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Georgia White-tailed Deer Hunting
Georgia deer season opens with archery on Sep 12, 2026 and the firearms season runs Oct 17, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027, to Jan 15, 2027 in the Magenta zone. This guide gathers the deer calendar, limits, licenses, legal weapons and public land.
Photo: USDAgov (Public domain)
Primitive weapons week, Oct 10 to Oct 16, 2026, is also when hunters under 16 may carry any legal deer firearm. One hunter may take 12 deer a season, no more than 10 antlerless and 2 antlered, and which days a doe is legal on private land depends on the county’s colour zone. Game Check reports added up to 206,677 deer for the 2025-26 season; WRD’s compliance-adjusted estimate is 298,302, against 297,410 the year before.
What WRD prints about whitetails
- Methods allowed: Archery incl. crossbows (Sept. 12-Oct. 9; extended/archery-only counties to Jan. 31); primitive weapons and youth-only firearms (Oct. 10-16); centerfire .22+ expanding bullets, shotguns 20 ga+ slugs/buckshot, muzzleloaders .30+, .30+ air rifles (Oct. 17-Jan. 10; Magenta zone to Jan. 15). Baiting allowed on private land with written permission; dogs only in permitted dog-deer counties.
- Worth knowing: Either-sex days on private land vary by color zone; firearms antlerless-only days Oct. 3-4 in Green and Magenta zones. Harvest Record and Game Check report within 24 hours. CWD Management Area: Atkinson, Berrien, Lanier, Lowndes.
White-tailed Deer bag and possession limits
Limits for whitetails as numbers and as written.
White-tailed deer
12 per season statewide: no more than 10 antlerless and no more than 2 antlered. One of the 2 antlered deer must have at least 4 points (1 in. or longer) on one side or at least a 15-in. outside spread. No daily limit is stated in the guide.
White-tailed deer (antler-restricted counties)
Hancock, Harris, Meriwether, Montgomery, Randolph, Talbot, Troup: every antlered buck must have 4+ points (1 in.+) on either antler or a 15-in.+ outside spread. Dooly and Macon: every antlered buck must have a 15-in.+ outside spread.
White-tailed deer (WMA bonus hunts)
No more than 2 deer unless the area listing says otherwise; on antler-restricted areas only one may be an antlered buck. Bonus deer are not recorded on the Harvest Record or Game Check; they are checked at the area check station the day of harvest.
White-tailed deer (state park quota hunts)
5 deer, no more than 2 antlered (e.g., Chattahoochee Bend and Don Carter state parks; see area listings).
White-tailed deer (CWD positives)
Deer that test positive for CWD do not count toward a hunter's bag limit.
When whitetails are open in Georgia
52 dated rows for whitetails from the 2026-27 guide, with private land, zone and public land segments kept apart.
| Season | Area | From | Through | Days | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Statewide (private land) | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | 28 | |
| Extended archery | Extended archery counties (29) | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 142 | |
| Primitive weapons & youth-only firearms | Statewide, excluding archery-only counties | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | 7 | |
| Firearms | Statewide (except archery-only counties and Jekyll Island) | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | 86 | |
| Archery (Either-Sex) | Yellow zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | 28 | |
| Primitive Weapons (Either-Sex) | Yellow zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | 7 | |
| Firearms (Antlered Bucks Only) | Yellow zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | 42 | |
| Firearms (Either-Sex) | Yellow zone | Nov 28, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 2 | |
| Firearms (Antlered Bucks Only) | Yellow zone | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | 32 | |
| Firearms (Either-Sex) | Yellow zone | Jan 1, 2027 | Jan 1, 2027 | 1 | |
| Firearms (Antlered Bucks Only) | Yellow zone | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 10, 2027 | 9 | |
| Archery (Either-Sex) | Cyan zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | 28 | |
| Primitive Weapons (Either-Sex) | Cyan zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | 7 | |
| Firearms (Antlered Bucks Only) | Cyan zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 5, 2026 | 20 | |
| Firearms (Either-Sex) | Cyan zone | Nov 6, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 | 7 | |
| Firearms (Antlered Bucks Only) | Cyan zone | Nov 13, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | 49 | |
| Firearms (Either-Sex) | Cyan zone | Jan 1, 2027 | Jan 1, 2027 | 1 | |
