Dooly County High School

Dooly County offers a variety of hunting opportunities. We have excellent dove, quail, and rabbit populations, although we are best known for our Trophy Deer Program. In 1993, Dooly County became the first county in any state in the nation to request and receive a government regulation mandating that all young antlered whitetail bucks be protected from hunters. This has allowed young bucks to get progressively older and therefore heavier with larger antlers. It has resulted in a 300% increase of mature bucks available to the hunting public. This new and innovative approach to deer management has led to a 90% approval rating in this county and created nationwide interest in the program. Mike Van Brackle, Georgia Wildlife Biologist, is project leader for a new deer research project being designed for Dooly County. The project goal is to capture and radio instrument bucks. Researchers with the state and University of Georgia will track the bucks in order to document how they die and at what age death occurs. It will also monitor movement of these bucks, especially during hunting season. The Flint River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) encompasses approximately 2,300 acres adjacent to the Flint River in Dooly County. The area is composed of low, sandy uplands that integrate into the river flood plain and hold a good population of deer and a fair number of turkeys, squirrels, rabbit and quail. All general WMA regulations listed in the current "Hunting Seasons & Regulations" booklet apply to Flint River. A Wildlife Management Area Stamp is required in addition to the regular hunting license and tags. Quality buck regulations are in effect on all WMA deer hunts. Legal bucks must have an outside antler spread of 15 inches. Feral hogs may be taken only during the scheduled deer hunts. Directions: Take GA Highway 27 West 10 miles from Vienna; turn right on GA Highway 230 and travel one mile; veer left on River Road and travel six miles to Pleasant Hill Church; WMA is on the left.