Georgia’s Macon County Antler Restrictions Subject of Upcoming Public Meeting
Macon County deer hunters and landowners are invited to attend an upcoming public meeting hosted by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division to discuss the current county-wide antler point restriction (APR) regulation for Macon County. The meeting is at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14 at the Oglethorpe Business Center (Police Department) located at 500 Sumter Street in Oglethorpe.
“Public input is an important and valuable part of our rule-making process, so we are looking forward to receiving input from Macon County landowners and hunters,” said John Bowers, assistant chief of the Game Management Section. “Concerns have been expressed by some landowners and hunters that the current antler point restriction regulation in place for Macon County is too protective of mature bucks.”
Three options are being considered:
- No change;
- Removal of the APR regulation (statewide buck bag limit APR would apply); or
- Change the APR regulation from “minimum of 15-inch outside spread” to a “minimum of 15-inch outside spread or a minimum 16-inch main beam length.”
Any participant at a meeting may present data, make a statement or comment, or offer a viewpoint or argument, either orally or in writing. Statements should be concise to permit everyone an opportunity to speak. Participants must register upon arrival and notify the registering official of their intent to give a statement. Those unable to attend may submit written statements by Dec. 31, 2012.
Written statements should be mailed to: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division/Game Management Section; Attn: John Bowers; 2070 U.S. Highway 278, SE; Social Circle, Georgia 30025
Statements also may be electronically submitted at: www.georgiawildlife.com/Hunting/SubmitComments
The Dec. 14 meeting site is accessible to people with physical disabilities. To request sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids, contact Brandon Anderson at (770) 761-3045 no later than Dec. 12, 2012.
After the meeting and the public comment period, Wildlife Resources will determine if change of the county-wide APR for Macon County is widely supported. The department may propose a regulation change to the board of Natural Resources in Spring 2013.
For more information, visit www.georgiawildlife.com/Hunting/Meetings or contact the Hunter Services Office at (770) 761-3045.