| Firearms (Antlered Bucks Only) | Cyan zone | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 10, 2027 | 9 | |
| Archery (Either-Sex) | Orange zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | 28 | |
| Primitive Weapons (Either-Sex) | Orange zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | 7 | |
| Firearms (Antlered Bucks Only) | Orange zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 5, 2026 | 20 | |
| Firearms (Either-Sex) | Orange zone | Nov 6, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 | 7 | |
| Firearms (Antlered Bucks Only) | Orange zone | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 19, 2026 | 7 | |
| Firearms (Either-Sex) | Orange zone | Nov 20, 2026 | Nov 26, 2026 | 7 | |
| Firearms (Antlered Bucks Only) | Orange zone | Nov 27, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | 31 | |
| Firearms (Either-Sex) | Orange zone | Dec 28, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | 14 | |
| Archery (Either-Sex) | Green zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | 28 | |
| Primitive Weapons (Either-Sex) | Green zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | 7 | |
| Firearms (Antlerless Only) | Green zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | 2 | |
| Firearms (Either-Sex) | Green zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | 86 | |
| Archery (Antlered Bucks Only) | Magenta zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 16 | |
| Archery (Either-Sex) | Magenta zone | Sep 28, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | 12 | |
| Archery (Either-Sex) | Magenta zone | Jan 16, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | 16 | |
| Primitive Weapons (Either-Sex) | Magenta zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | 7 | |
| Firearms (Antlerless Only) | Magenta zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | 2 | |
| Firearms (Either-Sex) | Magenta zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | 91 | |
| Archery (Either-Sex) | Gray zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 142 | |
| Hunting deer with dogs (either sex) | Dog-deer counties Atkinson (south of US 82), Jefferson, Johnson (east of GA 15) | Nov 26, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | 46 | |
| Hunting deer with dogs (either sex) | Dog-deer counties Brantley, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Dougherty, Ec… | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | 86 | |
| Hunting deer with dogs (either sex) | Dog-deer counties Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Early, Grady, Seminole, Thomas | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | 91 | |
| Hunting deer with dogs (either sex) | Dog-deer counties Colquitt, Marion, Stewart, Terrell, Webster | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | 37 | |
| Archery (buck only) | Chattahoochee National Forest east of I-75 (outside WMAs) | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | 28 | |
| Archery (buck only), late segment | Chattahoochee National Forest east of I-75 (outside WMAs) | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 10, 2027 | 9 | |
| Primitive weapons (buck only) | Chattahoochee National Forest east of I-75 (outside WMAs) | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | 7 | |
| Firearms (buck only) | Chattahoochee National Forest east of I-75 (outside WMAs) | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | 77 | |
| Archery | Chattahoochee National Forest west of I-75 (outside WMAs) | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | 28 | |
| Archery, late segment | Chattahoochee National Forest west of I-75 (outside WMAs) | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 10, 2027 | 9 | |
| Primitive weapons | Chattahoochee National Forest west of I-75 (outside WMAs) | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | 7 | |
| Firearms (buck only except county either-sex days) | Chattahoochee National Forest west of I-75 (outside WMAs) | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | 77 | |
| Archery | Oconee National Forest (outside WMAs) | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | 28 | |
| Primitive weapons | Oconee National Forest (outside WMAs) | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | 7 | |
| Firearms | Oconee National Forest (outside WMAs) | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | 86 |
White-tailed Deer row notes
- Either sex on private land in every either-sex zone except Magenta, where Sept. 12-27 is antlered bucks only (Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Thomas). Archery hunting is also allowed during the primitive weapons and firearms seasons; deer of either sex may be taken with archery equipment at any time on private land during those seasons (WRD news release, Oct. 13, 2026).
