The statewide archery hunting season for white-tailed deer opens on Saturday, Sept. 13 and runs through Oct. 10. Bowhunters also can continue to use archery equipment throughout primitive weapons and firearms season if desired and may take deer of either sex during the entire deer season. Last year, more than 97,000 archery hunters harvested approximately 37,800 deer, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).
“Deer hunting is the most popular hunting experience in the state of Georgia,” says WRD Chief of Game Management Todd Holbrook. “Approximately one-third of Georgia’s deer hunters use archery equipment – including crossbows – and are able to take advantage of this early opportunity to harvest a deer.”
Deer hunting enthusiasts have over one million acres of public land available to them on more than 70 wildlife management areas (WMA) throughout the state. Information about WMAs is available at the WRD website at www.gohuntgeorgia.com.
Various WMAs offer special hunts throughout the season, including primitive weapons hunts, ladies only hunts and adult/child hunts. Check the WRD website or the 2003-2004 Georgia Hunting Seasons and Regulations guide, available at all WRD Offices and license agents, for dates and locations of specialty hunts. In addition to state-operated public land, there is public National Forest land and private land available for hunting in Georgia.
Hunters wishing to hunt on private property always should get the landowner’s permission prior to hunting.
Georgia sportsmen and women must possess a primitive weapons license and a big game license to hunt during archery season unless they possess a lifetime, honorary or sportsman’s license. A WMA license is required to hunt on a WMA. Hunters may take a season total of 12 deer. No more than 10 may be antlerless deer and no more than two may be antlered bucks (one of which must have at least four points – one inch or longer – on one side).
For more information on the archery hunting season, check the Georgia 2003-2004 Hunting Seasons and Regulations available on the WRD website at www.gohuntgeorgia.com or at over 1,200 license agents statewide.