bear zone · Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division
Southern Bear Zone
Georgia, United States
The map opens on this unit. Turn on Hunting units in Layers to see its boundary with public land, your pins and the forecast.
About Southern Bear Zone
Southern Bear Zone is a bear zone in Georgia, United States, set by Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division. It covers about 12,377 km² (4,779 mi²). Towns inside it include Valdosta, Kingsland, St. Marys, Waycross, Folkston and Echols County.
HuntGrid draws its boundary from Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division's data for the 2026 season. The agency uses this unit system for American black bear.
- Unit code
- Southern
- Area
- 12,377 km²
- Area (miles)
- 4,779 mi²
- Boundaries
- 2026
Public and protected land mapped inside it
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 2,060 km² of public or protected land inside it, 17% of the unit. Some protected land is privately owned (a conservation group's, for one). By manager, as the source names it:
| Manager | km² | Share |
|---|---|---|
| OKEFENOKEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE | 1,636 | 13% |
| Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge | 1,633 | 13% |
| Georgia Department of Natural Resources | 245 | 2% |
| National Park Service | 76 | under 1% |
| The Conservation Fund | 68 | under 1% |
| BANKS LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE | 12 | under 1% |
| Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge | 12 | under 1% |
| Board of Regents | 6.5 | under 1% |
| Other or unnamed managers | 20 | under 1% |
Boundaries are approximate and aren't legal descriptions. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there: check your local regulations and posted signs.
Public land: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gap Analysis Project (GAP), 2025, Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1
Seasons and regulations
Season dates, bag limits and licences for Southern Bear Zone are in Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division's official regulations. HuntGrid shows a season in the app only once a person has checked it against them.
Official regulations: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division
Units around it
Other hunting units that cover part of it
What HuntGrid shows for Southern Bear Zone
- Its boundary on the map; tap inside it for the unit's card with the agency's regulations link.
- Public land and the other hunting units in the same view, each with its source.
- Season dates once a person has checked them, and legal shooting hours where the rule is checked.
- Hourly wind with a scent cone for every stand, and official weather alerts.
- Offline maps: download the area and use the map, your pins and the forecast with no signal.
Questions
How big is Southern Bear Zone?
About 12,377 km² (4,779 mi²), as HuntGrid maps Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division's boundary.
How much public or protected land is in Southern Bear Zone?
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 2,060 km² of public or protected land, 17% of the unit; the largest share is managed by OKEFENOKEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there.
Where are the season dates for Southern Bear Zone?
In Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division's official regulations: https://www.eregulations.com/georgia/hunting/bear-turkey-feral-hog-alligator-small-game
More on huntgrid.net
Sources
Unit boundary: Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division (zone definitions); U.S. Census Bureau (county boundaries). Licence: Zones defined in Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 391-4-2-.22; county boundaries public domain (U.S. Census Bureau). Boundaries for the 2026 season.
HuntGrid isn't affiliated with Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division. The official regulations and maps have the final word.