- Baker, Barrow, Bibb, Calhoun, Chatham, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Decatur, DeKalb, Douglas, Early, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Grady, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Miller, Mitchell, Muscogee, Paulding, Richmond, Rockdale, Seminole and Thomas counties; either sex; statewide bag limits apply.
- Muzzleloaders, archery equipment, air bows and .30-cal.+ air rifles; scopes legal. Youth under 16 may use any legal deer firearm. Either sex on private land in all either-sex zones.
- Firearms deer hunting not allowed in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton (north of GA Hwy 92) or the part of Glynn County on Jekyll Island. In Forsyth County south of GA Hwy 20 only shotguns and muzzleloaders (plus archery). Either-sex days on private land depend on the county's either-sex color zone. Magenta zone runs to Jan. 15, 2027.
- Firearms antlerless-only days before the regular firearms opener.
- In Hancock, Harris, Meriwether, Montgomery, Randolph, Talbot and Troup only bucks with 4+ points (1 in. or longer) on either side or 15-in. outside spread are legal; in Dooly and Macon antlered bucks need a 15-in. outside spread.
- Gray = archery-only counties (Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton north of GA Hwy 92).
- By DNR permit only on leased tracts of 1,000+ contiguous acres or privately owned tracts of 250+ acres; apply 30 days ahead (by Sept. 17, 2026 for opening day) at gadnrle.org/special-permits.
- Antlered bucks only; second archery segment Jan. 2-10, 2027.
- All Chattahoochee NF land east of I-75 is closed to antlerless deer hunting.
- Second archery segment Jan. 2-10, 2027.
- Buck only except during county either-sex days; during firearms season archers follow firearms either-sex dates on the National Forest.
- Buck only Oct. 17-30, Nov. 2-20, Nov. 23-Dec. 11, Dec. 14-25 and Dec. 28-Jan. 10; the guide lists Oct. 31-Nov. 1, Nov. 21-22, Dec. 12-13 and Dec. 26-27 as a separate date group whose label is not printed.
From the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division 2026-27 season page and the 2026-27 guide (PDF), checked October 13, 2026.
Georgia whitetail zones by county
Most of the state is Green, with either-sex days all firearms season; the mountain zones are far tighter.
| Colour | Counties | Gun doe days | Doe-only days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green | 134 | Oct 17 to Jan 10 | Oct 3 to Oct 4 |
| Magenta | 9 | Oct 17 to Jan 15 | Oct 3 to Oct 4 |
| Gray | 3 | – | – |
| Orange | 9 | Nov 6 to Nov 12; Nov 20 to Nov 26; Dec 28 to Jan 10 | – |
| Cyan | 2 | Nov 6 to Nov 12; Jan 1 | – |
| Yellow | 2 | Nov 28 to Nov 29; Jan 1 | – |
Long bow season counties
Baker, Barrow, Bibb, Calhoun, Chatham, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, DeKalb, Decatur, Douglas, Early, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Grady, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Miller, Mitchell, Muscogee, Paulding, Richmond, Rockdale, Seminole, Thomas
County antler rules
4 points (1 in.+) on either antler or 15-in. outside spread: Hancock, Harris, Meriwether, Montgomery, Randolph, Talbot, Troup
Dog-deer county groups
Nov. 26-Jan. 10: Atkinson, Jefferson and Johnson
Oct. 17-Jan. 10: Brantley, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Dougherty, Echols, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Jenkins, Lanier, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Pierce, Screven, Tattnall, Ware, Washington and Wayne
Oct. 17-Jan. 15: Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Early, Grady, Seminole and Thomas
Dec. 5-Jan. 10: Colquitt, Marion, Stewart, Terrell and Webster
Gun deer hunting is barred in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb and Fulton (north of GA Hwy 92). South of GA Hwy 20 in Forsyth, only archery, shotguns and muzzleloaders are legal, and there is no firearms deer hunting on Jekyll Island.
From the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division either-sex days and zone map, deer regulations, dog-deer seasons, checked October 13, 2026. County colours were read from the guide’s map image; deer zone map and county table.
