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Big game · 2026-27
Georgia Black Bear Hunting
Georgia has three bear zones: the Northern zone runs archery, primitive and firearms seasons through Oct 16, 2026, the Central zone opens one firearms day, Dec 19, 2026, and the Southern zone hunts 4 three-day weekends from Sep 17 to Oct 10. Dates, limits, land and rules for black bears, all from the 2026-27 Georgia guide.
Photo: Judy Gallagher (CC BY 2.0)
The season limit is two bears, and only one may come from the Central or Southern zone. It is illegal to kill a sow with cubs or any bear under 75 pounds, and bear hunting over bait is never allowed. Hunters took 490 bears in 2025: 326 in the north, 7 in the Central zone around Oaky Woods and 157 in the Okefenokee country of the Southern zone.
The WRD bear summary
- Methods: Northern Zone: archery Sept. 12-Oct. 9, primitive weapons/youth firearms Oct. 10-16, firearms Oct. 17-Jan. 10 (dogs only on Chattahoochee/Chestatee dog-bear quota hunt Oct. 3-11). Central Zone: firearms Dec. 19 only, no dogs. Southern Zone: firearms Sept. 17-19, 24-26, Oct. 1-3, 8-10, dogs allowed except Lanier and Lowndes. No baiting.
- Remarks: Report via Game Check within 24 hours and present hide and skull for tagging by zone.
How many black bears one hunter may take
These bear limits are statewide unless a WMA listing sets lower ones.
Black bear
2 per season; no more than one from the Central or Southern zones. Unlawful to kill a female with cub(s) or any bear under 75 lb.
Black bear (dog-bear quota hunt)
5 bears per party; no more than 2 per hunter; bears count toward the individual's statewide limit.
Black Bear dates by zone and land type
Each of the 13 rows below is a separate bear segment; the status column checks it against today.
| Segment | Where | Opening | Closing | Days | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Northern Bear Zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | 28 | |
| Primitive weapons & youth-only firearms | Northern Bear Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | 7 | |
| Firearms | Northern Bear Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | 86 | |
| Dog-bear quota hunt | Chattahoochee and Chestatee WMAs | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | 9 | |
| Firearms (one day) | Central Bear Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Dec 19, 2026 | 1 | |
| Firearms | Southern Bear Zone | Sep 17, 2026 | Sep 19, 2026 | 3 | |
| Firearms | Southern Bear Zone | Sep 24, 2026 | Sep 26, 2026 | 3 | |
| Firearms | Southern Bear Zone | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 3, 2026 | 3 | |
| Firearms | Southern Bear Zone | Oct 8, 2026 | Oct 10, 2026 | 3 | |
| Archery | Chattahoochee National Forest (outside WMAs) | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | 28 | |
| Archery, late segment | Chattahoochee National Forest (outside WMAs) | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 10, 2027 | 9 | |
| Primitive weapons | Chattahoochee National Forest (outside WMAs) | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | 7 | |
| Firearms | Chattahoochee National Forest (outside WMAs) | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | 77 |
Read these bear notes too
- Season limit 2 bears (no more than one from Central or Southern zones). No female with cubs, no bear under 75 lb, no hunting over bait.
- Youth under 16 may use any legal bear firearm.
- Dogs prohibited except Chattahoochee and Chestatee WMA dog-bear quota hunt.
- 15 parties drawn (application Aug. 1-15, 2026); up to 10 hunters per party; 5 bears per party, no more than 2 per hunter.
- If fewer than 6 female bears are harvested Dec. 19, a second hunt day will be opened in January (announced after Dec. 21 at georgiawildlife.com). No dogs; no bear hunting on WMAs. Tag at Oaky Woods WMA check station noon-9 p.m. on hunt day.
- Dogs allowed except in Lanier and Lowndes counties (still hunting only). Tag within 24 hours (Fargo or Folkston Georgia Forestry Commission offices, or Dixon Memorial WMA Sept. 24-26).
- Second archery segment Jan. 2-10, 2027. Bear hunting with dogs prohibited on NF land outside designated WMAs.
From the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division 2026-27 season page and the 2026-27 guide (PDF), checked October 13, 2026.
Where bear seasons differ
Only counties named in a zone are open for bears.
| Zone | Counties | Dates | Bears taken, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern | 39 | Sep 12 to Oct 9; Oct 10 to Oct 16; Oct 17 to Jan 10 | 326 |
| Central | 4 | Dec 19 | 7 |
| Southern | 8 | Sep 17 to Sep 19; Sep 24 to Sep 26; Oct 1 to Oct 3; Oct 8 to Oct 10 | 157 |
Walton County appears in the guide’s Northern zone list and not on the 2026 map; ask the Gainesville or Armuchee office. Bear zone guide
Bear seasons and zones, 2026 bear zone map, bear harvest, checked October 13, 2026.
