SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ J. Strom Thurmond Lake and Dam Project, Forest, Fish, and Wildlife section, will host primitive weapons deer hunts in Bussey Point Corps Management Unit, located in Lincoln County, Georgia, in October, November and December this year.
Park visitors who are not hunting should visit other recreation areas during the scheduled hunts. The 2,545-acre peninsula will open for the 2025 scheduled hunts:
Dates Hunt Types
Oct. 24-25 Archery / Muzzleloader
Nov. 14-15 Archery / Muzzleloader
Dec. 12-13 Archery / Muzzleloader
The management area will be closed two days prior to each hunt, allowing only hunters without weapons to scout or place deer stands. All hunts are limited to the first 75 hunters to arrive per day on a first-come, first-served basis. Archery hunters are invited to participate in all scheduled hunts, too. The Corps hosts these annual hunts to maintain the deer population within the carrying capacity for the area, to improve herd quality, and to provide quality trophy opportunities.
Each hunter must check in at the entrance gate prior to hunting and check out at the check station, located at the entrance gate prior to leaving. Upon check out, hunters must check their harvest in and provide survey answers before leaving the property. The gate will open when hunting hours begin one hour before sunrise and will remain open until the last hunter exits the property. Hunters must be licensed in accordance with existing Georgia Department of Natural Resources Regulations. A Wildlife Management Area permit is not required for the hunts. Each license will be inspected and collected along with the vehicle tag number. The license(s) will be returned at check out.
The (strictly enforced) bag limit is two does and one quality buck each day of each hunt. Quality bucks’ have racks 15-inches or more on the main beam length on at least one side, or 14 inches or greater on the outside spread. All state regulations, including harvest reporting, is enforced. This is a non-quota hunt; The harvest counts toward the state bag limit.
Due to damage caused by Hurricane Helene, Bussey Point Recreation Area is closed for camping at this time. Consider staying at campgrounds at State or County Parks, such as Elijah Clark or Mistletoe State Parks or Wildwood Park.