Wildlife Management Events
Blankets Creek
- November 15, 2026
- Registration: Sept. 4 to Nov. 8
- Lottery Drawing: Nov. 9
- Morning and afternoon sessions
- December 6, 2026
- Registration: Sept. 4 to Nov. 29
- Lottery Drawing: Nov. 30
- Morning and afternoon sessions
- January 10, 2027
- Registration: Sept. 4 to Jan. 3
- Lottery Drawing: Jan. 4
- Morning session only
Session Times
- Morning: First light to 11:00 a.m.
- Afternoon: 2:30 p.m. to last light
Blankets Creek Permit Lotteries
| Permit Month | Registration Period | Drawing Date |
| November | Sept. 4 to Oct. 26 | Oct. 27 |
| December | Sept. 4 to Nov. 16 | Nov. 17 |
| January | Sept. 4 to Dec. 14 | Dec. 15 |
Yellow Creek Road Conservation Area Events
- November 8, 2026
- Registration: Sept. 4 to Nov. 1
- Lottery Drawing: Nov. 2
- December 13, 2026
- Registration: Sept. 4 to Dec. 6
- Lottery Drawing: Dec. 7
Session Time
- Morning only: First light to 11:00 a.m.
Yellow Creek Permit Lotteries
| Permit Month | Registration Period | Drawing Date |
| November | Sept. 4 to Oct. 26 | Oct. 27 |
| December | Sept. 4 to Nov. 16 | Nov. 17 |
| January | Sept. 4 to Dec. 14 | Dec. 15 |
New Locations:
Ficklen Church Way (Southwest Cherokee County)
226-acre parcel located off Ficken Church Way
Whidby Farm Lane (Northeast Cherokee County)
141-acre parcel located off Whidby Farm Lane
New Property Lottery Information
- $30 non-refundable lottery entry per property.
- Four winners will be selected for each property.
- Selected participants must pay an additional $570 per seasonal permit.
- Permits will be valid until January 1, 2027.
Rules, Eligibility & Important Details
General Information
- Blankets Creek Mountain Bike Trails and Yellow Creek Road Conservation Area and Trails will be closed to the public on designated event dates.
- The wildlife management program is hosted by Cherokee Recreation & Parks.
- Cherokee County leases the property from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Eligibility
- Open to Cherokee County residents only.
- Hunters may register for multiple sessions but may only be selected for one event session.
- Hunters may register for all permit lotteries but may only be selected for one permit month.
Special October Event
- The October 4 event is reserved for:
- Youth hunters (15 and under)
- Disabled hunters
- One chaperone is permitted.
- Maximum of one piece of archery equipment per hunter.
Lottery & Fees
Designated Events
- Maximum 20 hunters per session.
- $10 non-refundable registration fee.
Blankets Creek Permits
- 25 permit holders selected per month.
- $30 non-refundable registration fee.
Yellow Creek Permits
- 15 permit holders selected per month.
- $30 non-refundable registration fee.
- Selected permit holders must pay an additional $170 permit fee.
Permit Restrictions
Blankets Creek
- Permit holders may hunt from sunrise to 11:00 a.m. when trails are closed because of weather or trail conditions.
- Permit holders may not hunt on designated event dates.
Yellow Creek
- Permit holders may hunt during legal hunting hours.
- No hunting on Tuesdays or Thursdays due to trail maintenance.
- Permit holders may not hunt on designated event dates.
Hunting Requirements
- All state hunting laws apply.
- Valid hunting license required.
- Hunters must wear 500 square inches of hunter orange.
- Only archery equipment may be used.
- State season limits apply.
- Selections and permits are non-transferable.
Additional Information
- Selected hunters will receive an email with safety information, boundaries, and event-specific rules.
- USACE and/or Georgia DNR Rangers may be on site.
If you have any questions, please contact Nick Holt at nrholt@cherokeecountyga.gov or Adam Fussell cafussell@cherokeecountyga.gov.
Lottery Links
- Ficklen Church Way Property $30
- Whidby Farm Lane Property $30
- Blankets Creek Wildlife Management Event - December Permit $30
- Blankets Creek Wildlife Management Event - January Permit $30
- Blankets Creek Wildlife Management Event - January 10 - Morning Session Only $10
- Yellow Creek Wildlife Management Event -December Permit $30
- Yellow Creek - Month of January Selected Permit $170
- Yellow Creek - Month of December Selected Permit $170
- Yellow Creek - Month of November Permit $30
