Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-4-2-.67 - Small Game Regulations on Wildlife Management Areas

(1) During small game hunts, hunters may hunt any small game in season subject to state seasons, regulations and bag limits except as may otherwise be provided in Rule 391-4-2-.70 and:

(a) The daily bag limit on fox squirrels is 1 per hunter.

(b) The daily bag limit on bobwhite quail is 3 per hunter, unless otherwise specified in Rule 391-4-2-.70.

(c) During a quota hunt for any species, only drawn hunters and their party members may hunt.

(2) Sign-in is not required for small game hunting (including migratory birds) unless otherwise provided in Rule 391-4-2-.70.

(3) Small game and furbearer hunting are not allowed during quota hunts unless otherwise provided in Rule 391-4-2-.70.

(4) Small game hunters hunting on dates concurrent with deer and bear primitive weapons or firearm hunts must wear fluorescent orange as specified in Rule 391-4-2-.04, except for dove hunters hunting on managed dove fields, furbearer hunters hunting at night, and waterfowl hunters hunting on managed waterfowl impoundments or other water bodies.

(5) Only waterfowl hunting can take place on managed impoundments during waterfowl hunting dates. Waterfowl on all other WMA locations may be taken any day of the waterfowl seasons whenever the area is open for small game hunting unless otherwise specified.

(6) On quota waterfowl hunts, hunters must hunt from assigned areas. Shooting hours begin in accordance with applicable federal regulations and end at 12:00 noon except that on the last Saturday of the season, hunters may shoot until sunset.

(7) No night hunting is allowed on any WMA except for raccoon, fox, opossum, or bobcat on open dates. Coyotes and feral hogs may be taken at night, with small game weapons, while hunting raccoon, fox, opossum, or bobcat. Centerfire weapons may not be used for hunting at night on WMAs.

(8) Raccoon, opossum, fox and bobcat may be hunted within statewide seasons during small game and furbearer dates, unless otherwise specified.

(9) Permitted alligator hunters may hunt during day or night on open small game and big game dates unless otherwise specified in Rule 391-4-2-.70.

(10) Coyotes and feral hogs may be taken during all hunts but weapon types are restricted to only those weapons allowed for the game species in season. Coyotes and feral hogs may be taken during small game season with any weapon legal for small game except that centerfire rifles may not be used, unless otherwise specified in Rule 391-4-2-.70.

(11) Special coyote season:

(a) May 16-May 31 on department managed WMAs unless otherwise specified in 391-4-2-.70. Not open on State Parks, Voluntary Public Access Areas, or federal lands unless otherwise specified in Rule 391-4-2-.70.

(b) Hunters may use any weapon legal for small or big game unless otherwise specified in 391-4-2-.70.

(c) Hunters and any person accompanying a hunter afield shall wear a total of at least 500 visible square inches of daylight fluorescent orange material as an outer garment above the waistline.

(d) Night hunting is prohibited.

(e) Feral hogs may not be taken unless otherwise specified in 391-4-2-.70.

(f) Dogs may not be used to hunt hogs unless otherwise specified in 391-4-2-.70. Where allowed, hunting dogs must be marked with the hunter's name and a valid telephone number.

(g) Hogs must be killed immediately upon capture.

(12) Unless otherwise specified in 391-4-2-.70, small game may be taken on WMAs by permitted falconers at any time during the state falconry season pursuant to O.C.G.A. 27-3-15 except during any quota big game or small game hunts for which the falconer has not been drawn.

(13) Centerfire rifles may be used for fox and bobcat during daylight hours from December 1 through the last day of February only if a non-quota big game season is open on the area, unless otherwise specified in Rule 391-4-2-.70.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-4-2-.67

O.C.G.A. § 27-1-4.

Original Rule entitled "Small Game Regulations on Wildlife Management Areas" adopted. F. Jun. 13, 2013; eff. July 3, 2013. Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. May 26, 2015; eff. June 15, 2015. Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. June 1, 2017; eff. June 21, 2017. Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. June 4, 2019; eff. June 24, 2019. Amended: F. June 7, 2021; eff. June 27, 2021. Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. June 2, 2023; eff. June 22, 2023.