General WMA Regulations

All WMA laws, rules and regulations, unless otherwise specified, must be followed on Public Fishing Areas and State Parks open for hunting. WMA license is required except for State Park Quota Hunts.

Unlawful Activities:

• Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Camping or operating a motor vehicle upon any permanent wildlife opening.
• Consuming alcohol except at camp sites (this regulation does not apply on National Forest Lands).
• Driving a vehicle around any gate, sign, earth berm, or similar device intended to prevent vehicular access.
• Hunting any game species or feral hog over bait.
• Hunting within 50 yards of any road opened for vehicular access. (Possession of a loaded firearm within 50 yards of a road opened for vehicular access is considered hunting.)
• Hunting within a posted safety zone.
• Night hunting except for raccoon, fox, opossum, bobcat, and alligator (permitted alligator hunters only).
• Placing bait or wildlife food.
• Possessing a cocked crossbow in a motor vehicle.
• Possessing a firearm during a closed hunting season for an area, except on designated shooting ranges, unless such a firearm is unloaded and stored in a motor vehicle so as to not be readily accessible, 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.
• Possessing alcohol while hunting on National Forest lands.
• Possessing a loaded firearm (a gun is considered loaded if a shell is in the chamber or magazine, a percussion cap is on the nipple, or powder is present on the frizzen pan) in a motor vehicle, 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.
• Possessing or using buckshot except on dog-deer hunts.
• Shooting from a motor vehicle.
• Taking or possessing any wildlife except during an open season for that species.
• Target practicing except on an authorized shooting range.
• Trapping.
• Using metal detectors or collecting artifacts.
• Using motor vehicles, signage, flagging tape, or any other method(s) to close or restrict access to roads, trails or any other access features.
• Using paintball equipment (this regulation does not apply on National Forest Lands).

Check-In Versus Sign-In Hunts: Check-In is required prior to hunting during managed firearms deer, bear and hog hunts except as otherwise specified. Hunters may Check-In starting at 12 noon the day before the hunt. Check-In permits must remain in the hunter’s possession while hunting on all check-in hunts. Some firearms deer hunts only require sign-in prior to hunting. Sign-In prior to hunting is required only once per season for archery deer hunts and turkey hunts. Check-out or sign-out (on day of kill) is required on big game hunts only if a deer, bear, hog or turkey is killed. Deer harvested on Sign-In hunts must be recorded on your Deer Harvest Record. Deer harvested on Check-In hunts receive special tags and are not recorded on your Deer Harvest Record.

Quota Hunts are hunting opportunities limited to selected applicants only unless specified otherwise. Hunters must apply by the deadline and be selected for a specific quota hunt to participate.

Tree Stands & Other Hunting Structures: “Hunting Structure” means any portable tree stand, ground blind, stool, chair, bucket, waterfowl blind, or other similar device used for the purpose of hunting. Hunters may not construct or hunt from any tree stand that is not portable or natural. Tree stands may not be placed on utility poles or other structures supporting utility lines. For big game and feral hog hunts, hunting structures shall not be placed any sooner than one day prior to the hunt and shall be removed from the WMA no later than 12 noon the day following the hunt. For small game hunts, hunting structures may be placed and shall be removed from the WMA only on the day of the hunt, except that on opening day of dove season hunters shall not enter a managed dove field and hunting structures shall not be placed on a managed dove field prior to 10 a.m.

Dogs must be confined or kept on a leash except when hunting or training during designated seasons or on designated areas. Persons training dogs must have a valid Hunting and WMA License. Hunters must remove their dogs upon departure. Trail dogs for rabbits are limited to Beagles, Basset hounds and Dachshunds. Hunters are allowed to hunt raccoons with trail dogs only. Owners are responsible for their dogs and any damage they may do to wildlife other than raccoon, fox, opossum or bobcat. It is unlawful to run deer with dogs unless otherwise specified (see Dixon Memorial, Paulks Pasture, Rogers, and Townsend WMAs). Hunters whose dogs are found chasing deer may be appropriately charged. Anyone wishing to pursue any game animal or furbearer for the purpose of training dogs may do so only during hunting dates for that species listed for each WMA unless otherwise specified.

Designated Bird Dog Training Areas: Bird dog training is allowed year round, only during daylight hours or as otherwise specified, only pen-raised quail and pigeons may be released and harvested using shotguns with number six or smaller shot while training pointing, flushing, and retrieving dogs provided that the dog trainer maintains proof of purchase of pen-raised quail.

Designated Furbearer Dog Training Areas: No furbearer dog training is allowed unless otherwise specified in the WMA listings. Where specified in the WMA listings, furbearer dog training is allowed during WMA small game dates and Aug. 1–14 and March 1–19.

Horses And Bicycles are restricted to open improved roads, designated trails, or designated areas. (GORP fee may apply.) Bicycles may be used on closed improved roads for the purpose of hunter access. Horses may be used off roads and trails during permitted field trials. Horses and bicycles may be used on National Forest Lands not otherwise closed. Horses and bicycles are prohibited on the Appalachian Trail.

Vehicles: ATVs are allowed on open, improved roads and designated trails only during the period between 2 hours before sunrise and 2 hours after sunset one day prior to and during big game and special hog only hunts by hunters actively participating in the hunt, except where otherwise specified. However, on National Forest Lands including WMAs on the National Forest, ATVs are restricted to designated trails unless posted otherwise. Roads may be closed at the discretion of the DNR. Vehicles may not be parked in such a way as to block an open or closed roadway. All motor vehicles are restricted to improved roads open for vehicular access. “Improved Roads” are roads that receive maintenance for the purpose of hunter access, and “Open Roads” are roads not closed with a gate, sign, earthen berm or similar device intended to prevent vehicular access. Motor vehicles (including ATVs, dirt bikes, utility vehicles, golf carts, and other off-road vehicles) must meet applicable safety, licensing, insurance and registration requirements for use on public roads. Vehicle and ATV operators must be at least 16 years old.

Fees on National Forest Lands: Fees may be charged for camping, ATV/ORV trails, shooting ranges, and boat ramps on the National Forest. These fees apply to all users. For more information, visit www.fs.fed.us/conf or contact any US Forest Service Office.