Opportunities abound for sportsmen in Bryan County, Georgia, located only 20 miles from Savannah. The featured town of Richmond Hill is between Ft. Steward, which offers some public hunting, and a State WMA. Off shore, Ossabaw Island has quota hunts for deer and wild hogs. Fresh or salt water fishing opportunities are available almost anywhere.
Following the Civil War which ruined many of the plantations on the Georgia coast, a number of Bryan County properties were bought by Henry Ford who often spent several Winter months in Georgia. He converted some of the former rice paddies into produce farms, started saw mills, public health projects and built a number of structures to provide educational and work prospects for local residents. When Bryan County was incorporated in 1880, the Ford family built the Courthouse, which is still used for governmental functions.
Ft. Steward is located in the central part of the county, and its 300,000 acres are open to public hunting when no training is taking place. The Richmond Hill WMA is located between the town and the coast, and Ossabaw Island WMA is off shore. Deer and wild hogs are the principal big game animals taken at both locations.
All-season boating and fishing opportunities are available either in coastal waters, in ponds or in the Ogeechee River. Because of the nearness of coastal marshes and wild lands, subdivisions often have outdoor aspects to them with many having their own docks.
Military retirees who want to be near a large base, have access to VA facilities and desire the diversity of outdoor opportunities offered by a coastal location find Bryan County a nearly ideal place to locate their retirement homes and start a post-retirement business.