2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 27 - GAME AND FISH (§§ 27-1-1 — 27-5-12) › Chapter 3 - WILDLIFE GENERALLY (§§ 27-3-1 — 27-3-185) › Article 1 - HUNTING (§§ 27-3-1 — 27-3-50) › Part 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 27-3-1 — 27-3-29) › Section 27-3-15 - Seasons and bag limits; promulgation of rules and regulations by board; possession of more than bag limit; deer management assistance program

(a)
It shall be unlawful to hunt the following game species at any time during the periods set forth below:
Game Species
Closed Season
(1) Quail
March 16 - Oct. 31
(2) Grouse
March 1 - Oct. 14
(3) Turkey
(A) Gobblers
May 22 - March 14
(B) Hens
All year
(4) Deer
Jan. 16 - Sept. 7; except that as may be appropriate, and based solely on sound wildlife management principles, the department may by rule extend the season by region, by county, or locale to Jan. 31 for archery only.
(5) Bobcat
March 1 - Oct. 14
(6) Opossum
No closed season, except as may be adopted by the board
(7) Rabbit
March 1 - Oct. 31
(8) Raccoon
No closed season, except as may be adopted by the board
(9) Squirrel
March 1 - August 14
(10) Bear
Jan. 16 - Sept. 7
(11) Sea turtles and their eggs
All year
(12) Cougar (Puma concolor)
All year
(13) Alligators
Nov. 1 - March 31
(14) Migratory game birds
March 11 - August 31
(b)
It shall be unlawful to hunt the following game species at any time during the period set forth below, except that it shall not be unlawful to hunt the following game species during such periods or portions thereof, and in such number not to exceed the following numbers, as may be designated by the board as open seasons and bag limits for such species:
Game Species
Maximum Open Season
Maximum Bag Limits
Daily
Season
(1) Quail
Nov. 1 - March 15
12
No limit
(2) Grouse
Oct. 15 - Feb. 29
3
No limit
(3) Turkey gobblers
March 15 - May 21
3
3
(4) Deer
Sept. 8 - Jan. 15;
12
12
except that as may be appropriate and based solely on sound wildlife management principles, the department may by rule extend the season by region, by county, or locale to Jan. 31 for archery only
The department may by rule exempt deer taken on department managed lands from the state-wide bag limit.
(5) Bobcat
Oct. 15 - Feb. 29
No limit
No limit
(6) Opossum
Jan. 1 - Dec. 31
No limit
No limit
(7) Rabbit
Nov. 1 - Feb. 29
12
No limit
(8) Raccoon
Jan. 1 - Dec. 31
No limit
No limit
(9) Squirrel
Aug. 15 - Feb. 29
12
No limit
(10) Fox
Jan. 1 - Dec. 31
No limit
No limit
(11) Migratory game birds
Sept. 1 - March 10
Subject to limits set by the federal government and adopted by the board
(12) Bear
Sept. 8 - Jan. 15
2
2
The department may by rule exempt bear taken on department managed lands from the state-wide bag limit.
(13) Alligators
April 1 - Oct. 31
Subject to limits adopted by the board
(c)
In accordance with subsection (b) of this Code section and as may be appropriate, based on sound wildlife management principles, the board is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations establishing open seasons on a state-wide, regional, or local basis and establishing daily and season bag limits.
(d)
In accordance with subsection (b) of this Code section and in accordance with the framework of open hunting season dates for migratory game birds established by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and as may be appropriate based on sound wildlife management principles, the board is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations establishing methods of taking, daily and season bag limits, and open seasons for migratory game birds on a state-wide, regional, or local basis. The board is specifically authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations without complying with Chapter 13 of Title 50, the "Georgia Administrative Procedure Act"; and all rules and regulations promulgated by the board pursuant to this subsection shall be effective immediately upon adoption by the board.
(e)
It shall be unlawful for any person to possess more than the daily bag limit or more than the aggregate of the daily bag limits while in the field or while returning from the field to one's automobile or principal means of land transportation or to one's permanent abode or temporary or transient place of lodging or to a commercial storage facility or to a post office or to a common carrier facility.
(f)
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this Code section, it shall be unlawful to take the species designated below, except squirrels, by means of falconry at any time during the period March 16 through September 30; but it shall not be unlawful to take the species designated below, except squirrels, by means of falconry during the period October 1 through March 15. It shall be unlawful to take squirrels by means of falconry at any time during the period March 16 through August 14, but it shall not be unlawful to take squirrels by means of falconry at any time during the period August 15 through March 15 in such number not exceeding the bag limits for each such species as follows:
Game Species
Maximum Bag Limits
Daily
Season
(1) Quail
12
No limit
(2) Grouse
3
No limit
(3) Rabbit
12
No limit
(4) Squirrel
12
No limit
(g)
As may be appropriate based on sound principles of wildlife management, the department is authorized to establish a deer management assistance program, which may include fees and may prescribe property-specific bag limits without complying with the state-wide bag limit specified in subsection (b) of this Code section.
Amended by 2022 Ga. Laws 863,§ 1, eff. 5/10/2022.
Amended by 2021 Ga. Laws 32,§ 2-4, eff. 4/27/2021.
Amended by 2020 Ga. Laws 600,§ 4-2, eff. 8/5/2020.
Amended by 2019 Ga. Laws 264,§ 5, eff. 7/1/2019.
Amended by 2010 Ga. Laws 635,§ 4, eff. 6/4/2010.
Amended by 2005 Ga. Laws 380,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2005.
Amended by 2005 Ga. Laws 380,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2005.
Amended by 2002 Ga. Laws 939, § 6, eff. 7/1/2002.