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2026-27 WRD guide
Georgia Opossum Hunting
Private land has no closed season on opossums, and Georgia sets no limit. From the first opener to the last day, the 2026-27 opossum rules in one place.
Photo: John Brighenti (CC BY 2.0)
On public land the possum season runs Aug 15, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027. Night hunting is legal, with the light carried on the body, a hat or helmet, or a belt; there is no voltage limit. Trapping opossums is open all year with a Trapping License, $40.00 resident, $325.00 nonresident.
Opossum in brief
- How: Hunting with small game weapons and lights at night; trapping year-round.
- Notes: Private land: no closed season. Public land: Aug. 15-Feb. 28.
Opossum limits for 2026-27
Quick figures first, then the limit text as the guide prints it.
Opossum
No limit.
Georgia opossum seasons, 2026-27
WRD’s 2026-27 dates for opossums, 1 line in all; zone names link to their own pages.
| Season | Where | Opens | Closes | Days | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting | Private lands | Always open | Year-round | ||
| Hunting | Public lands | Aug 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 198 | |
| Trapping | Statewide | Always open | Year-round |
Opossum season fine print
- No closed season, no limit; night hunting allowed.
From the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division 2026-27 season page and the 2026-27 guide (PDF), checked October 13, 2026.
Opossum public hunting areas
No area in WRD’s listings names opossums directly, so these are the 145 areas that list small game, biggest first. Check each listing before you go.
| Area | Kind | Counties | Region | 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 |
Further opossum options
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) · Penholoway Swamp WMA (11,177 ac) · Canoochee Sandhills WMA (10,224 ac) · Clarks Hill WMA – East (10,224 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) · Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA: VPA Tracts (9,048 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) · Rum Creek WMA (5,800 ac) · Hannahatchee Creek WMA (5,600 ac) · Sheffield WMA (5,556 ac) · Beaverdam WMA (5,500 ac) · 75 others
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.
Opossum regulations beyond the limit
Rules for opossums, with license prices as listed on October 13, 2026.
License list
| License | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting License | $15.00 | $100.00 |
| Sportsman's License | $65.00 | $400.00 |
| Trapping License | $40.00 | $325.00 |
Hours
Night hunting is legal for opossums. The light must be worn, on the body, a hat or a belt, and no voltage limit applies.
Wearing orange
On WMAs and VPAs, small game hunts held at the same time as firearms deer or bear hunts require orange or blaze pink.
Baiting law
Hunting opossums within 200 yards of bait, or for 10 days after the bait is gone, is not allowed.
Hunting on Sunday
Statewide opossum dates include Sundays.
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 weapons for opossums in Georgia
Legal and prohibited equipment for opossums, season by season.
| Season or group | Legal | Not legal |
|---|---|---|
| Small game & furbearers | .22-cal. or smaller rimfire rifles/handguns; any muzzleloading firearm; any caliber air rifle/air gun; shotguns with shells 3.5 in. or shorter and No. 2 or smaller shot. Fox and bobcat: centerfire .17-cal.+ also legal (not on WMA small game dates). | Centerfire rifles for other small game; centerfire rifles on WMA small game dates day or night. |
Method rules for possum hunters
Night hunting
Alligators, raccoons, opossums, foxes, coyotes, bobcats and feral hogs may be hunted at night; lights for raccoon/opossum/fox/bobcat carried on body, hat/helmet or belt. No night hunting of hogs or coyotes on WMAs/National Forests.
Lights
Unlawful to blind wildlife with lights.
Dens
Unlawful to disturb wildlife dens, holes or homes or drive wildlife from them.
2026-27 guide (PDF) and the hunting information page, checked October 13, 2026.
Opossum country hunting kit
Matched to the species on this page.
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Asked about opossums in Georgia
When is opossum season on Georgia WMAs?
Aug 15, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027 on public land, no limit. Private land has no closed season.
Must I wear orange for opossums?
On WMAs and VPAs, small game hunts held at the same time as firearms deer or bear hunts require orange or blaze pink.
Can I use feed or corn for opossums?
Hunting opossums within 200 yards of bait, or for 10 days after the bait is gone, is not allowed.
Are Sundays open for opossums?
Statewide opossum dates include Sundays.
What guns are legal for opossums in Georgia?
Small game & furbearers: .22-cal. or smaller rimfire rifles/handguns; any muzzleloading firearm; any caliber air rifle/air gun; shotguns with shells 3.5 in. or shorter and No. 2 or smaller shot. Fox and bobcat: centerfire .17-cal.+ also legal (not on WMA small game dates).
What are the 2026-27 Georgia dates for opossums?
For opossums: hunting Aug 15, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027 (Public lands).
What is the opossum limit in Georgia?
No limit.
What does it cost to hunt opossums in Georgia?
Buy, as it applies to opossums: Hunting License ($15.00); Sportsman's License ($65.00); Trapping License ($40.00).
Is there public land for opossums in Georgia?
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Blue Ridge Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest) lead a list of 145. None names the species directly; they list a broader category.
How late can I hunt opossums?
Night hunting is legal for opossums. The light must be worn, on the body, a hat or a belt, and no voltage limit applies.
Heading out after opossums
Dates and limits here match the 2026-27 guide as of October 13, 2026; WRD can change them, so check the season page before a opossum hunt.
Other photos on this page: Juliana Chong (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain); U.S. Geological Survey (CC0 1.0); watts_photos (CC BY 2.0).