How many black bears Georgia hunters take
Zone totals from WRD’s 1979-2025 chart; the Central zone has only had a hunt in recent years.
| Year | Northern | Central | Southern | Statewide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 326 | 7 | 157 | 490 |
| 2024 | 499 | 5 | 95 | 599 |
| 2023 | 306 | 3 | 175 | 484 |
| 2022 | 435 | 14 | 173 | 622 |
| 2021 | 363 | 6 | 136 | 505 |
| 2020 | 346 | 5 | 222 | 573 |
| 2019 | 372 | 1 | 148 | 521 |
| 2018 | 521 | 2 | 124 | 647 |
| 2017 | 304 | 2 | 126 | 432 |
| 2016 | 255 | 10 | 165 | 430 |
North Georgia 2025, by method
North Georgia 2025, by sex
North Georgia mortality, 2025
Harvest data: bear harvest chart, 2025 north Georgia summary. As published by WRD, checked October 13, 2026.
Black Bear on WMAs and federal land
43 areas list bear, from Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests down.
| Public area | Kind | County | Region | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests | National Forest | Rabun, Fannin, Union | – | 869,017 |
| 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 |
| Cohutta WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Murray, Fannin, Gilmer | Armuchee | 92,647 |
| Dixon Memorial WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Ware, Brantley | Brunswick | 35,247 |
| Cooper's Creek WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Union, Fannin | Gainesville | 30,000 |
| Paulding Forest WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Paulding, Polk | Armuchee | 28,183 |
| Chestatee WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Lumpkin, White | Gainesville | 27,123 |
| Dawson Forest WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Dawson | Gainesville | 25,658 |
| Chattahoochee WMA | Wildlife Management Area | White, Union, Towns | Gainesville | 25,150 |
| John's Mountain WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Gordon, Walker, Floyd | Armuchee | 23,710 |
| Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Walker | Armuchee | 21,895 |
| Blue Ridge WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Fannin, Union, Lumpkin | Gainesville | 20,900 |
| Rich Mountain WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Gilmer, Fannin | Armuchee | 20,674 |
More public land for black bears
Swallow Creek WMA (19,000 ac) · Lake Russell WMA (17,300 ac) · Warwoman WMA (15,800 ac) · Berry College WMA (15,605 ac) · Allatoona WMA (7,589 ac) · Treat Mountain WMA (7,260 ac) · Sheffield WMA (5,556 ac) · Tallapoosa River WMA (5,215 ac) · Dukes Creek – Smithgall Woods State Park (4,500 ac) · Carter's Lake WMA (3,300 ac) · Rocky Mountain Recreation Area & PFA (3,000 ac) · Wilson Shoals WMA (2,800 ac) · Coosawattee WMA (2,714 ac) · Tallulah Gorge WMA (2,689 ac) · Rich Mountain WMA: Cartecay Tract (2,165 ac) · McGraw Ford WMA (2,067 ac) · Cochrans Creek WMA (2,057 ac) · Zahnd WMA (1,642 ac) · Hart County WMA (1,000 ac) · Pleasant Valley VPA (934 ac) · Otting WMA (700 ac) · Buck Shoals WMA (582 ac) · Conasauga River WMA (509 ac) · J.L. Lester WMA (477 ac) · Broad River WMA (440 ac) · Lola Tract VPA (391 ac) · Dupont Tract VPA (349 ac) · Arrowhead WMA (337 ac)
Top counties for black bears
- Lumpkin County49 legal bears
- Murray County49 legal bears
- White County38 legal bears
- Dawson County31 legal bears
- Gilmer County27 legal bears
- Fannin County26 legal bears
- Rabun County21 legal bears
- Habersham County19 legal bears
- Union County15 legal bears
- Pickens County14 legal bears
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.
Georgia rules for black bears: licenses, hours, orange
Before going after black bears, check these license, hour and bait rules.
Licenses and fees
| License or permit | Res. | Nonres. |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting License | $15.00 | $100.00 |
| Big Game License | $25.00 | $225.00 |
| Harvest Record | Free | Free |
| Sportsman's License | $65.00 | $400.00 |
Shooting hours
For black bears, legal light is 30 minutes either side of sunrise and sunset; the Outdoors GA app shows the daily times.
Orange rule
Orange or blaze pink, 500 square inches as an outer garment above the waist, is required for black bears once primitive weapons season opens; archers are included outside archery-only ground.
Bait rules
Bait is off limits for bears on every kind of land.
Harvest Record and Game Check
Georgia requires the Harvest Record for black bears, any age, and a Game Check report within 24 hours.
Sundays
The guide imposes no Sunday restriction on black bears. Individual WMAs, refuges and Corps lakes may.
Tagging by zone
Northern Zone: hide and skull to a Game Management office (except Fitzgerald) or approved cooperator within 3 business days (or WMA check station 8 a.m.-8 p.m.); Central Zone: Oaky Woods WMA check station noon-9 p.m. hunt day; Southern Zone: within 24 hours at Fargo or Folkston GFC offices or Dixon Memorial WMA (Sept. 24-26). Bonus-hunt bears go to the check station the day of kill.
