• Hunting laws regulate deer hunting in Georgia.Buck Whitetail Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) image by Bruce MacQueen from Fotolia.com
  
  Georgia has a positive reputation of offering a wide selection of hunting opportunities. One of the more popular hunting choices is the white-tailed deer. To regulate the hunting of deer, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) enforces laws that every hunter must adhere to. At times, there are laws that can be misunderstood.
  
  

Seasons

• Georgia requires residents and nonresidents to purchase and carry a valid hunting license while hunting deer in the appropriate season. Seasons are set by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to meet conservation goals of different hunting zones around the state. The earliest season is the archery season, which opens--as of the 2009 to 2010 hunting season--on Sept. 12 and closes on Oct. 9. The season after archery is the primitive weapons season, allowing hunters to use muzzleloaders. Firearms seasons vary in different zones more than the archery and primitive weapons seasons. For the most part, the firearms seasons will start on Oct. 17 and close by Jan. 1.
  
  

Hunting With Dogs

• A unique hunting technique that is allowed in Georgia is the use of dogs for hunting deer. This hunting style has been popular in south Georgia for decades. In 2003, the Georgia General Assembly passed a bill that requires property owners and hunters to obtain permits before legally hunting deer with dogs. Requirements for obtaining a permit include hunting on at least 1,000 contiguous acres and every hunter, dog and vehicle must be identified on the permit. Permits can be purchased for $5 after completing the application form and mailing it to the Georgia DNR at least 30 days before the start of the season. Permits are valid until the last day of the season.
  
  

Imports

• Transporting deer is highly regulated for a variety of reasons, including the prevention of poaching and transfer of disease. After a hunter successfully harvests a deer, he must write his complete name, address, telephone number and hunting license number on a piece of paper for the person who will be in possession of the deer. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a concern for many states and Georgia has deer hunting laws in place to prevent the spread of the disease. The laws pertain to importing deer, deer carcasses or carcass parts into the state of Georgia. The only legal methods of transporting deer is to have boned-out meat, meat that has been commercially processed, meat with no part of the spine or head attached, clean antlers and taxidermy mounts.
  
  

Bag Limits

• Bag limits are common deer hunting laws to help control the overall population of deer. They are designed to prevent any hunter from killing too many deer that could potentially harm the health of the deer herd. In Georgia, bag limits are in place for antlerless and antlered deer. The number of deer that can be killed per hunting season statewide is a maximum of 12. The 12 deer can be in any combination of antlerless or antlered deer with no more than 10 antlerless deer and no more than two antlered deer. Of the two antlered deer, one deer must possess at least four points on one side of the antler 1 inch or longer.