TRI-COUNTY SPORTSMAN CLUB

2025-2026  HUNTING SEASON

 

These rules shall govern the use of the Wilkinson Farms Property (Approx. 650 acres bordered by Line Creek) for the 2025-2026 hunting season.  

1.      General.  

a.      All provisions of the Agreement for lease of hunting rights are incorporated herein by reference. 

b.      Hunting rights are for all game in season, by bow or gun except as limited by club rules. 

c.      Members shall have the right to enter upon the land for scouting, posting of the property, maintenance of roads or other activities normally associated with hunting, subject to rules. 

d.      Camping is permitted only at the designated camp area.

e.      Members shall carry on their person at all times any permit that the Club may require and present said permit to any person questioning their presence on the property.

f.        Members shall obey all Georgia game laws and all Club Rules.

g.        Returning members in good standing shall have first rights to renewal of membership and selection of grids.  Any prior member who fails to pay by the due date shall lose his membership seniority and shall have the same status as any new applicant.

h.         For the 2025-2026  hunting season, the total number of grids will be 16; membership fee will be $950.  Payments are due on 1 May 2025 and 1 Aug 2026.  Members may make elect to make one-half payment on 1 May, with full payment due on 1 August.  A $50.00 late payment penalty will be assessed if over two weeks late.  If payments are delinquent for three weeks, membership will be terminated.   

NOTE:  Depending on the severity of a rule violation, memberships may be suspended by the the club manager; membership dues will not be refunded.  Safety violations, infractions involving abuse of guest privileges, or hunting in another member's grid will be considered severe violation of club rules. 

2.      Protection of Property 

a.      Members shall not cut or damage trees, crops, roads, fences, buildings or other property on the land, except that brush, scrub trees, and limbs may be cut to maintain access.

b.      Members may not drive nails or other metal objects into trees for building deer stands or other purposes.   Posted signs may be placed using wire staples or tacks

c.      Members agree to help protect the property from trespass and fire.  No fires are permitted on the property except camp fires located at approved campsite locations which shall be extinguished when not attended.  Members shall use extreme care in the use of smoking materials, and shall not smoke while in the woods.  Any member whose negligence causes a fire shall be held personally liable for any resulting property damage and shall forfeit all membership rights granted under the lease.

d.      Members shall not place litter upon the property.  All members shall store campsite trash in plastic bags and shall remove same when breaking camp.

e.      Any camper or structure that becomes uninhabitable shall be removed from the property by its owner.  Any camper or other property that is not removed upon notice will be subject to sale or removal by the club with any proceeds going to the club.  No member may erect any structure on the property without first gaining approval from the club manager. 

f.        Indiscriminate discharge of firearms on the property is prohibited. 

3.      Conduct 

a.      Cooperation and good sportsmanship are expected.  Members shall observe recognized safety practices.

b.      Members shall exercise mature judgment in the use of alcohol.  Anyone who exhibits a threat to the safety of others due to the use of alcohol or otherwise will have membership revoked.

c.      Troublemakers and drug users will be removed from membership in the club with no refund of dues.

d.      Littering or leaving trash on the property will not be tolerated.   

4.      Hunting Rules 

a.      The State’s trophy rules for Meriwether County (bucks must have at least 4 points on one side) shall apply to property of the Club south of Line Creek Road.  For the section north of Line Creek Road; only, normal Georgia non-trophy regulations for bucks apply. 

b.      Members and guests shall learn to recognize and shall avoid shooting any yearling deer; this is to reduce the possibility of taking button bucks.  There will be a $50 fine for any button buck taken by any member or guest.

c.      During "turkey season", only, each member is allowed to bring a guest, but only one person is allowed to carry a gun.  "All grids" are open to members during turkey season.  The guest must remain with (in sight of) the member while hunting.  

d.      Each membership is authorized to select one exclusive 40 +/- acre numbered "grid".  Some grids may be slightly larger or smaller than 40 acres depending on the terrain; every attempt has been made to make each grid equitable.  Members shall be prohibited from hunting within grid of another member, except by permission of that member, and shall avoid entering or crossing a member’s reserved area to the maximum extent possible.   To facilitate safety, members with joining grids boundaries should coordinate with adjacent grid owners to identify locations of their tree stands.   Members must use good judgment to make sure there is adequate distance between hunters to ensure a safe hunt. 

e.      Members with children aged 16 or younger will have special guest privileges for the child as follows: (a) The child may hunt only in the member’s reserved grid location.  (b) The child must at all times be under the supervision of the parent and must hunt within sight or hearing of the parent.  (c) Any deer taken or wounded by the child will count toward the member’s limit per club rules. (d) The member will be accountable for any violation of club rules by a child. 

f.        During deer season, each member owning one grid is allowed four guest days, to be used only during the period from December 1^st through the remainder of the season.  Total combined harvest on the club by each member and their guests is limited the current State regulation limits for one hunter. Any deer taken or wounded by a guest will count toward the member’s limit per club rules.  Guests must hunt from a stand or blind location and must be accompanied to and from the stand by a club member.  Guests must sign the "hold harmless" agreement immediately upon entering the property. Members are responsible for their guests knowing and following club rules and will be held responsible for the actions of their guests. 

g.      As a club incentive, individuals who purchase an extra membership may allow their second grid to be hunted by another member or one guest per day any time of the season.  Total harvest on the second grid is the same as for any member.  The guest sponsor member must accompany the guest to and from their stand or blind.  No guests are allowed on the property at any time without the sponsor member being present. 

h.      The process of selecting grids will begin with that member having the most longevity of unbroken membership getting first choice, followed by other members according to seniority (see roster).  Only open grids are available for selection.  Grids already occupied are protected. 

i.        A member within one of a selection groupings may, for convenience, select a grid without following the numerical sequence, but if a higher number selects a grid ahead of a lower number, the lower number can bump the higher number out of a grid for open grids, only – in which case the “bump-er” must immediately notify the “bump-ee” and the “bump-ee” will have up to one week to mark a new grid.  After a grid is selected it cannot be changed unless the person gets bumped by a lower number.  If a member fails to select a grid by the respective deadline for his number he will still be able to reserve a grid, but he will loose the privilege of "bumping" anyone.   Selections will be recorded on the website roster. 

j.         From August 1 until the end of deer season no small game hunting is allowed except duck hunting.  Members shall refrain from unnecessary passage through the reserved areas of other members during this period.  No off-road 4-wheeling is allowed except to retrieve a deer or to install stands prior to deer seasons.  On-road 4-wheeling is to be kept to a minimum.  Parking will be in designated areas to avoid disturbance of reserved areas.

 k.  Scouting is allowed prior to and during the grid selection process.  From 15 August until the end of deer season, scouting will be restricted to the member's personal grid (s), only. 

l.  During small game season members should restrict activity to their own grid unless they have permission from other club members to enter their grid...most members will not object to opening their grid to small game hunting and likely want the squirrel and hog population reduced.  Members may bring guests to hunt small game; however, all guests must sign the "Release From Liability Statement" below and be accompanied my their club sponsor at all times. 

m.  Prior to hunting, all members and guests are required to complete the on-line release from liability form.  This is protect the land owner and members. 

n.  NEW:  Harvested deer will be immediately tagged using the Georgia DNR system by the hunter/club member who shot the deer.  Deer will not be harvested and placed on someone else's tag...this is cheating and not fair to the other club members.  Violation of this rule will result in immediate termination of club membership.  When asked, members will show proof that deer were tagged using the GA DNR deer registration app.

o.  NEW:  Do not shoot so called "cull bucks", which can result in using poor judgment.   Violation of this rule will result in immediate termination of club membership.

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