Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-4-2-.73 - Pursuit of Bears with Dogs on Wildlife Management Areas, Other State Lands and Federal Areas

(1) The purpose of this rule is to establish regulations governing the use of dogs to pursue bears for training and hunting purposes on wildlife management areas, other state lands and federal areas.

(2) It is unlawful for any person to allow their dog(s) to pursue a bear(s) on any wildlife management area, other state land or federal land during any time other than the season(s) specified for such wildlife management area, other state land or federal land in rule 391-4-2-.70.

(3) On wildlife management areas, other state lands or federal lands that have a season(s) specified for pursuing bears for the purposes of training hunting dogs or hunting bears pursuant to rule 391-4-2-.70:

(a) It is unlawful for any person to participate or assist in a lawful open season for pursuing bears with dogs without first procuring a valid hunting license and big game license pursuant to O.C.G.A. Title 27; and

(b) Any person participating or assisting in a lawful open season for pursuing bears for the purpose of training hunting dogs shall comply with the provisions of O.C.G.A. Sec. 27-3-16; and

(c) It is unlawful for any person participating or assisting in a lawful open season for pursuing bears for the purpose of training hunting dogs to fail to check-in once per season online via the departments website or application, or as otherwise specified in the annual popular guide to Hunting Regulations; and

(d) It is unlawful for any person to fail to mark each dog used for pursuing bears with such person's first name, last name, address, and valid telephone number; and

(e) It is unlawful for any person to fail to remove their dog(s) from any such area upon departure; and

(f) It is unlawful for any person participating or assisting in a lawful open season for pursuing bears with dogs to allow their dog(s) to pursue any bear onto property for which permission has not been granted in accordance with O.C.G.A. Sec. 27-3-1 or onto any wildlife management area, other state land or federal land at any time not specified in Rule 391-4-2-.70.

(4) In accordance with O.C.G.A. Sec. 27-2-25, the commissioner may revoke the hunting privileges, big game privileges, and/or wildlife management area privileges of any person who fails to comply with subsections (2) or (3)(a) through (3)(f) of this rule.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-4-2-.73

O.C.G.A. §§ 27-1-4, 27-3-15, 27-3-26.

Original Rule entitled "Deer Hunts on Chickasawhatchee Wildlife Management Area" adopted. F. Sept. 24, 1998; eff. Oct. 14, 1998. Repealed: F. Apr. 30, 1999; eff. May 20, 1999. New Rule entitled "Pursuit of Bears with Dogs on Wildlife Management Areas, Other State Lands and Federal Areas" adopted. F. Jun. 1, 2011; eff. June 21, 2011. Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. July 13, 2017; eff. August 2, 2017 Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. June 4, 2019; eff. June 24, 2019. Amended: F. June 8, 2021; eff. June 28, 2021. Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. June 2, 2023; eff. June 22, 2023.