Georgia Hunting Season Schedules Updated In 2025

*The spring turkey season has been updated for 2026.

Georgia offers hunting seasons all year round. With diverse landscapes and abundant wildlife in this Peach State, it’s the perfect place to hunt big and small game.

To enjoy the traditional activities in Georgia, don’t forget to familiarize yourself with the Georgia season dates and hunting rules, and get the required licenses and permits.

Here we will list the detailed calendar and information for the season schedules in Georgia, and help you prepare for your hunting trip in advance.

Georgia Deer Season

The deer seasons in Georgia are the same as last year. Seasons last for 4 months, starting in September and ending in January of the next year.

• Archery Season: Sept. 13 – Oct. 10, 2025
• Extended Archery Season: Jan. 12 – Jan. 31, 2026
• Primitive Weapons & Youth-Only Firearms:  Oct. 11 – Oct. 17, 2025
• Firearms Season:  Oct. 18 – Jan. 11, 2026
• Extended Firearms:  Oct. 18 – Jan. 15, 2026

Bag limits:

• The limit is 12 per season.
• Only 2 antlered deer can be hunted, and the rest must be antlerless.
• The deer must have a minimum of four points on each antler, measuring one inch or more, on one side of the antlers or a minimum of 15 inches.

*Note that Firearms deer hunting is not allowed in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton (north of GA Highway 92), and that portion of Glynn County lying within Jekyll Island. In the portion of Forsyth County south of GA Highway 20, only shotguns and muzzleloaders may be used (no other firearms allowed).

Georgia Bear Season

*Notes:

• No baiting over hunting a bear.
• All bear hunters are required to have a Harvest Record for the current season.
• Hunters must report harvested bears within 24 hours.
• It is not allowed to hunt female bears or bears under 75 pounds.

Georgia Turkey Season

The 2026 turkey season starts one day earlier than the 2025 season.

Georgia’s turkey breeding season typically peaks in April. This is the time when turkeys are most active and a good time to hunt them.

2026 Turkey season

• Private Land: Mar. 28 – May 15, 2026
• Public Land: April 4 – May 15, 2026
• Youth/Mobility Impaired Hunt: Mar. 21 – 22, 2026

*The bag limit is one turkey daily and two gobblers in total per season. Notice that the youth turkey season does not apply to the public lands.

▶Learn more about Georgia’s turkey with this post: Georgia Wild Turkey Anatomy and Hunting Guide.

Georgia Dove Seasons

Zone: Statewide

Dates:

• Sept. 6 – Oct. 12, 2025
• Nov. 22 – Nov. 30, 2025
• Dec. 19 – Jan. 31, 2026

Limits: 15 per day, 45 in possession

Hours: The shooting hours are 30 minutes from sunrise to sunset.

The dove hunting season in Georgia is split into 3 different periods from September to January, giving more hunters chances to enjoy the hunt at different times.

Dove hunting season’s first period starts on September 6th and lasts until October 12th. This time of year is popular because it marks the start of hunting season for many big game and small game. The weather conditions are also good and improve the overall experience.

Following a break, the second season continues to start on November 22nd and extends through the end of November.

The last season of the Georgia dove hunting opens from December 19th to January 31st of the next year. Participating in the hunt during the cold winter season can be quite exciting for many.

Georgia Alligator Season

Dates: Aug. 15 – Oct. 6, 2025

Limits: 1 per quota permit

Hunters can hunt Alligators during the day or at night.

It’s all about the lottery for the alligator hunt. Due to the limited number, hunters must apply for an alligator quota hunt online at gooutdoorsgeorgia.com by July 15.

It’s tough to get picked. Most hunters have to put in for years to build up Priority Points. If you’re serious about it, start applying now just to get that point, even if you don’t plan to hunt this year.

It isn’t like deer hunting, where you shoot from a distance. In Georgia, it’s illegal to shoot a free-swimming alligator.

You have to secure the gator first, using a snare, a harpoon, or a heavy-duty snag hook. Only the gator is tired out, and right next to the boat, you can finish the harvest job.

Georgia Small Games Hunting Season

Georgia Waterfowl Seasons

Georgia offers diverse waterfowl hunting opportunities. Staying compliant with federal and state laws is essential for a successful season.

Now, let’s check the species-specific season:

To legally hunt waterfowl in Georgia, hunters aged 16 and older must possess the following:

• A valid state hunting license.
• Georgia Waterfowl Conservation License is required for all waterfowl hunters.
• A Federal Duck Stamp for migratory bird hunting.

You can purchase all these licenses or permits via the Go Outdoors Georgia website or app.

For the best results in Georgia, scout local Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). Areas like Altamaha or Butler Island are renowned for their waterfowl populations but may require special permits or lottery draws.

