The Islands Hunt is an archery only hunt held on 18 specified islands and 3 peninsulas on Lake Lanier.  The areas range in size from 10 acres to 149 acres.  Together, the 21 areas total 1,100 acres.  This year’s hunts are scheduled for November 6^th-9^th, November 13^th-16^th, November 20^th-23^rd, December 4^th-7^th, December 11^th-14^th, and December 18^th-21^st.  CRITICAL: Hunters who obtain an Island Deer Hunt Permit via Recreation.gov must submit a completed Take Record (harvest record), regardless of whether they harvest a deer or even utilize their permit. Failure to submit a completed Take Record will result in disqualification from participating in future Island Deer Hunts.

For this hunt, the lake is divided into nine zones.  Hunters may select one of the above hunting dates and a specific hunting zone.   Hunters are required to pay a $20 fee to obtain the permit.  Some statistics from the previous years are listed in the table below.

How to apply

Permits will be available beginning October 7th, 2026, at 10:00 AM ET and close on December 18th, 2026. Permits often sell out quickly; however, additional slots may become available throughout the season as hunters cancel. The link for our island hunts page can be found at https://www.recreation.gov/permits/5212121 . Please be sure to have an account before permit sales go live, and failure to do so may delay the purchasing process.

Download the Islands Deer Hunt Map Book

Deer Hunt Application

The Buford Dam Hunt is an archery-only hunt held on 700 acres of land around the Lake Lanier Project Management Office and Buford Dam, as well as various other out-parcels as access allows. This year's hunt is scheduled for November 10th-12th with a mandatory pre-hunt safety meeting for all hunters on November 9th. Hunters must bring all deer harvested to a check station where the deer will be weighed and aged. The limit is three deer, only one may be antlered. We will provide two GA DNR tags for each hunter, for antlerless deer. If a hunter harvests an antlered deer, it must be processed using the hunter's GA DNR Harvest Record.

With a deer population of approximately 120 per square mile, permits are in high demand. Only hunters who are committed to taking at least two antlerless deer should apply.

For this hunt, the land is divided into 22 compartments. One hunter is selected per compartment and may bring one hunting partner. A total of 22 hunters are selected. If each selected hunter takes a partner, there is a total of 44 potential hunters. Selected hunters are required to pay a $20 fee to obtain the permit. The hunting partner is not required to pay a fee. Statistics from previous years are available in the table below.

How to Apply

Permits are issued via a lottery drawing. To enter the lottery, hunters must apply using the Deer Hunt Application link or the QR code provided below, which will direct you to the application form. All fields on the application must be completed. The fields contain your full name, address, phone number, and email address (if available). The application site opens September 1st and closes on October 7th. Please submit only one application per hunter. This hunt has a preference for disabled veterans, but anyone can apply. If you qualify for the disabled veteran's preference, please indicate this in the Disabled Veteran's Preference section of the application.

Download the Buford Dam Hunt Map Book

Deer Hunt Application

Buford Dam Interactive Hunting Map

Buford Dam Deer Hunt Statistics by Year

1.  All state and federal waterfowl regulations apply on Lake Lanier.

2.  The 2026 early Canada goose season for Lake Lanier is September 5-27 and October 10-25. The 2026 early teal season is September 12-20.

3.  During September, hunting hours for early teal and goose are from 30 minutes before sunrise to 10:00 AM. After September, hunting hours are from 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.

4.  License requirements and bag limits for hunters are found at www.GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com.

5.  Goose and teal hunting is allowed on Lake Lanier with the following exception: No hunting is allowed within 600 feet of any dock, house, structure, bridge, road, boat ramp, marina, or open recreation area.

6.  Firearms must be unloaded and cased when transported in a boat or through an open recreation area or open boat ramp.

7.  Temporary hunting blinds may be constructed but must be removed completely at the end of each day. No vegetation may be cut or removed on Corps of Engineers property for any reason.

No other hunting is allowed at any time on Lake Lanier except by special permit. The procedures outlined above are necessary for safety and to reduce conflicts with other lake users. Failure to comply with these regulations will constitute hunting without permission and will result in a citation by a state or federal ranger. Contact the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division at (770) 535-5700 or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at (770) 945-9531 for more information.

1.  All state and federal waterfowl regulations apply on Lake Lanier.

2.  The 2026-2027 late season for waterfowl (Canada goose, duck, and teal) is November 21-29, 2026, and December 5, 2026, to January 24, 2027.

3.  Hunting hours are from 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset each day.

4.  License requirements and bag limits for hunters are found at www.GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com.

5.  Youth, Active-Duty Military, and Veterans Waterfowl Hunting Days are November 14-15, 2026. Only youths 16 years of age or less may hunt Canada geese, ducks, and teal on Lake Lanier on these days. An adult at least 18 years of age must accompany the youth into the field but may not hunt. Additionally, active-duty military and veterans may hunt waterfowl or geese on these days in accordance with all other license requirements and bag limits.

6.  Goose and duck hunting is allowed on Lake Lanier with the following exceptions: No hunting is allowed within 600 feet of any dock, house, structure, bridge, road, boat ramp, marina, or open recreation area. No waterfowl hunting is allowed on islands from November 6th to December 21st. This is a safety issue; the Islands Deer Hunt is also taking place during that period.

7.  Waterfowl hunting is allowed in the following closed campgrounds: Bald Ridge and Sawnee.

8.  Waterfowl hunting is allowed in the closed portion of the following day use recreation areas: Lanier Park (located in Gwinnett County), Keith's Bridge, Mountain View, Belton Bridge, Long Hollow, Robinson Park, Thompson Bridge, and Lumpkin County Park.

9.  Firearms must be unloaded and cased when transported in a boat or through an open recreation area or open boat ramp.

10.  Temporary hunting blinds may be constructed but must be removed completely at the end of each day. No vegetation may be cut or removed on Corps of Engineers property for any reason.

No other hunting is allowed at any time on Lake Lanier except by special permit. The procedures outlined above are necessary for safety and to reduce conflicts with other lake users. Failure to comply with these regulations will constitute hunting without permission and will result in a citation by a state or federal ranger. Contact the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division at (770) 535-5700 or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at (770) 945-9531 for more information.