North Georgia

[FieldMarshall]

I’m moving to Dahlonega in a few months. Currently living down in Savannah. Can’t wait to get back to the hill country.


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[FLAK]

Used to live in Cornelia and Cleveland. Gods country.

 

[MallardSX2]

Hollywood

 

[Bill_Crooks]

I've hiked and fished in there a good bit, but always in the Jacks River area. I've seen hogs and bear, but never any deer sign and the local usfs ranger told me he's never seen a deer within the wilderness area. But after the fires I wouldn't be surprised if there's enough browse to draw a few in from the lower elevations. If you plan on hunting the wilderness I would focus more on bear with deer being more of a lucky chance. I do hear people do pretty well in the areas of the wma in lower elevation. The DNR has a lot of food plots on the southern end of the WMA.

Word to the wise, don't try to go from low to high on penitentiary branch trail. It whooped me. Not that I'm in the best shape, but it's still pretty steep.

If you do go for bear in late September to early October stick to the ridges. Unfortunately all of my experience is in that time of the year.

Thanks for the info!!

 

[FieldMarshall]

I've hiked and fished in there a good bit, but always in the Jacks River area. I've seen hogs and bear, but never any deer sign and the local usfs ranger told me he's never seen a deer within the wilderness area. But after the fires I wouldn't be surprised if there's enough browse to draw a few in from the lower elevations. If you plan on hunting the wilderness I would focus more on bear with deer being more of a lucky chance. I do hear people do pretty well in the areas of the wma in lower elevation. The DNR has a lot of food plots on the southern end of the WMA.

Word to the wise, don't try to go from low to high on penitentiary branch trail. It whooped me. Not that I'm in the best shape, but it's still pretty steep.

If you do go for bear in late September to early October stick to the ridges. Unfortunately all of my experience is in that time of the year.

Pen Cove area around 5th RTB at Camp Merrill is no joke. I went back to Cooper’s Gap AT crossing over President’s Day weekend this year. Think I’m still cold from it


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[Nhawkinsf36]

I used to go every year and hunt bears there. The tearbritches trail area always seemed to hold a good amount of game. I had found several good groves of white oaks around the trail. There used to be a big problem with people breaking into vehicles there (which is why I stopped hunting there) so be careful. I believe local law enforcement has worked to reduce that problem though. The DNR is full of great knowledge and are always willing to help. The fire suppression crew members always have the inside scoop on where to look for bears! Look me up before you go or if you have any other questions.

 

[Bill_Crooks]

Thanks for all the information guys! I plan on doing a summer test run/scouting mission I will have to look into some of these trails.

 

[eddiewiggles]

I’m from Lula and have hunted a few places that have been named already. It’s some rough country but it can definitely pay off. Best of luck to you!


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[wildbill]

The deer are on the upswing for sure was up there last weekend and saw few tracks on the south fork jacks river. Keep to the high ridges above 3000 feet they will hit those acorns first. I’ve probably passed others rock sliders on the trails and didn’t know it good luck this fall.

 

[SouthernEngineer]

I'm looking to head up this year for a bear hunt, seems to be some good info here for a starting point.

 

[Bubdog]

I plan to make a trip up there for a few days in the 2021 season. Im going to CO this year and that will be my only multi day hunt this year. Ive never been before.

 

[celticfisherman]

That Jacks river trail has a TON of river crossings in it. Might as well swim down.

I was thinking the jack river trail, pitch camp off the river a bit that way there is plenty of water and those ridges are loaded with oak and hickory

 

[EJFS]

I can't believe you all are posting trail names and specific locations... WTF

 

[FLAK]

PM's are good for specifics.

 

[Professor]

I can't believe you all are posting trail names and specific locations... WTF

No one posted any super-secret information. These trails are major access points and anyone wanting to hunt the Wilderness would access it through one of a few trails like this. to get to the good spots one has to sweat and bleed, and those spots no one is talking about.

 

[menhaden_man]

I moved back to the southeast after a 15 year tour out west... in Union County GA now, let’s catch up for a hunt

 

[Professor]

I moved back to the southeast after a 15 year tour out west... in Union County GA now, let’s catch up for a hunt

I am going out west to hunt in a few weeks, but I am addicted to hunting mountain bucks and bear in North Georgia.

 

[Professor]

I moved back to the southeast after a 15 year tour out west... in Union County GA now, let’s catch up for a hunt

Where did you return from?

 

[EJFS]

No one posted any super-secret information. These trails are major access points and anyone wanting to hunt the Wilderness would access it through one of a few trails like this. to get to the good spots one has to sweat and bleed, and those spots no one is talking about.

Yeah I know what you're saying, but I still think it's poor form to post area/trail names (even as general as a Wilderness or river name) I know a lot of folks disagree but it's not like you're sharing some information with a buddy, you're putting it out there for anyone who searches "hunting north georgia" on Google. I don't even live in GA anymore but I think there should be a strict etiquette of not posting anything that could lead to increased pressure on an area. The Cohutta is what 50,000 acres? How would it affect your hunt if another 10 or 20 people decided to hike the Jack's River trail and look for white oaks on ridges to hunt bear because they found your post? This unscrupulous sharing of information on the internet is a big problem with the Western states, but I was a little bummed to see it going on with the very limited public land in my home state too.

 

[Professor]

Yeah I know what you're saying, but I still think it's poor form to post area/trail names (even as general as a Wilderness or river name) I know a lot of folks disagree but it's not like you're sharing some information with a buddy, you're putting it out there for anyone who searches "hunting north georgia" on Google. I don't even live in GA anymore but I think there should be a strict etiquette of not posting anything that could lead to increased pressure on an area. The Cohutta is what 50,000 acres? How would it affect your hunt if another 10 or 20 people decided to hike the Jack's River trail and look for white oaks on ridges to hunt bear because they found your post? This unscrupulous sharing of information on the internet is a big problem with the Western states, but I was a little bummed to see it going on with the very limited public land in my home state too.

More like 100,000 and there are oaks from one end to the other. 20 or a 100 more would not make a difference. We have 600 hunters on the hunts now, but only around 6 venture into the wilderness. The rest hang out in a sea of orange next to the rds. It is no secret there are big deer in the wilderness and if anyone wants to hunt in it they are welcome, but it is rough as any hike you ever made, and you can not camp in it.