Georgia deer harvest
Reported deer are what hunters logged in Game Check; WRD adjusts for hunters who did not report. So far this season, 21,869 have been checked.
| Season | Reported | Bucks | Does | WRD estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 206,677 | 103,907 | 102,770 | 298,302 |
| 2024-25 | 207,842 | 107,460 | 100,382 | 297,410 |
| 2023-24 | 216,572 | 109,451 | 107,121 | 288,870 |
| 2022-23 | 194,144 | 100,647 | 93,497 | 280,915 |
| 2021-22 | 181,688 | 96,100 | 85,588 | 261,262 |
| 2020-21 | 194,345 | 99,019 | 95,326 | 270,315 |
| 2019-20 | 180,126 | 91,293 | 88,833 | 262,514 |
| 2018-19 | 176,418 | 89,524 | 86,894 | 280,174 |
| 2017-18 | 184,404 | 96,187 | 88,217 | 292,480 |
| 2016-17 | 182,750 | 89,005 | 93,745 | 258,038 |
By weapon, 2025-26
By land type, 2025-26
By deer type, 2025-26
Harvest data: WRD deer harvest dashboard, harvest breakdowns. As published by WRD, checked October 13, 2026.
Public land for whitetails in Georgia
Public ground for whitetails: 170 areas, largest first. Read each area listing for quota and sign-in rules.
| Area | Type | Counties | Region | Size, acres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests | National Forest | Rabun, Fannin, Union | – | 869,017 |
| Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge | National Wildlife Refuge | Charlton, Ware, Clinch | Brunswick | 407,038 |
| Blue Ridge Ranger District | National Forest Ranger District | Union, Lumpkin, Fannin | Gainesville | 302,238 |
| Chattooga River Ranger District | National Forest Ranger District | Rabun, White, Habersham | Gainesville | 261,439 |
| Conasauga Ranger District | National Forest Ranger District | Murray, Fannin, Gilmer | Gainesville | 188,617 |
| Oconee Ranger District | National Forest Ranger District | Putnam, Jasper, Greene | Thomson | 116,724 |
| Cohutta WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Murray, Fannin, Gilmer | Armuchee | 92,647 |
| Cedar Creek WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Putnam, Jones, Jasper | Thomson | 41,000 |
| Redlands WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Greene, Oglethorpe, Morgan | Gainesville | 37,500 |
| Dixon Memorial WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Ware, Brantley | Brunswick | 35,247 |
| Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge | National Wildlife Refuge | Jones, Jasper | Thomson | 35,000 |
| Townsend WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Long, McIntosh | Brunswick | 34,294 |
| Altamaha WMA | Wildlife Management Area | McIntosh | Brunswick | 31,569 |
| Savannah National Wildlife Refuge | National Wildlife Refuge | Effingham, Chatham | Fitzgerald | 30,715 |
| Cooper's Creek WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Union, Fannin | Gainesville | 30,000 |
More public land for whitetails
Paulding Forest WMA (28,183 ac) · Chestatee WMA (27,123 ac) · Dawson Forest WMA (25,658 ac) · Chattahoochee WMA (25,150 ac) · John's Mountain WMA (23,710 ac) · Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA (21,895 ac) · Blue Ridge WMA (20,900 ac) · Rich Mountain WMA (20,674 ac) · Chickasawhatchee WMA (19,700 ac) · Sansavilla WMA (19,084 ac) · Swallow Creek WMA (19,000 ac) · Lake Russell WMA (17,300 ac) · Bullard Creek WMA (17,005 ac) · Little Satilla WMA (16,990 ac) · Paulks Pasture WMA (16,066 ac) · Ceylon WMA (16,000 ac) · Warwoman WMA (15,800 ac) · Berry College WMA (15,605 ac) · Ocmulgee WMA (15,475 ac) · Tuckahoe WMA (15,100 ac) · Oaky Woods WMA (13,450 ac) · B.F. Grant WMA (11,400 ac) · Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge (11,184 ac) · Penholoway Swamp WMA (11,177 ac) · Canoochee Sandhills WMA (10,224 ac) · Clarks Hill WMA – East (10,224 ac) · Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge (10,053 ac) · West Point WMA (10,000 ac) · Upatoi Ravines Natural Area (9,500 ac) · Ohoopee Dunes WMA (9,271 ac) · Silver Lake WMA (9,200 ac) · F.D. Roosevelt State Park (9,049 ac) · Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA: VPA Tracts (9,048 ac) · Ossabaw Island WMA (9,000 ac) · Sapelo Island WMA (9,000 ac) · Flat Tub WMA (8,748 ac) · Grand Bay WMA (8,700 ac) · Lake Seminole WMA (8,300 ac) · Di-Lane WMA (8,100 ac) · Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA: Hilliard Plantation Tract (8,089 ac) · Oconee WMA (7,930 ac) · Yuchi WMA (7,800 ac) · Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (7,760 ac) · Allatoona WMA (7,589 ac) · Richmond Hill WMA (7,400 ac) · Horse Creek WMA (7,397 ac) · Big Hammock WMA (7,315 ac) · Treat Mountain WMA (7,260 ac) · Big Lazer Creek WMA (7,200 ac) · Alapaha River WMA (6,870 ac) · Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA: Almo Tract (6,700 ac) · Clybel WMA (6,700 ac) · Sprewell Bluff WMA: West (6,571 ac) · Mayhaw WMA (6,300 ac) · Griffin Ridge WMA (5,975 ac) · plus 100 smaller areas
White-tailed Deer harvest by county
- Burke County3,322 reported, 5,033 WRD estimate
- Washington County3,230 reported, 4,856 WRD estimate
- Laurens County3,101 reported, 4,668 WRD estimate
- Hancock County3,095 reported, 4,211 WRD estimate
- Floyd County2,953 reported, 3,952 WRD estimate
- Meriwether County2,942 reported, 3,986 WRD estimate
- Gordon County2,894 reported, 3,876 WRD estimate
- Hall County2,874 reported, 3,836 WRD estimate
- Wilkes County2,775 reported, 3,746 WRD estimate
- Cherokee County2,506 reported, 3,339 WRD estimate
Busiest public areas for whitetails
Areas and species lists from WRD’s 2026-27 area listings, the WRD WMA layers and federal managers, retrieved 2026-10-13. Harvest by area from WRD Game Check.
Legal requirements for whitetails
The deer rules below come from the guide’s license, hunting information and definitions pages.
Licenses
| What to buy | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting License | $15.00 | $100.00 |
| Big Game License | $25.00 | $225.00 |
| Harvest Record | Free | Free |
| Sportsman's License | $65.00 | $400.00 |
Daily hours
Shooting light for whitetails opens half an hour before sunup and closes half an hour after sundown.
Orange or blaze pink
During primitive weapons and firearms dates, deer hunters wear at least 500 square inches of fluorescent orange or blaze pink above the waist. Archers wear it too, except in archery-only counties and areas.
Hunting over bait
Georgia allows deer hunting over bait on private land anywhere in the state, with written permission. It is banned on public land.
Check it in
Harvest Record first, before the deer is moved; Game Check within a day after that.
Sunday status
Sundays are open for whitetails under the statewide seasons; a WMA listing can set its own days.
Buck rules
Of the 2 antlered deer, one must have at least 4 points 1 in. or longer on one side, or at least a 15-in. outside spread. County-wide restrictions: Hancock, Harris, Meriwether, Montgomery, Randolph, Talbot, Troup (every buck 4 points on either antler or 15-in. spread); Dooly, Macon (every buck 15-in. outside spread). On WMA antler-restricted areas the same 4-point/15-in. rule applies to all bucks.
Harvest Record
All deer hunters, regardless of age or license, must have a free Harvest Record for the current season (available from March 1; valid through end of February). Record harvest date and county before moving the deer from the kill site (paper, online or Outdoors GA app).
