Hunting & Shooting

You can hunt, fish, and target shoot in the forest.

Hunting

An array of wildlife suitable for hunting may be found on the national forest. Hunting is a seasonal activity, and the rules are simple: Follow the state laws and regulations pertaining to hunting, including seasons, dates and licensing. Wildlife and fisheries management within the boundary of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests is a cooperative effort between the USDA Forest Service and the Wildlife Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). That's because the federal government owns the land and is responsible for its management while the State of Georgia owns the animals and is responsible for their management. This means the Forest Service manages wildlife habitat and the DNR manages the animals by setting hunting seasons, bag limits, and other such rules and regulations.

Recreational and Target Shooting

Shooting ranges on the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest provide hunters and sportsmen the opportunity to hone their skills. There are three shooting ranges on the Chattahoochee National Forest: the Chestnut Mountain, Sumac Creek, and the Darnell ranges. There is one shooting range, the Cedar Creek Range, on the Oconee National Forest. The Trembling Bridge Range is closed indefinitely with no plans to reopen in the immediate future.

Target shooting is allowed on National Forests or Grasslands unless restricted. Check your local ranger district for more information about local restriction. It is prohibited to shoot:

In or within 150 yards from a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation area or occupied area.
Across or on a national forest or grassland road or body of water.
In any manner or place where any person or property is exposed to injury or damage as a result of such discharge.
Into or within a cave.
Firing tracer bullets or incendiary ammunition.
Disturbing, injuring, destroying, or in any way damaging any prehistoric, historic, or archaeological resource, structure, site, artifact, property.
Abandoning any personal property or failing to dispose of all garbage, including targets, paper, cans, bottles, appliances.

In general, you should target shoot only if you:

Use approved targets. Certain forests may have specific restrictions, such as the type of targets used (i.e. cardboard targets, paper targets, clay pigeons).
- Explosives, including Tannerite, are prohibited on all Federal Public Lands. It is illegal to use explosives anywhere on the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. Please respect the law and help us prevent wildfires by using non-explosive targets when you target shoot on our Forest.
Use approved targets along with a safe, ”bullet-proof” backstop. Do not to attach your targets to vegetation or structures, such as; trees, log decks, slash piles, fences, or water tanks.
Practice safe gun handling by:
- Treating every gun as if it is loaded.
- Never letting the muzzle of a firearm point at anything you do not intend to shoot.
- Keeping your finger off of the trigger until your sights are on the target and you are ready to shoot.
- Making sure of your target and what is beyond.
Are not in possession of alcoholic beverages while discharging a firearm.

Remember, you are responsible for your own safety and for the safety of those around you.