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Migratory birds · 2026-27
Georgia Common Snipe Hunting
Snipe season runs Nov 15, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027, 106 days, eight birds a day. Dates, limits, land and rules for snipe, all from the 2026-27 Georgia guide.
Photo: ilouque (CC BY 2.0)
Snipe use wet pastures, sod fields and flooded field edges more than open water. They are migratory birds, so shooting ends at sunset and the three-shell plug applies. The GA Waterfowl and Migratory Bird License covers snipe for hunters 16 and older.
Common Snipe at a glance
- Methods: Shotguns plugged to 3 shells (federal rules apply).
- Remarks: Nov. 15-Feb. 28.
Common Snipe bag and possession limits
These snipe limits are statewide unless a WMA listing sets lower ones.
Common (wilson's) snipe
8 per day; possession 3x daily.
Common Snipe dates by zone and land type
Each of the 1 row below is a separate snipe segment; the status column checks it against today.
| Segment | Where | Opening | Closing | Days | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common (Wilson's) snipe | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 106 |
From the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division 2026-27 season page and the 2026-27 guide (PDF), checked October 13, 2026.
Common Snipe on WMAs and federal land
130 areas list waterfowl, 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 |
| 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 |
More public land for snipe
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) · 60 more on the public land hub
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.
Common Snipe rules in Georgia
Before going after snipe, check these license, hour and bait rules.
Licenses and fees
| License or permit | Res. | Nonres. |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting License | $15.00 | $100.00 |
| GA migratory bird license | $5.00 | $5.00 |
Shooting hours
Legal time for snipe runs from a half hour before sunrise to sunset, the migratory bird window.
Orange rule
Dove and waterfowl hunters are exempt from the WMA orange rule, even when deer gun season is open.
Bait rules
Federal baiting rules (50 CFR Part 20) cover snipe.
Sundays
The guide imposes no Sunday restriction on snipe. Individual WMAs, refuges and Corps lakes may.
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 snipe
What you can carry for snipe, and what Georgia bans.
| Group | What is legal | What is not |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Common Snipe methods and restrictions
Trespass and permission
Landowner permission required, including on power line, gas line, railroad and other rights-of-way; written permission required if land is posted. Hunting from a stand attached to a transmission tower is trespassing.
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.
2026-27 guide (PDF) and the hunting information page, checked October 13, 2026.
Bring this to Common Snipe country
Chosen for the game hunted here; listings load when you click.
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Common Georgia snipe questions
Is snipe hunting real in Georgia?
Yes. Common (Wilson's) snipe are a legal migratory game bird, Nov 15, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027, eight a day.
When does Georgia snipe season start?
WRD sets snipe at common (wilson's) snipe Nov 15, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027.
What is the Georgia limit on snipe?
8 per day; possession 3x daily.
What license do I need for snipe in Georgia?
Required or relevant, at resident prices: Hunting License ($15.00); GA migratory bird license ($5.00).
How many Georgia public areas list snipe?
130 public areas, including Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, Blue Ridge Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest) and Chattooga River Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest).
Are there hour limits on snipe?
Legal time for snipe runs from a half hour before sunrise to sunset, the migratory bird window.
Is orange or blaze pink required for snipe?
Dove and waterfowl hunters are exempt from the WMA orange rule, even when deer gun season is open.
What are the bait rules for snipe?
Federal baiting rules (50 CFR Part 20) cover snipe.
Are snipe open on Sundays this year?
The guide imposes no Sunday restriction on snipe. Individual WMAs, refuges and Corps lakes may.
Which equipment is legal for snipe?
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.
Last word on snipe
Before the snipe trip, confirm your license, the land rules and the orange rule for the segment you hunt.
Other photos on this page: Judy Gallagher (CC BY 2.0); Intermountain Region US Forest Service (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); Birding for Climate (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).