Georgia Statewide deer firearms season starts tomorrow

Many Georgia hunters eagerly await the opening day of firearms deer hunting season each year.

That wait is almost over as the statewide deer hunting firearms season opens this Saturday, Oct. 21, and continues through Jan. 14, 2024.

Charlie Killmaster, state deer biologist for the DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division told WNEG sister station WLHR in Lavonia that he is expecting a fantastic season ahead.

During the 2022-23 firearms deer season, nearly 200,000 hunters harvested approximately 210,000 deer in the state.

Regulated deer hunting ensures that Georgia’s deer population continues to be healthy and strong and is an excellent way to fill your freezer with sustainable, healthy local meat, DNR officials state.

Over one million acres of public hunting land is available in Georgia, including more than 100 state-operated Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs).

State law allows hunters to harvest up to 10 antlerless deer, and no more than two antlered deer.

All harvested deer must be reported through Georgia Game Check within 24 hours.

Deer can be reported on the Outdoors GA app (which works regardless of cell service), at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com, or by calling 1-800-366-2661.

Additionally, Georgia deer hunters must have a hunting license, a big game license and a current deer harvest record, all of which are available online at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com, by phone at 1-800-366-2661, or at a license agent. A search tool to find a nearby license agent is available on the GoOutdoorGeorgia website.

For more information on deer hunting regulations in Georgia, you can go online to eregulations.com/georgia/hunting/.