In the stands of hardwood, the mixed forest lands, even the open meadows — many species of birds and animals make their home in the wilds around Fort Gaines. Waterfowl, deer, squirrels, rabbits, eagles, turkeys, hawks, bobcats and dozens of songbirds range the spacious woods. Fort Gaines is a haven for nature lovers to observe wildlife. It also gives hunters ample opportunity to find their game. In fact, Clay County has three times as many whitetail deer as it does people! Public Lands for Hunting Hunting is allowed during designated seasons on specific Corps of Engineer and Georgia Department of Natural Resources managed areas. The Corp of Engineers offers several tracts of land along the Chattahoochee River and Lake Walter F. George. The Department of Natural Resources operates a Wildlife Management Area eight miles north of Fort Gaines. Both areas offer plentiful hunting — of deer, turkey, waterfowl and other small game.
For more information, including how to obtain a hunting permit, contact: - The US Army Corps of Engineers at (229) 768-2516 or
- The Georgia Department of Natural Resources at (229) 430-4254.
Private Hunting LandsA portion of Clay County is owned by corporate paper companies that offer their land to hunters and hunting clubs through lease programs. The lands are essentially pine farms, but when they’re not being cultivated, they’re a haven for hunters. Other area landholders offer their land for hunting as well. Please remember that private lands are only accessible with written permission from the land owner. Clay Hill Hunting Lodge - Hunt deer, wild hog, turkey, dove, or quail on Clay Hill Hunting Preserve. Clay Hill Hunting Preserve is located on the Watson Farm in Clay County, Georgia, on a clay hill nine miles north of Fort Gaines. Non-hunters may desire a stay at Clay Hill for some relaxing time in the country, fishing, or just checking out nature. For more information and directions - www.clayhillhunting.com
Explore the Regional Flora and Fauna Georgia ranks fifth in the nation in diversity and richness of its plant life. The Georgia state legislature was very wrong in its assessment long ago that Clay County and the surrounding region was a "sterile, unprofitable land."
A team from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources submitted a fifty-seven page report on the land several years ago that labeled the area "The Phenomenon," and praised it as "rich and significant and containing some of the most important exposures in Georgia." What a departure from the original evaluations!  The area of Fort Gaines is uniquely suitable for interpreting geological history dating back to the Paleozene era. It is the last refuge of the Trillium Requum, and endangered species, as well as home to the largest magnolia tree in the state. Ninety-eight acres of the area dubbed "The Phenomenon" are privately owned; the rest are owned by the city. It falls under the protection of the Nature Conservancy, which seeks help in protecting the area while enabling public access and enjoyment.
Wildlife runs rampant in the area. Though the bison and the bears have gone, the deer, the wild turkey, the fox, the gopher the alligator, and even the America Bald Eagle still make their homes around Fort Gaines. |