Dog-bear quota hunt
15 parties drawn (application Aug. 1-15, 2026); up to 10 hunters per party; 5 bears per party, no more than 2 per hunter. 5 bears per party; no more than 2 per hunter; bears count toward the individual's statewide limit.
Bear penalties
O.C.G.A. 27-3-26: fine $500-$5,000, up to 12 months confinement, or both; hunting and fishing privileges suspended 3 years; restitution of at least $1,500 per bear; equipment (not vehicles) forfeited.
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 black bears
What you can carry for black bears, and what Georgia bans.
| Group | What is legal | What is not |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
How black bears may be taken
Bear baiting
No hunting bears over bait; taking big game other than deer over bait is subject to a $5,000 fine and/or 12 months imprisonment.
Bear with dogs
Prohibited in Northern Zone except Chattahoochee and Chestatee WMA dog-bear quota hunt; prohibited in Central Zone; allowed in Southern Zone except Lanier and Lowndes (still hunting only). Prohibited on Chattahoochee NF outside designated WMAs.
Harvest Record and Georgia Game Check
Alligator, bear, deer and turkey hunters need a current free Harvest Record; record date and county before moving the animal; report through Georgia Game Check within 24 hours (app, online, 1-800-366-2661). Bears must also be presented for tagging by zone; alligators carry a CITES tag.
National Forest rules
No discharge within 150 yards of residences, campsites or developed sites, across Forest Service roads or water bodies, or into caves; no loaded weapons in vehicles; hogs daylight only; no night hunting of coyotes; no placing food or bait that attracts wildlife.
2026-27 guide (PDF) and the hunting information page, checked October 13, 2026.
Bring this to Black Bear country
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Common Georgia bear questions
Can you hunt bears with dogs in Georgia?
Prohibited in Northern Zone except Chattahoochee and Chestatee WMA dog-bear quota hunt; prohibited in Central Zone; allowed in Southern Zone except Lanier and Lowndes (still hunting only). Prohibited on Chattahoochee NF outside designated WMAs.
When is the Central Zone bear hunt?
One firearms day, Dec 19, 2026. If fewer than 6 female bears are harvested Dec. 19, a second hunt day will be opened in January (announced after Dec. 21 at georgiawildlife.com).
Where do I check a bear in the Southern Zone?
Southern Zone: within 24 hours at Fargo or Folkston GFC offices or Dixon Memorial WMA (Sept. 24-26).
How big are Georgia bears?
In 2025, north Georgia bears checked by WRD averaged 209 pounds for males and 155 for females.
What is the penalty for an illegal bear?
O.C.G.A. 27-3-26: fine $500-$5,000, up to 12 months confinement, or both; hunting and fishing privileges suspended 3 years; restitution of at least $1,500 per bear; equipment (not vehicles) forfeited.
What are the bait rules for black bears?
Bait is off limits for bears on every kind of land.
Can I hunt black bears on Sunday in Georgia?
The guide imposes no Sunday restriction on black bears. Individual WMAs, refuges and Corps lakes may.
Which equipment is legal for black bears?
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.
When does Georgia bear season start?
WRD sets black bears at archery Sep 12 to Oct 9, 2026 (Northern Bear Zone); primitive weapons & youth-only firearms Oct 10 to Oct 16, 2026 (Northern Bear Zone); firearms Oct 17, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027 (Northern Bear Zone); dog-bear quota hunt Oct 3 to Oct 11, 2026 (Chattahoochee and Chestatee WMAs (Northern Zone)); firearms (one day) Dec 19, 2026 (Central Bear Zone). Look in the bear dates table for the rest of the year.
What is the Georgia limit on black bears?
2 per season; no more than one from the Central or Southern zones. Unlawful to kill a female with cub(s) or any bear under 75 lb. 5 bears per party; no more than 2 per hunter; bears count toward the individual's statewide limit.
What license do I need for black bears in Georgia?
Required or relevant, at resident prices: Hunting License ($15.00); Big Game License ($25.00); Harvest Record (Free); Sportsman's License ($65.00).
How many Georgia public areas list black bears?
43 public areas, including Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, Blue Ridge Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest) and Chattooga River Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest).
What are legal hours for black bears in Georgia?
For black bears, legal light is 30 minutes either side of sunrise and sunset; the Outdoors GA app shows the daily times.
Is orange or blaze pink required for black bears?
Orange or blaze pink, 500 square inches as an outer garment above the waist, is required for black bears once primitive weapons season opens; archers are included outside archery-only ground.
Black Bear checklist
Before the bear trip, confirm your license, the land rules and the orange rule for the segment you hunt.
Other photos on this page: Nicholas A. Tonelli (CC0 1.0); Joe Mabel (CC BY-SA 4.0); Flappy Pigeon (CC BY-SA 4.0); USDAgov (Public domain); Judy Gallagher (CC BY 2.0); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain).