Firearm Deer Hunting Season Begins Saturday

The opening day of deer firearms season is this Saturday and continues through Jan. 8, 2023.

“We are shaping up for an excellent deer season. Last season, the buck harvest dipped a little, so hopefully, we will have more mature bucks this year,” said Charlie Killmaster, state deer biologist for the Wildlife Resources Division.

However, Killmaster reminds hunters that there is now a new law designed to help prevent the introduction of Chronic Wasting Disease to Georgia.

The new law states that all hunters who plan to hunt any species of deer in other states, including border states, may only bring home boned-out meat, hides, skulls, or skull caps with antlers attached and all soft tissue removed (velvet antlers are okay), jawbones with no soft tissues, elk ivories, and finished taxidermy mounts.

All other carcass parts must be left behind.

During the 2021-22 firearms deer season, about 210,000 hunters harvested over 214,000 deer in Georgia.

Regulated deer hunting ensures that Georgia’s deer population continues to be healthy and strong and is an excellent way to fill your freezer with sustainable, healthy local meat.

Over one million acres of public hunting land is available to hunters in Georgia, including more than 100 state-operated wildlife management areas.

Many areas offer special hunts throughout the season, including primitive weapons and modern firearms hunts.

Hunt dates and locations for special hunts can be found in the 2022-2023 Georgia Hunting Seasons and Regulations guide at eregulations.com/georgia/hunting/.

State law allows hunters to harvest up to 10 antlerless deer, and no more than two antlered deer (with one of the two antlered deer having a minimum of four points, one inch or longer, on one side of the antlers) or a minimum 15-inch outside antler spread.

To pursue deer in Georgia, hunters must have a valid hunting license, a big game license, and a current deer harvest record.

Licenses can be purchased online at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com, by phone at 1-800-366-2661, or at a licensed agent.