Dawson Forest WMA

[Dbrunso1]

Not sure if this is the right area to post so let me know if I need to move it. I apologize in advance.

We moved to Canton in Sept of last year and was checking out a few WMAs. We hunting McGraw Ford pretty hard but struck out. We had a TON of guys walk up on us and hunt right next to us often. It’s public land and understand the challenges that come with it. Im sure Dawson is similar in that sense but is there a decent deer population up there? Just trying to figure out which ones are actually worth the time put in.

Side note- I was successful while hunting Sheffield WMA. Got a nice little basket 8 and it was a ton of work and scouting but it wasn’t majorly overcrowded and they had decent deer. It’s just a heck of a drive to get out there now and hoping to get some advice on which ones up here have some deer. Thanks everyone in advance.

 

[livinoutdoors]

Dawson forest does have some good deer in it. Im sure if you put in the scouting you can find em. I havent been in a bit but im sure there is still deer!

 

[PappyHoel]

All the deer are gone on Dawson forest. The check in hunts are nightmares. There’s not a spot on the Atlanta tract that you won’t be walked in on from every direction. I live about a mile from the Atlanta tract so I’ve hunted it quite a bit. The wild cat tract is where I would hunt if I were u. I’m concentrating on that area this year. It’s steep and hilly but less human traffic.

As of this week a 1500 home retirement community is being built right close to the Atlanta tract.

There are deer there but you have to race all the other yahoos to get them during the check in hunts.

 

[bowhunterdavid]

I live about 5 miles from the Atlanta track and i dont hunt it any more. I still think about the glory days there back in the 1980s. I would hunt the late hunts if i were going to hunt it again.

 

[Buckman18]

All the deer are gone on Dawson forest. The check in hunts are nightmares. There’s not a spot on the Atlanta tract that you won’t be walked in on from every direction. I live about a mile from the Atlanta tract so I’ve hunted it quite a bit. The wild cat tract is where I would hunt if I were u. I’m concentrating on that area this year. It’s steep and hilly but less human traffic.

As of this week a 1500 home retirement community is being built right close to the Atlanta tract.

There are deer there but you have to race all the other yahoos to get them during the check in hunts.

The Wildcat tract also gets hammered. Orange vest everywhere on all the gun hunts.

 

[Rabun]

I used to hunt Dawson every year and have killed a lot of deer up there. Usually hunted the Atlanta tract. They used to have a great primitive weapons hunt that was turned into an adult/child hunt. I have not been back since our camp got ripped off....chain saw, cooler full of beer and food and my favorite percolator coffee pot. Still ticks me off when i think about it.

When I did hunt the area, it would be covered up with people too, which you can use to your advantage. Find an area as far from any road as possible and get in there very early...at least 35 mins before first light. It's very likely deer will be driven to you throughout the day. Try and stay in your stand all day...especially during lunch when folks get antsy and start wondering around...killed a nice buck with my flintlock one year that ran right to me after being kicked up. Also, there are several tracts...I've only hunted Atlanta and Amicalola. I would scout the other tracts vs. Atlanta....Wildcat Creek, Goethe, Burnt Mountain & Amicalola. There have been a few bears killed up there in recent history...hogs as well, so there is game.

It is a great property...just has become part of the suburban playground.

 

[2-shot]

Watch out for the monkeys in the dark

 

[MossyOak]

Dbrunso1
I just moved back from florida atfer being gone for awhile but I have come up to GA to hunt on my favorite WMA on a regular basis.
If you don't mind walking from where I park ( because lots of hunters who eiether or lazy or afraid of the dark ) don't want to get far from their vehicles.
I will introduce you to a sweet place not far from you as the crow flies on a WMA.
Only payment is we have to help each other drag the deer out
Archery season is just around the corner am I am ready.......

 

[Gbr5pb]

Used to kill a few deer in archery hunts. Had a Wednesday off day not many people hunting then. The gun hunts had people walk up on me no matter how far off road

 

[rospaw]

What about Pine Log WMA? In Cherokee County ....... close

 

[Dbrunso1]

Dbrunso1
I just moved back from florida atfer being gone for awhile but I have come up to GA to hunt on my favorite WMA on a regular basis.
If you don't mind walking from where I park ( because lots of hunters who eiether or lazy or afraid of the dark ) don't want to get far from their vehicles.
I will introduce you to a sweet place not far from you as the crow flies on a WMA.
Only payment is we have to help each other drag the deer out
Archery season is just around the corner am I am ready.......

I’m down! The little buck I got was about 3/4 mile back on Sheffield. Very few hunters traveled that far back. Ended up just packing him out instead of dragging.

 

[Dbrunso1]

What about Pine Log WMA? In Cherokee County ....... close

I didn’t even know pine log was so close. I’ll definitely check that place out. Or two for the heads up!

 

[MossyOak]

Pine Log is a great place to go, Im not talking about that place
Lets just say I've let 7 - 9 point bucks walk because I was by myself and I knew that it would be diffulcult for just me dragging them out . There are some big boys and lots of does with an occasional bear, Im not interested in the bear as long as he leaves me alone. Its nice to be WAY back off the beaten path because you know NO ONE else is back there and no access roads. I'd be glad to have you join the walk with me LoL