Georgia Migratory Birds Seasons

Doves Season Dates

• Sept. 6 – Oct. 12, 2025
• Nov. 22 – 30, 2025
• Dec. 19 – Jan. 31, 2026

Bag Limits: 15 per day and 45 in total.

Gallinules Season Dates

• Nov. 22 – 30, 2025
• Dec. 6 – Jan. 25, 2026

Bag Limits: 15 per day and 45 in total.

Sora and Rails Season Dates

• Sept. 8 – 13, 2025
• Oct. 6 – Nov. 30, 2025

Bag Limits: 25 per day and 75 in total.

Woodcock  Season Dates

• Dec. 6 – Jan. 19, 2026

Bag Limits: 3 per day and 9 in total.

Quick Tip:

1. Doves have amazing eyesight. Wear your camo and try to stay still until it’s time to take the shot. Make sure to bring plenty of shells, as you’re going to miss more than you think.
2. Woodcock hunting starts in winter because they usually show up later in the year. They fly erratically and fast. It’s tight-cover hunting, so a shorter shotgun is your best friend here.
3. For rails or gallinules, they stay low and fly slowly compared to doves, so don’t be too quick on the trigger. It’s a great way to spend a morning in the coastal marshes.
4. Before you head out for any of these birds, make sure you have your HIP permit (Harvest Information Program). It’s free and required.

Georgia Falconry Seasons

Squirrel: Aug. 15 – Mar. 15, 2026

Grouse: Oct. 1 – Mar. 15, 2026

Rabbit and Quail: Oct. 1 – Mar. 15, 2026

In the falconry seasons, hunters can harvest 12 squirrels per day, 12 rabbits & quail per day, and 3 grouse per day.

Georgia Hunting Licenses And Permits

To hunt in Georgia, you will need the required license and permits to hunt different prey. Here are the costs of each type of hunting license.

How Much Does a Georgia Hunting License Cost?

How to Buy a Hunting License?

There are 3 ways to buy a legal hunting license in Georgia. It is very easy:

1. You can visit the official website and purchase it online: gooutdoorsgeorgia.com.
2. Make a phone call at: 1-800-366-2661.
3. Buy from any agent over the counter. There are lots of them statewide.

Legal Weapon For Georgia Hunting Seasons

For Deer and Bear Hunting:

• Modern Rifles and Handguns: only centerfire rifles and handguns in .22-caliber or higher with expanding ammunition.
• Shotguns: should be at least 20-gauge and loaded with slugs or buckshot.
• Muzzleloaders: must be .30-caliber or larger, or muzzleloading shotguns must be 20 gauge or larger.
• Air Guns: any air rifle with a minimum caliber of .30 or air bow.

For Turkey Hunting:

Legal firearms include shotguns with small shot sizes, muzzleloading firearms, air rifles with a caliber of at least .30, or air bows powered by compressed gas or air. No need to plug shotgun.

For Small Game Hunting:

• Rifles and Handguns: Any firearm that is .22-caliber or smaller and rimfire, any muzzleloading weapon, or any air rifle or air gun of any caliber.

• Shotguns: Any shotgun that uses shot shells 3.5 inches or less in size with No. 2 shot or smaller.

• Shotguns (Waterfowl): Any shotgun that is 10-gauge or smaller and is loaded with nontoxic shot approved by the federal government, with a size of “F” or smaller.

Things You Should Know When Hunting in Georgia

1. A hunting license is not required if you hunt on your own land.
2. Hunters under age 16 are not required to take hunter education courses.
3. In addition to a hunting license, a big game license is also required if you want to hunt big game like deer, bear, or turkey.
4. Hunters are required to report alligator, bear, deer, and turkey harvests within 24 hours through Georgia Game Check.
5. Every hunter must wear daylight fluorescent orange above the waist( at least 500 square).
6. Don’t go hunting if you are under the impact of drugs or alcohol.
7. Hunting deer with dogs is allowed in some counties, but you need to get a permit.
8. No baiting when hunting any game, except for deer and feral hogs, which can be hunted with baiting on private lands.. Or, hunters will be subject to a fine of $5,000.

Conclusion

Georgia’s hunting seasons provide rich and diverse possibilities for hunters. Whether you’re attracted to the challenge of deer hunting, the lure of turkey calls, or the mystery of night hunting, the state has plenty of options.

Remember to stay informed about specific dates, weapons, and limits in each zone with our latest updates. We hope your Georgia hunting adventures will be filled with fun, skill, and respect for the natural world. Good luck with your hunt!

Here is an online season calendar that allows you to check all season dates in Georgia for all big games or small games, and sync the schedule to your Google Calendar: Georgia Current Hunting Seasons Calendar.