl hours end at noon. Have been to Cohutta a few times. Duncan Dobie | June 29, 2022 Read this article now - for FREE! I found several large and active hog wallows during my 2 years of hunting up there. ; turn right and go 0.3 mile to check station. Small game weapons only. The closest towns are Chatsworth, Ellijay and Blue Ridge, GA. Hikers and backpackers should shop for necessities before making the drive to wilderness trailheads. Rookie Hog hunter, Advanced Bass fisher, Pro crap talker. See Quota Hunts for all other quota hunt application instructions. Sign in only once for each hunt segment or season. There's a little bit of logging goin on on some of the ridge tops outside of the wilderness area of course.
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