Georgia Deer Hunters Should Review Either Sex Day Changes for 2013-2014 Season

More than 300,000 hunters pursue the most popular game animal in Georgia, the white-tailed deer.  As a reminder to hunters, there was a regulation change in the number of available days to take deer of either sex depending on the type of equipment used and the area of your hunt, beginning Dec. 1.

During the period of December 1-25, 2013, hunters should make special note of the following regulations:

Archery equipment may be used for either sex statewide.

Firearms and primitive weapons may be used for deer of either sex in counties with antler restrictions (including Dooly, Hancock, Harris, Macon, Meriwether, Montgomery, Randolph, Talbot, and Troup Counties) and certain metro-Atlanta counties (including Forsyth north of Ga. Hwy. 20, Fulton south of GA Hwy 92, Gwinnett, and Rockdale).

Archery, shotguns and muzzleloading firearms may be used for deer of either sex in that portion of Forsyth County lying south of GA Hwy 20.

Hunters using firearms or muzzleloaders in areas not detailed above may take bucks only.

Why were the number of firearms either-sex days reduced? A few factors went into this decision, including the decline in the number of fawns that survive into fall and an increase in doe harvest rates.  These factors warranted regulatory changes to reduce the doe harvest.  For more information on this change, visit www.eregulations.com/georgia/hunting/why-fewer-either-sex-days/.

Georgia offers more than 90 state-operated wildlife management areas (WMAs) for the public’s use. State-managed public hunting lands are funded through a combination of state license fees and matching federal funds from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services’ Wildlife Restoration Program.  Hunters account for $977 million in retail sales in Georgia each year with a $1.6 billion ripple effect and almost 24,000 jobs.

Hunters are allowed a season bag limit of 10 antlerless deer and two antlered deer (one of the two antlered deer must have a minimum of four points, one inch or longer, on one side of the antlers).  Special regulations apply to archery-only counties and extended archery season areas.  Counties in the Metro Atlanta area (Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, and Rockdale counties) offer either-sex archery deer hunting Sept. 14-Jan. 31.

To pursue deer in Georgia, hunters must have a valid hunting license, big game license and a current deer harvest record. If hunting on a WMA, a WMA license is required.  Licenses can be purchased online at www.gohuntgeorgia.com/licenses-permits-passes , by phone at 1-800-366-2661 or at a license agent (list of agents available online).

For more information on deer hunting seasons, regulations, licenses and WMA maps, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com/hunting .

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is comprised of six divisions which carryout DNR’s mission to sustain, enhance, protect and conserve Georgia’s natural, historic and cultural resources. As one of six divisions within DNR, the Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) is charged with conserving, enhancing and promoting Georgia’s wildlife resources, including game and nongame animals, fish and protected plants. WRD is comprised of four sections – Game Management, Fisheries Management, Law Enforcement and Nongame Conservation, which regulate hunting, fishing and boat operation, protect nongame and endangered wildlife, provide conservation education and enforce laws for the protection and use of Georgia’s natural resources.