Legal Hunting Weapons in Georgia

(4) Small game hunting weapons are limited to shotguns whose shotgun size does not exceed 3 1/2 inches in length with No. 2 or smaller lead shot or a non-toxic shot size approved by State F or smaller, rimfire rifles of .22 calibre or less, air rifles, muzzle-loading firearms, longbows, curved bows, crossbows and compound bows;  However, in addition to the weapons listed in this paragraph, any medium firearm of .17 calibre or greater may be used to hunt foxes and bobcats.  Nothing in this paragraph allows for the elimination of protected species; (3) Firearms for deer and bear hunting are limited to .20-gauge shotguns or larger shotguns loaded with snails or shotguns (except that no shotguns are permitted in the wildlife management areas of the state, unless otherwise specified), muzzle-loading firearms of .44 calibre or higher and medium firearms of .22 calibre or higher;  however, firearms used to hunt feral pigs not listed in this subsection may be authorized by regulation of the House.  bullets used in all medium-fire rifles and handguns shall be of the expansion type; Legal hours of operation for hunting are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, except for alligators, raccoons, opossums, foxes, coyotes, bobccats and wild boars, which can be hunted at night. Any light used to hunt raccoons, opossums, foxes or bobcats must be worn on the hunter`s body, attached to a helmet or hat worn by the hunter, or be part of a belt system worn by the hunter. There is no voltage limit for these lights. (b) (1) It is illegal to use a silencer or silencer for hunting in contravention of clause (9) of subsection (a) of this section.  Any person who contravenes the provisions of this paragraph is guilty of an offence. Primitive weapons, such as muzzle magazines, have specific safety rules that go beyond the general safety of firearms, and these must be checked annually before going into the forest. “Primitive weapon season is a great way to improve deer season,” said Charlie Killmaster, a state deer biologist with the WRD game management section. “Only a fraction of Georgian deer hunters take advantage of this season, but it gives you an early chance to get a successful harvest before gun season begins.” Introduce a young person to hunting this year? Discover this opportunity! A hunter under the age of 16 may hunt deer with any legal deer weapon during primitive gun season, including when hunting primitive weapons in the wildlife management area. Crossbows, longbows, curved bows and compound bows are allowed for hunting game or wild boar.

Arrows for hunting deer, bear or wild boar should be of the broad-headed type. Pull weight, drain, boom length and visors are not limited. All deer hunters, including archers, must wear at least 500 square inches of fluorescent orange in daylight above the waist during primitive firearms season. Riflescopes and other optical sighting devices are legal for muzzle-loading firearms and archery equipment. A hunter and any person accompanying him shall wear at least 500 square inches of fluorescent orange in daylight above the waist (including head covering) as outer clothing when hunting, (5) No person shall hunt turkey with weapons, other than shotguns with No. 2 or less, muzzle-loading firearms, longbows, crossbows, curved bows or compound bows.  Every person who takes a turkey in contravention of this subsection is guilty of an offence and is punished on conviction as for an offence, except that any fine imposed for such violation shall not be less than $250.00; Hunting of all kinds of wildlife is prohibited in the Morgan Falls (Bull Sluice) portion of Fulton County and Willeo Creek. Counties or parts of counties not expressly opened by laws or regulations are closed to hunting. Counties open to hunting do not include land in WMAs, PFAs, state parks, or other state/federal states unless such lands are specifically open. 2.

The hunting privileges of a person convicted of contravening the provisions of this Title or any rule or rule adopted under this Title by hunting without the authorization of the landowner, by hunting in an enclosed area or by hunting big game out of season or at night with a firearm equipped with a silencer shall be suspended for three years. For more information about deer hunting, including finding a game processor, checking rules, and displaying cards (sex tag or rut card), see GeorgiaWildlife.com/deer-info. Archery equipment, air bows, .30 gauge air rifles or higher, and muzzle-loading or muzzle-loading shotguns are legal during primitive gun season. The fields of application are legal. During primitive gun season, hunters may use archery equipment, air bows, muzzle-loading shotguns (20 gauge and above), as well as air rifles and muzzle-loading firearms of .30 calibre or higher. More than one million hectares of public hunting land are available to hunters in Georgia, including more than 100 state-managed wildlife management areas. Many regions offer special hunts throughout the season, including primitive rifle hunts. Hunting dates and locations can be found in the Georgia Hunting Seasons and Regulations Guide 2022-2023 (eregulations.com/georgia/hunting/). (6) Weapons for hunting alligators shall be limited to hand ropes or slings, hooks, harpoons, gigs or arrows with attached restraint lines.  Air rifles are legal weapons for big game hunting only during primitive firearm hunts, primitive firearm seasons, and firearm seasons.

 This paragraph shall be repealed with effect from 1 July 2025, unless it is extended by the general meeting before that date.  At its 2025 regular session, the General Assembly will review this paragraph to determine whether it should remain in force. (B) Minors under 16 years of age may hunt deer with any firearm authorized to hunt deer; Hunter Orange is needed when hunting primitive weapons and firearms on deer, bear and coyote hunts and wild boar hunts on WMAs, APVs and the state. Hunter Orange is not required on LPMs, APVs or Corps of Engineers tracts called “archery only”, nor during the primitive national firearms or firearms season on a WMA (unless otherwise noted). The Orange Hunter is required for LPM and VPA small game hunts that take place at the same time as deer or bear hunts (see more information on the AMG General Regulations). (2) During primitive firearm hunts or primitive weapon seasons: For more information on protected species, see georgiawildlife.com. (1) Longbows, curved bows, crossbows and compound bows may be used to catch small game, wild boar or big game.  arrows for hunting deer, bear and wild boar must be of the broad-headed type; To track deer in Georgia, hunters must have a valid hunting license, big game hunting license, and an up-to-date deer hunting record (free).

Licences can be purchased online at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com, by calling 1-800-366-2661 or from a licensing agent (list of agents available online). Persons training dogs for hunting must hold a valid hunting licence, unless they are on their own land or on the land of an immediate relative. There is no closed season for dog training on private property. It is illegal to possess firearms (with the exception of blank handguns or shotguns), axes, climbers or any other hunting equipment when training hunting dogs, except shotguns with the number 6 or small shots can be used for pointing training, Rinse and rescue dogs with feathered quails and pigeons, provided that the dog trainer keeps proof of purchase of feather quail. It is forbidden to drive deer with dogs, except during the open season, to hunt deer with dogs, or to take game by any means, while hunting dogs are trained, except during the open season for such game. Specific rules and regulations for dog training on MMAs and Chattahoochee National Forest can be found on Dog Training. (a) longbows, curved bows, crossbows, composite bows, muzzle-loading weapons of .44 calibre or greater and muzzle-loading shotguns of magnitude 20 or greater, loaded with single shots, may be used;  and legal hours of operation for migratory birds are 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset (see Migratory Bird Seasons). Sunrise and sunset times are available in the Go Outdoors GA app.