Well, I finally got a chance to go deer hunting at the Joe Kurz Georgia WMA over the weekend, and I tell you, I was very impressed in more ways than one. This wildlife management area is a great location for Georgia deer hunters. There were lots of open fields and lots of great areas to set up and hunt. Mt. Carmel Rd. It runs straight through the WMA, and if you turn right onto Germany Rd., It has a fairly smooth dirt road that cuts through some exceptional Georgia deer hunting areas. The Flint River borders a large part of the Georgia WMA. One thing I really liked was that there was an awesome primitive camping area right on a small lake. But believe me when I say primitive camp I mean primitive camp with no water, no electricity, no tent protectors, nodda, nothing. Also, make sure if you happen to be there on a Sunday you better have some food available, because there are no restaurants open anywhere near this wildlife management area on Sundays.
There are a few convenient stores outside of Georgia WMA. If you are okay with eating something at one of the convenient stores, bring some food with you. If you’re like me and most other Georgia deer hunters, you’ll want real food after a long morning in the woods. If it’s not Sunday, there are some good dining options. One is a small pizza place that I ate at Kings Pizza Barn. You can get there by just driving a mile or two down the highway. 85N (Turn right out of Georgia WMA from Mt. Carmel) The other option is a little killer hole in the barbecue wall called Uncle C’s and is approximately ten miles from the WMA traveling Hwy. 85N. If you take Hwy 85S I found an amazing little restaurant called Smoke House Diner with home made picnic and BBQ, just make sure you stay on Hwy 85S and don’t take the alternative that veers off to the right. If you pass this little restaurant, you will come to a small area that has a take out only restaurant, and another deer processor located next to a store called Venison Shop, their sign says they specialize in venison jerky, but I have never heard something good or bad about them.
Found another deer processor exactly ten miles down the road. 85N Right across the street from Uncle C’s BBQ restaurant; It’s called The Sportsman’s Deer Cooler. I haven’t used them yet, but everyone I talk to has had nothing more to say good things about their quality, and they specialize in smoked and country sausages, perfect for Georgia deer hunting enthusiasts. To get directions to the wildlife management area, probably the easiest way is to simply map the mission Mt. Carmel Rd. City of Gay Georgia, there are several different routes you can take from Interstate 85 South from Atlanta to get them. Overall, with all of my Georgia deer hunting experiences, this one was great. I went up on a Thursday afternoon and stayed until Sunday afternoon, camped using a small silent generator and small electric heater in my tent, didn’t shoot or see anything except as I was leaving Georgia WMA on Sunday afternoon. Go figure, but overall it was a great weekend. I would suggest to any Georgia deer hunting enthusiast to give this wildlife management area a try.