Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 391 - RULES OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES › Chapter 391-4 - WILDLIFE RESOURCES DIVISION › Subject 391-4-2 - HUNTING REGULATIONS › Rule 391-4-2-.60 - General Regulations on Wildlife Management Areas

Current through Rules and Regulations filed
				through June 27, 2024
(1) It is unlawful for any person to place
				bait or any wildlife food on a Wildlife Management Area (WMA).
(2) It is unlawful for any person to consume
				or use alcoholic beverages on any WMA except in houses or at campsites on these
				areas; provided, however, that this provision does not apply to national forest
				lands.
(3) The use of paintballs,
				paintball guns and related activities is prohibited on WMAs except on WMAs
				located on national forest lands.
(4) Dogs entering WMAs must be kept on a
				leash or otherwise confined except when hunting or while training dogs during
				designated seasons and on designated areas. Dog owners are responsible for
				their dogs and any damage the dogs may do to wildlife not being legally
				hunted.
(5) Except for Public
				Fishing Areas, fishing on WMAs is allowed in accordance with statewide seasons
				and limits, unless otherwise indicated or posted at the WMA check
				station.
(6) U.S. Forest Service
				regulations shall apply on all WMAs located on National Forest lands.
(7) It is unlawful for any person to
				unreasonably disturb or annoy others through abrasive, insulting or threatening
				words or actions, or physically harm or threaten any other person, or disobey
				any lawful order of a law enforcement official or act in a manner resulting in
				a breach of the peace.
(8) Camping,
				pre-season scouting, hiking, picnicking, horse riding, canoeing, and other
				recreational uses are allowed year-round unless otherwise indicated or posted
				at the WMA check station or at a specific recreation site. The department may
				close specific sites as needed for management purposes by posting at the
				site.
(9) It is unlawful for any
				unauthorized person to close or restrict access to roads, trails or other
				access features using motor vehicles, signage, or other methods. Roads, trails
				and other access features may be closed at the discretion of the
				department.
(10) It is unlawful to
				shoot from a motor vehicle except that disabled hunters on a designated
				handicapped access road or hunters who have been issued a department Special
				Use Permit as specified in said permit may shoot from a vehicle provided such
				vehicle is stationary and not under power.
(11) It shall be unlawful for any person to
				possess a loaded firearm in designated camping areas except as provided in
				O.C.G.A. §
									16-11-126.
(12) O.C.G.A. §
									27-3-1.1 prohibits loaded long
				guns being carried in a motor vehicle on WMAs except for provisions stated in
				(10) above. Handguns may be loaded only as provided in O.C.G.A. §
									16-11-126. A firearm shall be
				considered loaded if a shell is in the chamber or magazine except that
				muzzle-loading firearms are considered loaded only if a cap is on the nipple or
				powder is present on the frizzen pan. Crossbows must be un-cocked while being
				transported in a vehicle on a WMA.
(13) Suppressed firearms may be used for
				hunting on WMAs.
(14) Buckshot may
				be used to hunt deer and bear when hunting seasons for those species are open
				on a WMA, unless otherwise specified in
				391-4-2-.70, and during such
				seasons, feral hogs and coyotes may be taken incidentally.
(15) The use of centerfire rifles to hunt at
				night is prohibited on WMAs, state parks, voluntary public access areas, and
				federal lands unless otherwise specified in
				391-4-2-.73.
O.C.G.A.
				  §§
											12-3-9,
				  27-1-4,
				  27-3-4.