With the beginning of hunting season coming up fast, new rules and regulations are introduced to the eager hunters. It is important to know and follow these rules, because they are strictly enforced by law. Following these rules will ensure the safety of everyone. For more thorough information about the safety and regulations of 2015-2016, visit the Georgia Hunting Season website.

Major Changes

• This Turkey hunting season, all hunters are required to carry a harvest record.
• Georgia has a new statewide season (ending January 11, 2016, but could possibly change again).
• Alligator season is extended until October 5, 2015, because of the surplus of alligators in Georgia.
• Hunters are now allowed to take bears in the following counties: Barrow, Carroll, DeKalb, Fulton, Hart, Jackson, Madison, and Walton.
• Shotguns utilized for hunting deer, bear and/or feral hog are not restricted to a shell capacity of 5 anymore.
• Feral Hog Control Act: if no permit is present, hunting license can be revoked for transporting live feral hogs.

Hunter Age Requirements and Education

• If an adolescent is under the age of 16, a Georgia Hunting License is not required, nor is a Georgia Hunter’s Safety Course required.
• Hunters ages 16-25 must have a valid Georgia Hunting License present at all times when hunting.

Special Firearm Restrictions

• Plugged Shotguns: The ammo capacity for shotguns is limited to 3 shells per magazine and chamber combined (exceptions are made for deer and bear).
• Suppressors: Suppressors should be used for hunting Private Property only.

Activities of a Hunter that are Considered Unlawful

• If the land that is being hunted is private property of which the hunter does not own, written permission must be present and given to the hunter.
• Hunting under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
• Holding, releasing, and importing animals without the DNR’s permission.
• It is unlawful to cripple an animal without intention to kill said animal.
• It is Unlawful to Hunt, shoot, or kill a farmed deer obtained under a wild animal license for human leisure.
• Hunting on or across a public road (including in a vehicle or any other unpermitted mode of transportation).
• The use of drugs and/or toxins while operating weaponry.
• The usage of any trap to take game unless in the areas of certain WMA’s.
• Disturbing wildlife dens or homes except those of venomous snakes.
• The usage of a firearm within 50 yards of a public road.
• Blinding the wildlife with any light emitting device.

Archery-Only Counties

• The following counties are intended for archery-only hunting: partially Fulton County, Clayton, Cobb, and DeKalb Counties.

Counties with Extended Archery Season

• Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, and Rockdale counties will all hold an extended archery season for the 2015-2016 year (January 11, 2016).

Primitive Weaponry

• Primitive weapon season is the portion of the season that is state-wide (except in archery only counties) where all legal deer firearms may be used to hunt, as well as scopes.

Season Limit

• For the 2015-2016 season, the deer-hunting tag quota is two antlered deer (buck) and 10 antlerless deer (doe).

Rules about Deer and Deer Harvesting

• It is unlawful to kill a buck (a male or antlered deer) unless it has that are able to be seen.
• It is unlawful to decapitate a deer head until the deer is self processed or turned over to a storage facility for processing.
• It is unlawful to kill a deer while it is submerged in a body of water.

For a complete list of the Wildlife Management Areas that hunters with a ‘WMA Stamp’ on their license may hunt, visit The Georgia Hunting and Regulation website.

When hunting, it is polite to the game and others to follow all of the rules and regulations.