Annual report FY 2019-2020

GAME MANAGEMENT SECTION
A N N U A L R E P O R T F Y 2019-2020

Table of Contents
Game Management Section Annual Report
Annual Report Summary .......................................................................................................................... 34 Alligator Program.............................................................................................................................................5 Black Bear Program.....................................................................................................................................69 Deer Program............................................................................................................................................1013 Forest Management Unit .......................................................................................................................1415 Hunter Development Program ................................................................................................................... 16 Migratory Bird Program................................................................................................................................ 17 Private Lands Program............................................................................................................................1819 Sapelo Island Operations ......................................................................................................................2021 Sapelo Island NERR................................................................................................................................ 2223 Urban Wildlife Program ...................................................................................................................... 2425 Wild Turkey Program........................................................................................................................... 2628 Region 1 (Northwest Georgia) ........................................................................................................... 2930 Region 2 (Northeast Georgia) ............................................................................................................ 3132 Region 3 (Eastern Georgia) ................................................................................................................ 3334 Region 4 (East Georgia).............................................................................................................. 3536 Region 5 (Southwest Georgia) .......................................................................................................... 3738 Region 6 (Central-South Georgia)................................................................................................... 3940 Acknowledgements...................................................................................................................................... 41

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Southern Zone Bear Harvest by Year 1981-2019 200 150 100
50 0
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Region 1 Annual Highlights
FY 20192020

Since 2016 turkey harvest has trended upward in NW Georgia. The 2020 turkey season exemplified this positive trend with Polk County leading the state in terms of total reported harvest.

Coosawattee (12.8%), Crockford-Pigeon Mountain (23.9%), Joe Kurz (23.0%), McGraw Ford (7.0%), Paulding Forest (13.5%), Pinelog (13.2%), Sprewell Bluff West (6.5%), and Zahnd (14.3%) Wildlife Management Areas.

Map of turkey harvest numbers across Georgia.
For Region I WMA's, a total of 3,664 hunters harvested 412 turkeys. Hunters in Region I had the most successful season ever in terms of hunter success -- 11.2%.
The 2019-2020 fiscal year is clearly one for the record books in many ways:
Six Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) set record harvests Coosawattee-Carter's Lake, Coosawattee, Sheffield, Sprewell Bluff East, Sprewell Bluff West, and West Point Dixie Creek.
Records for highest harvest per square mile were set on Coosawattee-Carter's Lake, Coosawattee, Sprewell Bluff East, Sprewell Bluff West, and West Point Dixie Creek.
And lastly, records for highest hunter success were set on Cohutta (17.2%), Coosawattee-Carter's Lake (9.3%),

Northwest Georgia spring turkey harvest per square mile.
Comparison of spring turkey harvest per square across Northwest Georgia Wildlife Management Areas.
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Region 1 Accomplishments
FY 20192020
resulted in Region 1 helping to provide technical assistance to 40% of the state population.

Prescribed burn on West Point WMA.
Prescribed burning efforts were down significantly this year. Weather hampered early opportunities and concerns for the impact of smoke on citizens with compromised respiratory systems resulted in decreased activity later. Despite these challenges, staff still accomplished prescribed burning 3,437 acres.

Gravel being spread on road at West Point WMA.
Completed road improvement projects on the following Wildlife Management Areas: o Coosawattee o Paulding Forest o Berry College o Pine Log o West Point

Wildlife Tech Foster Hartman with banded American Woodcock.
Staff also participated in woodcock banding efforts and were instrumental in the development of new techniques that increased catch rates. The shifting of region boundaries

Sunflowers planted at a Joe Kurz WMA dove field.
This year was a busy one for nuisance bear activities. The first bear crop damage permits were also issued.
Region 1 staff worked hard and succeeded in obtaining the requested CWD samples for all counties in the region.
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Dove Field Acres Planted
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