Deer Hunting Seasons & Regulations

Deer Hunting Seasons

Archery Season

Either Sex

• Statewide: Sept. 8–Oct. 12
• Archery Only Counties: Fulton (north of GA Hwy 92) and all of Clayton, Cobb, and DeKalb Counties): Sept. 8–Jan. 1 in accordance with statewide bag limits, county-wide antler restrictions and other regulations.
• Extended Archery Season: Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, and Rockdale Counties only; Jan. 2–31 in accordance with statewide bag limits. Hunter orange is not required in archery-only counties or portions thereof.

Additional Archery Season Information

Archers may not possess any centerfire, rimfire, or muzzleloading firearm while hunting during the archery deer season , except that any person possessing a license to carry a concealed firearm that is valid in this state pursuant to OCGA §§ 16-11-126(f) or 16-11-129 may carry such firearm subject to the limitations of OCGA §§ 16-11-126 and 16-11-127 except where prohibited by federal law. Archery hunting is allowed during firearms deer seasons and deer of either sex may be taken except as otherwise specified on WMAs. Archery hunters must wear at least 500 square inches of hunter orange during primitive weapons and firearms deer seasons except in Archery-Only Counties.

Primitive Weapons Season

Either Sex

During the statewide primitive weapons deer season, youth under 16 years of age may hunt deer with any legal deer firearm. Additionally, youth under 16 years of age may hunt deer with any legal deer firearm during any WMA primitive weapons hunts. Oct. 13–19; Statewide, except in archery-only counties and in accordance with bag limits, county-wide antler restrictions and other regulations. Primitive weapons hunters may not possess any centerfire or rimfire firearm while hunting during the primitive weapons season for deer, except that any person possessing a license to carry a concealed firearm that is valid in this state pursuant to OCGA §§ 16-11-126(f) or 16-11-129 may carry such firearm subject to the limitations of OCGA §§ 16-11-126 and 16-11-127 except where prohibited by federal law. Scopes may be used.

Firearms Season

See Northern Zone Either Sex Days and Southern Zone Either Sex Days for firearms deer season, dog deer seasons and either-sex dates.

Deer Hunting Regulations

Deer Hunting With Dogs

Deer may be hunted with dogs only within authorized seasons and localities (see Southern Zone Either Sex Days). Additionally, deer may be hunted with dogs only on leased properties of at least 1,000 contiguous acres or privately-owned properties of at least 250 contiguous acres that are permitted by DNR. Permits are specific to a piece of property. Only one annual permit application per property should be submitted. Applications for a permit must be received at least 30 days prior to hunting deer with dogs. Applicants wishing to hunt on opening day must submit an application by September 20, 2012. Applications for a permit may be obtained by visiting www.gohuntgeorgia.com. To legally hunt deer with dogs, each hunter 16 years and older must possess a deer dog hunting license in addition to all other required licenses and permits. The fee for this license is $5 except that Honorary, Sportsmen’s and Lifetime license holders may obtain the license at no charge. Dogs used for hunting deer on such properties must be marked with the assigned permit number during a hunt. The permit number also must be clearly displayed on all vehicles being used during a dog deer hunt. For more information visit gohuntgeorgia.com or call (706) 557-3241.

Season Limit

Season Limit is 10 antlerless deer and 2 antlered deer. One of the two antlered deer must have a minimum of 4 points, 1 inch or longer, on one side of the antlers except in counties with special antler restrictions (see Northern Zone Either Sex Days and Southern Zone Either Sex Days). There are no antler restrictions for the other antlered buck except in counties with special antler restrictions (Northern Zone Either Sex Days and Southern Zone Either Sex Days).

County-wide Antler Restrictions

Antlered bucks may be harvested in Dooly and Macon Cos. only if they have a minimum outside antler spread of 15 inches. In Hancock, Harris, Meriwether, Montgomery, Randolph, Talbot, and Troup Cos., antlered bucks may be taken only if they have a minimum of 4 antler points, 1 inch or longer, on one side of the antlers.

Antlers

It is unlawful to kill a deer unless it has antlers (bone) visible above the hair, except during either-sex or antlerless seasons or hunts.

Recording Deer Harvest

Except for WMA, State Park and NWR hunts requiring hunter check-out of harvested deer, hunters may not remove a deer from the place of kill until the deer harvest record has been permanently marked. Hunters may not possess multiple deer harvest records. All deer hunters regardless of age or residency must obtain a deer harvest record and must record all deer harvest information.

Transporting Deer Harvested by Another Hunter

Persons transporting deer harvested by another hunter must possess, in writing, the complete name, address, telephone and hunting license number of the person who harvested the deer.

Cooler Lockers

Whole or field dressed deer received by a cold storage or processing facility must be marked by the facility operator with hunter’s name, county of kill, sex of deer, and date of kill. A list of processors is available at gohuntgeorgia.com. See Importation section below for restrictions on importation of deer carcasses.

Head of Deer

It is unlawful to remove the head of a deer until the deer is self-processed or surrendered to a storage facility for storage or processing.

Rights-of-Way/Transmission Towers

Transmission towers are property of the utility company. Hunting from a stand or platform attached to a transmission tower is trespassing and is prohibited. Written permission must be obtained from the landowner to hunt on power line, gas line, railroad, or other rights-of-way.

Lakes, Streams & Ponds

It is unlawful to take a deer by any means while it is in a lake, stream, or pond.