Georgia Hunting Seasons & Prices
2026 big-game season dates and license/tag prices.
Georgia offers 2026 hunting seasons for whitetail, black bear, and turkey across archery, firearm, muzzleloader, and any method methods. Seasons run from September 12, 2026 through May 15, 2027. A base hunting license costs $15 for residents and $100 for nonresidents.
Planning reference only — always confirm dates and prices with the state wildlife agency before applying, buying a license, or hunting.
Season dates
Whitetail
| Season | Method | Opens | Closes | Notes | Track |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Archery | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | Either-sex statewide. Extended archery runs Sept. 12, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027 in listed counties (Baker, Barrow, Bibb, Calhoun, Chatham, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Decatur, DeKalb, Douglas, Early, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Grady, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Miller, Mitchell, Muscogee, Paulding, Richmond, Rockdale, Seminole and Thomas). In Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole and Thomas counties the first 2 weeks of archery are buck only. | 🔔 |
| Early Antlerless Firearms | Firearm | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | Antlerless only; select deer season zones. | 🔔 |
| Primitive Weapons & Youth-Only Firearms | Muzzleloader | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | Either-sex. | 🔔 |
| Firearms | Firearm | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | Statewide season framework; either-sex days and closing dates vary by deer season zone (some southwest-zone counties run to Jan. 15, 2027). Firearms deer hunting is not allowed in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton (north of GA Hwy 92) and the Jekyll Island portion of Glynn County. | 🔔 |
Black bear
| Season | Method | Opens | Closes | Notes | Track |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery (Northern Zone) | Archery | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | 🔔 | |
| Firearms (Southern Zone) | Firearm | Sep 17, 2026 | Oct 10, 2026 | Southern Zone open days only: Sept. 17-19, Sept. 24-26, Oct. 1-3 and Oct. 8-10. | 🔔 |
| Primitive Weapons & Youth-Only Firearms (Northern Zone) | Muzzleloader | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | 🔔 | |
| Firearms (Northern Zone) | Firearm | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | 🔔 | |
| Firearms (Central Zone) | Firearm | Dec 19, 2026 | Dec 19, 2026 | One hunt day. If fewer than 6 female bears are harvested on Dec. 19, a second hunt day opens in January - check georgiawildlife.com after Dec. 21. | 🔔 |
Turkey
| Season | Method | Opens | Closes | Notes | Track |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Opportunity (statewide) | Any method | Mar 20, 2027 | Mar 21, 2027 | Youth under 16 and mobility-impaired hunters only. Does not apply to public lands unless otherwise specified. | 🔔 |
| Private Lands | Any method | Mar 27, 2027 | May 15, 2027 | 2 gobblers per season; daily bag limit of 1 (including the Special Opportunity season). | 🔔 |
| WMAs, VPAs & National Forest | Any method | Apr 3, 2027 | May 15, 2027 | 1 gobbler per area per person; see individual WMA listings. | 🔔 |
License & tag prices
| License | Resident | Nonresident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Hunting License | $15 | $100 | |
| Big Game License (deer/turkey/bear) | $25 | $225 |
Georgia licenses big game with a base hunting license plus a Big Game License (covers deer, turkey, and bear). Season dates for 2026-27 are added here once GA WRD publishes them.
Source: Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources / Go Outdoors Georgia license prices (georgiawildlife.com)
Georgia hunt units
Explore harvest history, success rates, and draw odds by unit.
Georgia hunting FAQ
- When does whitetail season open in Georgia in 2026?
- Georgia's 2026 whitetail archery season opens September 12 and runs through October 9. Always confirm exact dates with the state wildlife agency before hunting.
- What big-game species can you hunt in Georgia?
- In 2026, Georgia has hunting seasons for whitetail, black bear, and turkey.
- How much is a Georgia hunting license for nonresidents?
- A base hunting license in Georgia is $100 for nonresidents and $15 for residents.
📊 Georgia harvest trends
How Georgia's harvest has moved season to season, from official state reports.