Firearm Deer Hunting Season Begins Saturday

Time to fill up that freezer with one of the healthiest meats available.

The Georgia deer firearms season opens this Saturday and continues through January 13 statewide.

Georgia hunters will have access to more than one million acres of public hunting land across the state, including over 100 state-operated wildlife management areas.

Georgia DNR Law Enforcement officer Craig Fulghum says there are a number of great places to hunt deer in our area.

“We’re very fortunate in this area to have a lot of public lands, not only through our State Wildlife Management Areas or federal Corps of Engineer properties,” Fulghum said. “Those areas are accessible by permit or by buying a regular hunting license, which now include a WMA license. Sometimes, however, regulations can change from WMA to WMA. So, some might go by quota system. So, check with each WMA and make sure you check the regulations.”

In addition to hunting on public lands, many private land owners will also allow deer hunting on their properties, but Fulghum reminds hunters you must get permission.

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“One of our biggest complaints are individuals tresspassing. It’s always good to have things in writing. We like to have that from year to year. So, you always need to touch base with the landowner every year and get that in writing,” he said. “Make sure you are talking to the legal landowner who actually owns the property and pays taxes on that property.”

New this year for hunters is the ability to bait deer, but Fulghum says there are certain requirements.

“One of the new regulation changes is the supplemental feeding of deer,” Fulghum explained. “You can’t do that on public lands, but you can do it on private lands, but one of the precursors to that is that the landowner has to give you permission to do that.”

During firearms deer season last year, more than 321,000 hunters harvested almost 310,000 deer in the state.

Hunters are allowed a harvest of up to 10 antlerless deer, and no more than two antlered deer with a minimum of four points.

To pursue deer in Georgia, hunters must have a valid hunting license, a big game license and a current deer harvest record.

For more information on deer hunting seasons, regulations, licenses and WMA maps, visit Georgia Wildlife Hunting Regulations.