Georgia Game Check
Report every deer through Georgia Game Check within 24 hours (Outdoors GA app, works without cell service; GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com; or 1-800-366-2661) and copy the confirmation number onto the paper Harvest Record. WMA bonus-hunt deer are instead checked at the area check station the day of kill.
DMAP
Deer Management Assistance Program: Level 1 free (advice only); Level 2 $200 startup then $100/yr (antlerless harvest flexibility when justified, 250-acre minimum); Level 3 $400 startup then $200/yr. Public, private and leased land eligible; cooperatives may combine acreage.
Hunters for the Hungry
Georgia Hunters for the Hungry (WRD and Georgia Wildlife Federation) accepts donated deer through participating processors (GWF.org/ghfth).
Deer Registry minimums
Boone and Crockett scoring: archery typical 120, non-typical 145; firearms typical 145, non-typical 170.
From the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division 2026-27 guide, licenses and fees and hunting information, checked October 13, 2026. Georgia hunting laws · License guide.
Legal equipment and methods for whitetails
Read the weapons rows with the season table: the legal gun depends on the segment.
| Season | Legal weapons | Off limits |
|---|---|---|
| Archery season (deer, bear) | Longbows, recurves, compounds and crossbows (incl. torsion spring); broadhead arrows/bolts for deer, bear and feral hog. Draw weight, let-off, arrow/bolt length, recovery devices and sights not restricted. | Possessing any firearm while hunting during archery deer season, unless a lawful weapons carrier (O.C.G.A. 16-11-125.1, subject to 16-11-126/127). |
| Primitive weapons season | Archery equipment, air bows, .30-cal.+ air rifles, muzzleloaders (.30-cal.+ for deer/bear) and muzzleloading shotguns (20 ga+); scopes legal. Youth under 16 may use any legal deer firearm (and any legal bear firearm in the Northern Zone). | Possessing centerfire or rimfire firearms while hunting, unless a lawful weapons carrier. |
| Firearms deer & bear | Centerfire rifles and handguns .22-cal.+ with expanding bullets (no magazine limit for rifles); shotguns 20 ga+ with slugs or buckshot; muzzleloaders .30-cal.+ or muzzleloading shotguns 20 ga+; air rifles .30-cal.+ and air bows; all archery and primitive weapons. | Firearms in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton (north of GA Hwy 92) and Jekyll Island; anything but shotguns and muzzleloaders (and archery) in Forsyth south of GA Hwy 20. |
| Crossbows | Legal for any game or feral hog in any season where archery is legal; no draw, length or safety restrictions. | Possessing a cocked (loaded) crossbow in a motor vehicle on WMAs. |
| Air guns | Air rifles .30-cal.+ and air bows (unignited compressed gas/air) legal for deer/bear during primitive weapons and firearms seasons and for turkey; any caliber air rifle for small game. | – |
| Suppressors | Lawfully possessed suppressors may be used for hunting unless otherwise specified; landowner permission required on private land. | – |
Field rules for whitetails
Baiting deer and feral hogs
Deer and feral hogs may be hunted over or near bait on private land in all counties with written landowner permission; baiting or hunting over bait prohibited on any state or federally managed land.
Deer with dogs
Only in listed counties (or parts) during dog-deer seasons, on DNR-permitted tracts (leased 1,000+ contiguous acres or owned 250+ acres); apply 30 days ahead; permit number on all dogs and vehicles.
Deer head and processors
Head may not be removed until processed, surrendered to storage, or submitted for CWD testing; processors/coolers must receive name, date, county, sex and Game Check number.
Deer in water
Unlawful to take a deer while it is in a lake, stream or pond.
Transporting game killed by another
Deer: written name, address, phone, license number and Game Check confirmation number of the hunter. Migratory birds: hunter signature, address, number by species and dates.
Tree stands and hunting structures on WMAs
Only portable or natural stands; none on utility poles; big game/hog structures placed no sooner than one day before the hunt and removed by noon the day after; small game structures only on the hunt day.
