2023 Georgia WMA Turkey Hunts: No Draw Required

Even if you didn’t get drawn for one of Georgia’s 2023 quota turkey hunts, don’t put those calls away just yet. Peach State hunters are blessed to have plenty of public land turkey hunting opportunities available on WMAs and VPAs that don’t require the luck of the draw. 

These sign-in turkey hunts are open to any licensed Georgia hunter who signs in and shows up during the area’s open season dates. Any turkeys taken on these hunts must be recorded on your big game harvest log and checked in online or on your Georgia Outdoors app, the same as if you took them on private land.

To make life easier on you, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the Georgia WMAs and VPAs offering these sign-in hunts and the specific dates of those hunts that we’ve shared below. Then we finish up with some public land turkey hunting etiquette, as well as several public land turkey hunting tips to help you increase your odds for success this season.

DISCLAIMER: Keep in mind, that while we do our best to insure our information is as accurate as possible, you should always check the official Georgia hunting regulations before heading afield. 

2023 Georgia WMA & VPA Turkey Hunts

Below is a comprehensive list of more than 100 non-quota WMA/VPA turkey hunts. As you may notice, the earliest any of these public land hunts open is April 8, a full week after the statewide turkey season opens. That was part of the significant changes made to the turkey season by the Georgia DNR starting in 2022.

Also included in this table is the overall WMA/VPA success rates. Keep in mind, these include any quota AND non-quota hunts held on the properties. It’s also important to keep these success rate figures in perspective.

While a 33% success rate for the Rum Creek WMA, Berry Creek track may have you wanting to make the drive, keep in mind it’s a small, archery only unit that had just three hunters sign in last year, and one of them was fortunate enough to kill a bird.

My point is that small tracts with small overall hunter numbers can have skewed success rates. Just something to keep in mind as you’re making a decision where you want to hunt.

Public Land Etiquette

Turkey hunting on public lands requires special etiquette to ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience. There wouldn’t be very few conflicts in the woods, if we’d all just follow the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

With that in mind, here are a few essential guidelines to follow when turkey hunting on public lands:

1. Know the rules and follow them: Georgia WMAs and VPAs each have their own respective season dates, rules and regulations. Make sure you have studied them thoroughly before heading afield so you can avoid an uncomfortable run-in with Mr. Green Jeans.
2. Respect your fellow turkey hunters: Always be mindful of other hunters around you. Avoid walking into areas where another hunter is likely turkey hunting, and never try to cut someone off from a bird they are actively working.
3. Use proper communication: Good communication is essential when hunting on public lands. If you end up at the same access point as other hunters, make it a point to let them know you intentions, and find out their plans as well. In some cases, you may be able to work together to help one or both of you to fill a turkey tag.
4. Practice good safety: Always follow proper safety protocols when hunting on public lands. Here are some recommended safety tips from the Georgia DNR:
   • Never wear red, white, blue or black clothing while turkey hunting. Red is the color most hunters look for when distinguishing a gobbler’s head from a hen’s blue-colored head, but at times it may appear white or blue. Male turkey feathers covering most of the body are black in appearance. Camouflage should be used to cover everything, including the hunter’s face, hands and firearm.
   • Select a calling position that provides at least a shoulder-width background, such as the base of a tree. Be sure that at least a 180-degree range is visible.
   • Do not stalk a gobbling turkey. Due to their keen eyesight and hearing, the chances of getting close are slim to none.
   • When using a turkey call, the sound and motion may attract the interest of other hunters. Do not move, wave or make turkey-like sounds to alert another hunter to your presence. Instead, identify yourself in a loud voice.
   • Be careful when carrying a harvested turkey from the woods. Do not allow the wings to hang loosely or the head to be displayed in such a way that another hunter may think it is a live bird. If possible, cover the turkey in a blaze orange garment or other material.
   • Although not required, it is suggested that hunters wear blaze orange when moving between a vehicle and a hunting site. When moving between hunting sites, hunters should wear blaze orange on their upper bodies to facilitate their identification by other hunters.
5. Leave no trace: Remember to leave the area as you found it. Do not leave behind any trash or hunting equipment, and respect the natural environment. Be sure to report any violations or issues to the appropriate authorities.

By following these etiquette guidelines, you can help ensure a safe and enjoyable turkey hunting experience for everyone on public lands.

Public Land Turkey Hunting Tips

Turkey hunting on public lands can be a challenging but rewarding experience. Here are a few tips to help make your turkey hunting on public lands more successful:

1. Scout the area: Scouting the area before the hunt is critical to identifying the best spots to set up and locate turkeys. Look for signs of turkey activity such as droppings, tracks, feathers, and scratching.
2. Be flexible: On public lands, other hunters may have already set up in your preferred location. Be prepared to move around and explore new areas. If your work schedule allows, hunt some weekdays when the crowd will be much smaller. It can also be good to slip in some midday hunts. Most public land turkey hunters are out of the woods and hitting the local Waffle House by 10 a.m. Try spending some time in the woods after that, and you may intercept a tom looking to reconnect with a lonely hen late morning.
3. Cover some ground: Don’t be afraid to burn some boot leather when hunting Georgia public land. The more ground you cover, occasionally calling, the more likely you are to finally stumble on a motivated gobbler. If even after covering miles of ground, you still can’t get a bird gobbling, it’s time to move on to tip #4.
4. Be patient: Public land turkeys typically see a lot of pressure, which means they may be more cautious and call-shy. It also means they are much less likely to gobble than unpressured birds, especially once they leave their morning roost. Patience is essential in these situations. Don’t be afraid to setup in an area you know turkeys frequent and wait them out. Call softly every 10-15 minutes and make sure you stay aware of your surroundings, as a bird may slip in silently.

By following these turkey hunting tips, you can increase your chances of success while also respecting other hunters and the natural environment on public lands.

Here are a few additional tips for public land turkeys.

Summary

Georgia turkey hunters are fortunate to have mover one million acres of public hunting land at their disposal. Many of these properties are open for turkey hunting without the need to be drawn. You can just show up during an open hunt, sign in, and go hunt.

It won’t be easy hunting. These public land birds have seen and heard it all. But when things finally come together, and you get the squeeze the trigger on a big boss gobbler, there’s no better feeling in the world. I hope you get to experience that this spring!