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Migratory birds in Georgia
Georgia Coot Hunting
Coots follow the duck season dates: Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026 and Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027. 2026-27 coot dates, limits and public areas in Georgia.
Photo: born1945 (CC BY 2.0)
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.
The guide’s summary for coots
- Weapons: Shotguns 10 ga or smaller, plugged to 3 shells, federally approved nontoxic shot size F or smaller; no lead shot in possession.
- Also: Nov. 21-29, Dec. 12-Jan. 31.
Georgia limits on coots
Coot limits from the 2026-27 guide.
Coot
15 per day; possession 3x daily.
Migratory birds (falconry)
Ducks, coots and rails by falconry: 3 per day, 9 in possession.
Every coot segment on the 2026-27 calendar
From the first coot opener to the last close, the year holds 7 segments.
| Segment | Applies to | First day | Last day | Length | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coot | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 9 | |
| Coot | Statewide | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 51 | |
| Falconry (extended) | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 23 | |
| Falconry (extended) | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 16 | |
| Falconry (extended) | Statewide | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 2 | |
| Falconry (extended) | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | 16 | |
| Falconry (extended) | Statewide | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 51 |
What WRD attaches to these coot rows
- 3 per day, 9 in possession (falconry). Valid falconry permit and hunting license required.
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 coots
The map pins the 130 areas that list waterfowl; the table starts with the 15 largest.
| Tract | Type | 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 |
The rest of the coot list
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) · plus 60 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 coots
Licenses, hours, orange, bait and the other WRD rules that apply to coots.
Paperwork
| Permit | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting License | $15.00 | $100.00 |
| GA migratory bird license | $5.00 | $5.00 |
When to hunt
Coot hunters start 30 minutes before sunrise and must stop at sunset, the federal rule for every migratory bird.
Orange
Orange is not part of coot hunting in Georgia. The guide exempts dove and waterfowl from the WMA small game rule.
Bait
Bait rules for coots are federal, under 50 CFR Part 20.
Sunday rule
No Sunday ban applies to coots 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 coots
Weapon rules change with the season, so match the row to the segment you hunt.
| Season | Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Other coot method rules
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.
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.
2026-27 guide (PDF) and the hunting information page, checked October 13, 2026.
Gear picked for Coot country
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Coot questions and answers
Do coots count toward the duck limit?
No. Coots have their own 15-a-day limit.
Is Sunday coot hunting legal in Georgia?
No Sunday ban applies to coots in Georgia.
Is hunting coots near bait legal?
Bait rules for coots are federal, under 50 CFR Part 20.
When do coots open and close in Georgia?
Coots: coot Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026; coot Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027.
Which weapons may I use on coots?
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.
Do coot hunters need anything beyond a hunting license?
Resident licenses for coots: Hunting License ($15.00); GA migratory bird license ($5.00).
How many coots may I keep in Georgia?
15 per day; possession 3x daily. Ducks, coots and rails by falconry: 3 per day, 9 in possession.
When can coot hunters start in the morning?
Coot hunters start 30 minutes before sunrise and must stop at sunset, the federal rule for every migratory bird.
Where can I hunt coots without private access?
130 areas, among them Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, Blue Ridge Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest) and Chattooga River Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest).
Do coots fall under the orange rule?
Orange is not part of coot hunting in Georgia. The guide exempts dove and waterfowl from the WMA small game rule.
Coot: final checks
Pair this coot guide with the area listing for the WMA you plan to hunt; quota and sign-in rules live there.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); colmmcsky (CC BY-SA 2.0); Judy Gallagher (CC BY 2.0); Frank.Vassen (CC BY 2.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).