ST. MARYS FERRY FIELD GUIDE
Salt, Pines, and a Regulated Shot: Inside Cumberland Island’s Managed Hunts
A practical guide to registering, reaching, and camping for Cumberland Island’s seasonal managed hunts — from registration rules to ferry logistics.
Salt, Pines, and a Regulated Shot: Inside Cumberland Island’s Managed Hunts.
Experience the organized thrill of hunting within Cumberland Island National Seashore: online registration opens July 1, hunters camp at designated Plum Orchard or Brickhill sites, and hunts run under a defined schedule and weapon/license rules so you can focus on the island’s wild deer and hogs.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Structured, Permit-Based Hunts for Deer and Hogs
The park accepts online registrations beginning July 1 on a first-come, first-served basis; fees are $35 per hunter per hunt (adult/child is $35 per pair). Hunters register individually or in groups (up to five members plus a group lead); standby hunters are not accepted.
Plum Orchard — A Hunt Camp with Practical Amenities
Registered hunters camp at Plum Orchard Hunt Camp or Brickhill Campground; Plum Orchard provides bathrooms and showers, potable water and ice, a walk-in cooler and cleaning station, scales, first aid and a ranger cabin with electricity, while Brickhill offers only primitive facilities and no trash pickup.
Ferry-Dependent Access and Strict Docking Rules
Transportation is by the hunt passenger ferry from the National Park Service dock in St. Marys (10:00 AM departure) with a return from Plum Orchard at 10:30 AM; reservations and ferry payment must be made after hunt confirmation and no other commercial water taxis are authorized to serve the seashore.
What the day feels like
What the managed-hunt experience feels like
The trip is a tightly organized, short-duration foray: you register online, check in at Plum Orchard or Brickhill, settle into camp at the designated hunt sites, attend the mandatory orientation, then hunt within the park’s regulated seasons and weapon classes while relying on the ferry for arrival and departure.
THE HUNTS
Structured, Permit-Based Hunts for Deer and Hogs
The park accepts online registrations beginning July 1 on a first-come, first-served basis; fees are $35 per hunter per hunt (adult/child is $35 per pair). Hunters register individually or in groups (up to five members plus a group lead); standby hunters are not accepted.
THE CAMPS
Plum Orchard — A Hunt Camp with Practical Amenities
Registered hunters camp at Plum Orchard Hunt Camp or Brickhill Campground; Plum Orchard provides bathrooms and showers, potable water and ice, a walk-in cooler and cleaning station, scales, first aid and a ranger cabin with electricity, while Brickhill offers only primitive facilities and no trash pickup.
THE ROUTE
Ferry-Dependent Access and Strict Docking Rules
Transportation is by the hunt passenger ferry from the National Park Service dock in St. Marys (10:00 AM departure) with a return from Plum Orchard at 10:30 AM; reservations and ferry payment must be made after hunt confirmation and no other commercial water taxis are authorized to serve the seashore.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this managed-hunt fits — and who should look elsewhere.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Registration opens July 1 and runs until quotas are filled; check-in is Monday (Sunday for the adult/child hunt), orientation at 5:00 PM, hunting occurs during the specified days (sunrise to sunset), and ferry departure/return times are fixed and must be reserved after confirmation.
Pack all hunting gear, required licenses and ID, and supplies you’ll need at camp; Plum Orchard has potable water and limited amenities but Brickhill is primitive, so prepackage gear to minimize refuse and bring everything you need to pack out.
Follow Georgia DNR regulations: state residents and non-residents have specific license requirements for deer and hog hunts; permitted weapons vary by hunt type (archery, primitive and modern weapon rules apply—see official regulations).
The hunt ferry is the authorized transport; the round trip fare is $50 and reservations must be made when you get your hunt confirmation (call the ferry reservation numbers provided). Private boats may beach or stream anchor and may use Plum Orchard dock for gear transfer but cannot dock overnight.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
When and how do I register for a Cumberland Island managed hunt?
Online registration opens July 1 on a first-come, first-served basis at Pay.gov by searching for 'Cumberland Island National Seashore Managed Hunts'; payment is required at registration and fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
How much does each hunt cost?
The hunt fee is $35.00 per hunter per hunt; the adult/child hunt fee is $35.00 per adult/child pair.
What are the ferry departure and return times for the hunt ferry?
The hunt passenger ferry departs the NPS dock in St. Marys at 10:00 AM on the scheduled departure day (Monday) and returns from Plum Orchard dock at 10:30 AM on the scheduled return day (Friday); the parent/child hunt uses a Sunday departure and Wednesday return.
Are non-hunters or standby hunters allowed to attend?
No — non-hunters are not allowed during managed hunts, and standby hunters are no longer being accepted.
Where and when do I check in for my hunt?
Check-in for archery, primitive weapons, and hog-only hunts is Monday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Plum Orchard Hunt Camp or Brickhill Bluff Campground; adult/child hunt check-in is on Sunday; orientation is at 5:00 PM at Hunt Camp and hunters must present hunting license and identification.
What licenses do I need to hunt deer or hogs?
Georgia residents need a Georgia Big Game License for deer and hog hunts; non-residents need a Georgia non-resident hunting/fishing combination license and a Georgia non-resident Big Game License for deer/hog hunts; hog-only hunts have different resident/non-resident license requirements as described by Georgia DNR.
Can I bring a private boat and use Plum Orchard dock?
Private boaters may check in at Plum Orchard Hunt Camp or Brickhill; private boats must be beached or stream anchored, may use Plum Orchard dock to load or unload gear but are not allowed to dock overnight, and Plum Orchard dock is closed during the annual managed hunts except for certain retained-rights holders with restrictions.