Georgia is an outstanding location for hunting enthusiasts. With its diverse landscapes and a range of game species, including deer, turkey, waterfowl, dove, and feral hogs, Georgia provides ample opportunities to explore the great outdoors. However, before you start planning your hunting trip in Georgia, there are some crucial things you need to know.
Best Hunting Locations in Georgia
Georgia offers a plethora of brilliant hunting locations for you to explore. Although most locations are ideal for hunting deer, there are other options, such as Blakely and Attapulgus, if you want to try something different.
Located near the Georgia-Florida border, Attapulgus is a small city with a population of fewer than 500 people. However, it is an excellent hunting spot for deer, including whitetail deer, turkey, quail, and dove.
Home to the 9,500-acre Gopher Plantation, Millwood is a must-visit location for hunters living or traveling in Georgia. The plantation features a diverse habitat of pine plantations, river floodplains, and oak ridges, providing hunting opportunities for a wide range of game species.
Wilkinson, located in central Georgia, is great for deer, hog, and turkey hunting, and includes 525 acres of public hunting land with well-maintained facilities for hunters.
Georgia Hunting Regulations
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources provides an impressive selection of up-to-date information on hunting regulations. As regulations change over time, we recommend checking the department's website to ensure you keep up-to-date with the latest rules and regulations.
Permits and Licenses
Hunters in Georgia must have a hunting license, but before applying for one, there is some important information you need to know. If you were born after January 1st, 1961, you will need to complete a hunter education course before purchasing a hunting license. Additionally, if you plan on hunting deer, you will need a specific Big Game license. You can purchase an annual license or short-term options that cover as little as a day.
Reporting
If you kill deer while hunting in Georgia, you will need to record your kill within 72 hours, providing the requested information on the harvest record.
Georgia Hunting Season
The hunting season in Georgia opens relatively late in the year when compared to many other hunting locations. The 2022-23 gun hunting season in Georgia opened in October 2022. The deer archery hunting season opened a month earlier in September 2022. Deer season always opens on a Saturday in Georgia, and the gun season always opens on the first Saturday after October 15. Therefore, the Georgia gun hunting season in 2023 is due to open on October 21.
The Georgia deer hunting season also closes relatively early, with the 2022-23 season closing on January 8, 2023. Different hunting seasons are in place in Georgia for different game species. For example, the Turkey hunting season is open between April 8 - May 15, and Dove is open between September 3 - October 9; November 19 - 27; December 19 - January 31.
In conclusion, Georgia provides a fantastic location for hunting enthusiasts, with excellent hunting locations for deer, turkey, dove, and much more. However, the hunting season comes relatively late in the year and is only open for a short period, so if you are thinking of hunting in Georgia, act quickly before you miss the opportunity to explore the beautiful and plentiful hunting opportunities.
