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Georgia migratory birds
Georgia Gallinule Hunting
Common and purple gallinules follow the duck season dates: Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026 and Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027. Below: every 2026-27 segment, the limits, public land, legal weapons and the WRD rules for gallinules.
Photo: USFWS/Southeast (Public domain)
The limit is 15 a day, separate from the duck bag. Federal migratory bird rules apply, including the three-shell plug and nontoxic shot for waterfowl. The GA Waterfowl and Migratory Bird License covers them for hunters 16 and up.
Gallinule in the 2026-27 guide
- Equipment: Shotguns 10 ga or smaller, plugged to 3 shells, federally approved nontoxic shot size F or smaller; no lead shot in possession.
- Note: Nov. 21-29, Dec. 12-Jan. 31.
What WRD allows for gallinules
The wording on the cards is WRD’s own for gallinules.
Gallinules
15 per day; possession 3x daily.
2026-27 gallinule dates in Georgia
The full gallinule calendar for 2026-27: 2 dated segments, newest status on the right.
| Hunt | Zone or land | Start | End | Days | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallinules (common gallinule/moorhen, purple gallinule) | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 9 | |
| Gallinules (common gallinule/moorhen, purple gallinule) | Statewide | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 51 |
From the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division 2026-27 season page and the 2026-27 guide (PDF), checked October 13, 2026.
Where to hunt gallinules on Georgia public land
Marsh bird hunters have 130 public options in our list, led by Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests.
| Name | Land type | County | Region office | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Paulding Forest WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Paulding, Polk | Armuchee | 28,183 |
| John's Mountain WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Gordon, Walker, Floyd | Armuchee | 23,710 |
| Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Walker | Armuchee | 21,895 |
115 more areas for gallinules
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) · West Point WMA (10,000 ac) · Ohoopee Dunes WMA (9,271 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) · 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) · Clayhole Swamp WMA (5,242 ac) · Tallapoosa River WMA (5,215 ac) · Blanton Creek WMA (4,800 ac) · Moody Forest WMA (4,675 ac) · Altama Plantation WMA (4,612 ac) · Lanahassee Creek WMA (4,440 ac) · Joe Kurz WMA (3,700 ac) · River Bend WMA (3,670 ac) · Rogers WMA (3,340 ac) · and 60 more in the land directory
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.
Gallinule licenses and requirements
Everything here comes from the 2026-27 guide and applies statewide unless an area listing says otherwise.
Fees
| License | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting License | $15.00 | $100.00 |
| GA migratory bird license | $5.00 | $5.00 |
Hunting hours
For gallinules the shooting day closes at sunset; it opens half an hour before sunrise.
Safety colours
The guide leaves dove and waterfowl out of its orange rule, so camouflage is fine for gallinules.
Baiting
Gallinules fall under the federal baiting regulations.
Weekends
Georgia sets no statewide Sunday closure, so gallinule seasons run straight through each weekend.
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.
What you may hunt gallinules with
WRD lists legal equipment by season; these rows cover gallinules.
| Applies to | Legal equipment | Prohibited |
|---|---|---|
| Waterfowl / migratory birds | Shotguns 10 ga or smaller with federally approved nontoxic shot size F or smaller for waterfowl; shotguns limited to 3 shells (one-piece plug) for all migratory birds. | Possessing lead shot while hunting waterfowl. |
Methods that matter for gallinules
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.
Waterfowl reservoir restrictions
No hunting within 600 ft of docks/houses/structures etc. on Lakes Allatoona, Lanier and Walter F. George; within 300 ft on Georgia Power north Georgia lakes and on Blackshear, Oconee, Seminole, Sinclair and Oliver.
2026-27 guide (PDF) and the hunting information page, checked October 13, 2026.
Loading the truck for Gallinule country
Picked around the hunting done here; prices change daily.
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Quick answers on gallinules
Do gallinules count toward the duck limit?
No. Common and purple gallinules have their own 15-a-day limit.
Does Georgia close Sundays for gallinules?
Georgia sets no statewide Sunday closure, so gallinule seasons run straight through each weekend.
Can I use a rifle for gallinules in Georgia?
Waterfowl / migratory birds: Shotguns 10 ga or smaller with federally approved nontoxic shot size F or smaller for waterfowl; shotguns limited to 3 shells (one-piece plug) for all migratory birds.
When can I hunt gallinules in Georgia this season?
Marsh bird hunters get gallinules (common gallinule/moorhen, purple gallinule) Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026; gallinules (common gallinule/moorhen, purple gallinule) Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027.
What does WRD allow per day for gallinules?
15 per day; possession 3x daily.
What paperwork do marsh bird hunters carry in Georgia?
For gallinules, resident prices: Hunting License ($15.00); GA migratory bird license ($5.00).
Can I hunt gallinules on a Georgia WMA?
Our list has 130; by acreage, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, Blue Ridge Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest) and Chattooga River Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest) come first.
Can gallinules be hunted at night in Georgia?
For gallinules the shooting day closes at sunset; it opens half an hour before sunrise.
Is orange needed when hunting gallinules?
The guide leaves dove and waterfowl out of its orange rule, so camouflage is fine for gallinules.
Can I hunt gallinules over bait in Georgia?
Gallinules fall under the federal baiting regulations.
Wrapping up gallinules
A WMA, refuge or Corps lake can add its own rules on top of the statewide gallinule rules here.
Other photos on this page: USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); Calistemon (CC BY-SA 4.0); Judy Gallagher (CC BY 2.0); Luiz Lapa (CC BY 2.0); James St. John (CC BY 2.0); Dave Williss (CC BY 2.0).