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Small game in Georgia
Georgia Squirrel Hunting
Squirrel season is the longest small game season in Georgia, Aug 15, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027, 198 days. 2026-27 squirrel dates, limits and public areas in Georgia.
Photo: Judy Gallagher (CC BY 2.0)
Gray and fox squirrels count together toward twelve a day. On WMAs, VPAs and other department-managed land, only one of those may be a fox squirrel. Any air rifle or .22 rimfire is legal, along with shotguns using No. 2 or smaller shot.
The guide’s summary for squirrels
- Weapons: Rimfire .22 or smaller, muzzleloaders, any air gun, shotguns (3.5 in. shells, No. 2 or smaller shot); falconry with permit.
- Also: Aug. 15-Feb. 28; falconry Aug. 15-Mar. 15.
Georgia limits on squirrels
Squirrel limits from the 2026-27 guide.
Squirrel
12 per day (regular and falconry); fox squirrel 1 per person per day on WMAs, VPAs and department-managed lands.
Every squirrel segment on the 2026-27 calendar
From the first squirrel opener to the last close, the year holds 2 segments.
| Segment | Applies to | First day | Last day | Length | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting (gray and fox squirrel) | Statewide | Aug 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 198 | |
| Falconry | Statewide | Aug 15, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | 213 |
What WRD attaches to these squirrel rows
- 12 per day; fox squirrel limit 1 per person per day on WMAs, VPAs and department-managed lands.
From the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division 2026-27 season page and the 2026-27 guide (PDF), checked October 13, 2026.
Mapped public land for squirrels
The WMA listings do not name squirrels; shown instead are the 146 areas open for small game.
| Tract | Type | County | 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 |
The rest of the squirrel list
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) · plus 76 more
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.
What Georgia law says about squirrels
Licenses, hours, orange, bait and the other WRD rules that apply to squirrels.
Paperwork
| Permit | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting License | $15.00 | $100.00 |
| Sportsman's License | $65.00 | $400.00 |
When to hunt
The day for squirrels starts 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 30 minutes after sunset.
Orange
Squirrel hunters on a WMA wear orange or pink when the area has a firearms deer or bear hunt going on.
Bait
The general rule bars hunting game on or within 200 yards of bait, and for 10 days after it is cleared.
Sunday rule
No Sunday ban applies to squirrels in Georgia.
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.
Guns, bows and methods for squirrels
Weapon rules change with the season, so match the row to the segment you hunt.
| Season | Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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. | – |
Other squirrel method rules
WMA sign-in and land access
Sign-in required for all WMA bear, deer and turkey hunts; anyone 16+ entering a WMA or PFA needs a license allowing state-land hunting/fishing or a Lands Pass.
Vehicles, boats and aircraft
Unlawful to hunt from a vehicle, plane, or boat under power; unlawful to hunt or shoot from or across a public road or discharge a firearm within 50 yards of a public road.
Sale of game
Unlawful to sell or buy game or parts, except antlers, hides and tails of legal deer, squirrel tails, hides of legally trapped furbearers and legal alligator products.
2026-27 guide (PDF) and the hunting information page, checked October 13, 2026.
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Squirrel questions and answers
Can I shoot fox squirrels in Georgia?
Yes. They are part of the 12 a day, but on WMAs, VPAs and department-managed lands the limit is one fox squirrel per person per day.
How many squirrels may I keep in Georgia?
12 per day (regular and falconry); fox squirrel 1 per person per day on WMAs, VPAs and department-managed lands.
When do squirrels open and close in Georgia?
Squirrels: hunting (gray and fox squirrel) Aug 15, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027.
Where can I hunt squirrels without private access?
146 areas, among them Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Blue Ridge Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest). That list is by category, since no listing names the species itself.
Do squirrel hunters need anything beyond a hunting license?
Resident licenses for squirrels: Hunting License ($15.00); Sportsman's License ($65.00).
Do squirrels fall under the orange rule?
Squirrel hunters on a WMA wear orange or pink when the area has a firearms deer or bear hunt going on.
When can squirrel hunters start in the morning?
The day for squirrels starts 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 30 minutes after sunset.
Is Sunday squirrel hunting legal in Georgia?
No Sunday ban applies to squirrels in Georgia.
Is hunting squirrels near bait legal?
The general rule bars hunting game on or within 200 yards of bait, and for 10 days after it is cleared.
Which weapons may I use on squirrels?
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).
Squirrel: final checks
Pair this squirrel guide with the area listing for the WMA you plan to hunt; quota and sign-in rules live there.
Other photos on this page: Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0); Wesley Fryer (CC BY 2.0); Joe K Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0); GlacierNPS (Public domain); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0).