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Georgia migratory birds
Georgia Canada Goose Hunting
Canada geese have four Georgia splits, starting with a September segment: Sep 5 to Sep 27, 2026; Oct 10 to Oct 25, 2026; Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026; Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027. Season rows, limits, legal equipment and mapped public land for Canada geese.
Photo: USFWS/Southeast (Public domain)
The limit is five a day and fifteen in possession all season, September included. The September segment is aimed at resident geese on farm ponds, lake coves and pastures. Goose hunters on Allatoona, Lanier and Lake Eufaula must stay 600 feet from docks, houses and other structures.
The WRD goose summary
- Legal methods: Shotguns 10 ga or smaller, plugged to 3 shells, federally approved nontoxic shot size F or smaller; no lead shot in possession.
- More: Sept. 5-27, Oct. 10-25, Nov. 21-29, Dec. 12-Jan. 31.
How many Canada geese one hunter may take
The limits a ranger will check for Canada geese.
Canada goose
5 per day, combined; possession 3x daily (15).
Georgia goose seasons, 2026-27
Goose hunters get 4 segments this season. Day counts include the opening and closing day.
| Season | Zone | Begins | Ends | Days | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada goose (incl. September segment) | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 23 | |
| Canada goose (incl. September segment) | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 16 | |
| Canada goose (incl. September segment) | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 9 | |
| Canada goose (incl. September segment) | Statewide | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 51 |
Notes printed with the goose dates
- 5 per day, combined (guide). Possession 3x daily.
From the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division 2026-27 season page and the 2026-27 guide (PDF), checked October 13, 2026.
Georgia public areas with room for Canada geese
130 public areas list waterfowl, most of them Wildlife Management Areas; the biggest is Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests.
| Public land | Type | County | WRD 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 |
Smaller goose areas
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 another 60
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 Canada geese: licenses, hours, orange
These cards cover the paperwork and the field rules for Canada geese.
What to buy
| Item | Georgia resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting License | $15.00 | $100.00 |
| GA migratory bird license | $5.00 | $5.00 |
| Federal duck stamp | USFWS sets it | USFWS sets it |
Legal light
Plan on quitting at sunset: Canada geese fall under the migratory bird hours that begin 30 minutes before sunrise.
Blaze orange and pink
Goose hunters do not need orange: the WMA rule for small game during deer gun dates leaves out dove and waterfowl hunting.
Feed and bait
For Canada geese, federal migratory bird baiting rules apply.
Sunday hunting
Sunday hunting for Canada geese is legal statewide; check area listings for day-of-week limits.
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.
Canada Goose legal equipment
From the guide’s hunting information and unlawful acts pages, the rows that apply to Canada geese.
| Season | Permitted | Not permitted |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
How Canada geese may be taken
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.
Baiting (general)
Unlawful to hunt game animals or game birds on, over, around or within 200 yards of bait, or for 10 days after complete removal of bait; unlawful to place bait so as to prohibit hunting on adjacent property.
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.
2026-27 guide (PDF) and the hunting information page, checked October 13, 2026.
What to pack for Canada Goose country
Four picks matched to this ground and its seasons.
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Asked about Canada geese in Georgia
When is the September goose season in Georgia?
Sep 5 to Sep 27, 2026, five a day.
Must I wear orange for Canada geese?
Goose hunters do not need orange: the WMA rule for small game during deer gun dates leaves out dove and waterfowl hunting.
What are legal hours for Canada geese in Georgia?
Plan on quitting at sunset: Canada geese fall under the migratory bird hours that begin 30 minutes before sunrise.
Can I hunt Canada geese on Sunday in Georgia?
Sunday hunting for Canada geese is legal statewide; check area listings for day-of-week limits.
Does Georgia allow bait for Canada geese?
For Canada geese, federal migratory bird baiting rules apply.
What are the 2026-27 Georgia dates for Canada geese?
Canada geese run canada goose (incl. september segment) Sep 5 to Sep 27, 2026; canada goose (incl. september segment) Oct 10 to Oct 25, 2026; canada goose (incl. september segment) Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026; canada goose (incl. september segment) Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027.
What does Georgia allow for Canada geese?
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.
Which Georgia licenses cover Canada geese?
The goose list, resident: Hunting License ($15.00); GA migratory bird license ($5.00); the federal duck stamp.
Is there a bag limit on Canada geese in Georgia?
5 per day, combined; possession 3x daily (15).
Which Georgia public lands list Canada geese?
Start with Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, Blue Ridge Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest) and Chattooga River Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest), the biggest of 130.
Canada Goose checklist
For Canada geese on public ground, read the area’s own listing as well as the statewide rules.
Other photos on this page: vanhookc (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region (Public domain); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); ImagePerson (CC BY 4.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).