Hunting Season near Lake Hartwell Begins this Weekend

Hunting season gets underway officially this weekend in Georgia and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has opened areas on both sides of Hartwell Lake for the 2020-2021 Georgia and South Carolina hunting seasons.

Four areas in Georgia and nine areas in South Carolina will be open for hunting under hunting laws and regulations established by each state.

On the Georgia side, four of its larger recreation areas are open for archery and small game hunting during the regular 2020-2021 Georgia hunting season.

They include:

• Paynes Creek Park, Hart County (399 acres)

• Hartwell Dam Quarry Area, Hart County (410 acres)

• New Prospect Park, Hart County (34 acres)

• Jenkins Ferry Park, Stephens County (31 acres)

Corps spokesman Billy Birdwell said new this year, hunters using the Hartwell Dam Quarry will not be able to pick up a hardcopy permit due to the pandemic, but can call the toll-free number at 888-893-0678.

Small game hunting is allowed in all areas listed above, but only outside the deer and turkey seasons.

Hunting for small game is restricted to shotgun only with number 4 shot or smaller.

Waterfowl hunting is prohibited and hunting for deer and turkey is restricted to archery only – all firearms are prohibited.

All of the parks open to hunting will be open on a walk-in or boat-in only basis, with no motorized vehicles allowed.

Only portable stands and blinds are acceptable and must be removed from public land after the season.

Hunting regulations, license requirements, and seasons set by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources apply. Information on regulations is available from the state’s Region 2 office at 770-535-5499.

In South Carolina, Hunters should contact the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources for information on licenses, seasons and bag limits at 864-654-1671.

For additional information on hunting at Hartwell Lake contact Natural Resource Specialist Jess Fleming at 706 856 0335.