2026-27 guide (PDF) and the hunting information page, checked October 13, 2026.
White-tailed Deer country gear list
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Climbing tree stand
Straight pines and hardwood bottoms make Georgia climber country.
White-tailed Deer questions, answered from the guide
What are the antlerless-only days in Georgia?
Private land in the Green and Magenta zones has firearms antlerless-only days on Oct 3 to Oct 4, 2026, two weeks before the regular firearms opener.
How many bucks can I kill in Georgia?
Of the 2 antlered deer, one must have at least 4 points 1 in. or longer on one side, or at least a 15-in. outside spread. Nine counties set stricter rules for every buck.
Which counties have extended archery season?
29 counties run archery to Jan 31, 2027: Baker, Barrow, Bibb, Calhoun, Chatham, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, DeKalb, Decatur, Douglas, Early, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Grady, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Miller, Mitchell, Muscogee, Paulding, Richmond, Rockdale, Seminole, Thomas.
Can I hunt deer over corn in Georgia?
Deer and feral hogs may be hunted over or near bait on private land in all counties with written landowner permission. Baiting deer is prohibited on state or federally managed lands.
Where is CWD in Georgia?
CWD was first detected in Georgia in January 2025 (hunter-harvested deer, Lanier County). CWD Management Area (CMA) = any county with a detection plus any county within 5 miles of a detection: Atkinson, Berrien, Lanier and Lowndes (as of April 2026; guide section "as of May 2026").
How do I report a deer in Georgia?
Report every deer through Georgia Game Check within 24 hours (Outdoors GA app, works without cell service; GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com; or 1-800-366-2661) and copy the confirmation number onto the paper Harvest Record. WMA bonus-hunt deer are instead checked at the area check station the day of kill.
Is baiting legal for whitetails?
Georgia allows deer hunting over bait on private land anywhere in the state, with written permission. It is banned on public land.
Do deer hunters have to wear orange in Georgia?
During primitive weapons and firearms dates, deer hunters wear at least 500 square inches of fluorescent orange or blaze pink above the waist. Archers wear it too, except in archery-only counties and areas.
Which equipment is legal for whitetails?
Archery season (deer, bear): Longbows, recurves, compounds and crossbows (incl. torsion spring); broadhead arrows/bolts for deer, bear and feral hog. Draw weight, let-off, arrow/bolt length, recovery devices and sights not restricted.
Are whitetails open on Sundays this year?
Sundays are open for whitetails under the statewide seasons; a WMA listing can set its own days.
What is the Georgia limit on whitetails?
12 per season statewide: no more than 10 antlerless and no more than 2 antlered. One of the 2 antlered deer must have at least 4 points (1 in. or longer) on one side or at least a 15-in. outside spread. No daily limit is stated in the guide. Hancock, Harris, Meriwether, Montgomery, Randolph, Talbot, Troup: every antlered buck must have 4+ points (1 in.+) on either antler or a 15-in.+ outside spread. Dooly and Macon: every antlered buck must have a 15-in.+ outside spread.
When does Georgia deer season start?
The deer dates are archery Sep 12 to Oct 9, 2026; extended archery Sep 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027 (Extended archery counties (29)); primitive weapons & youth-only firearms Oct 10 to Oct 16, 2026; firearms Oct 17, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027; archery (either-sex) Sep 12 to Oct 9, 2026 (Either-sex zone: Yellow). Remaining deer segments, including public land rows, are in the table.
What public ground in Georgia has whitetails?
170 areas on our list qualify; the largest are Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Blue Ridge Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest).
What license do I need for whitetails in Georgia?
Deer hunters need (resident price): Hunting License ($15.00); Big Game License ($25.00); Harvest Record (Free); Sportsman's License ($65.00).
Before the deer trip
WRD’s guide is the final word on whitetails; this page was checked against it on October 13, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Flappy Pigeon (CC BY-SA 4.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region (Public domain); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); Virginia State Parks staff (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Monkeystyle3000 (CC BY 2.0).