Georgia Deer Season 2025-2026 starts in less than 90 days. Here are the proposed deer season dates for 2025-2026.
Disclaimer: The season dates and regulations provided below are for the 2025-2026 Georgia deer hunting season, based on the most current information available at the time of writing (June 2025).
The official Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division (GA DNR WRD) website can be found at https://georgiawildlife.com.
Georgia Deer Season Dates: 2025–2026
| Hunting Method | Season Dates | Notes/Special Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Archery Season | Sept. 14 – Oct. 11, 2025 | Either-Sex Statewide. Note: In Baker, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Thomas, and Seminole counties, the first two weeks (September 14–27) are antlered bucks only. |
| Extended Archery Season (Select Counties) | Sept. 14, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026 | Either-Sex. Applies to: Baker, Barrow, Bibb, 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 counties. |
| Primitive Weapons & Youth-Only Firearms Season | Oct. 12 – Oct. 18, 2025 | Either-Sex Statewide. Youth under 16 may use any legal deer firearm during this week. |
| Firearms Season (General Statewide) | Oct. 19, 2025 – Jan. 12, 2026 | Either-sex days vary by county; check county-specific regulations. WMA regulations differ. |
| Extended Firearms Season (Select SW Counties) | Oct. 19, 2025 – Jan. 15, 2026 | Either-Sex. Applies to: Baker, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, and Thomas counties. |
| WMA Hunts | Varies by WMA | Check specific WMA listings for dates, methods, quotas, bonus tags, youth hunts, antler restrictions, and sign-in requirements. |
| Mobility-Impaired Hunts | Varies by WMA/Special Hunts | Specific opportunities exist, often via quota hunts on WMAs. Check regulations guide. |
License, Permit, and Education Requirements Summary
Before you deer hunt, ensure you have the current Georgia hunting license and any necessary permits. All hunters pursuing deer must possess:
- A valid base hunting license (Resident or Non-Resident, if applicable).
- A Big Game license
- Deer Harvest Record.
- A WMA license if hunting on Wildlife Management Areas.
- Proof of Hunter Education if born on or after January 1, 1961, unless exempt.
Georgia Deer Season 2025-2026
Georgia offers different seasons based on hunting methods so there are different dates for archary, firearms or primitive weapons.
Archery Season
The archery season typically kicks off the Georgia deer season about the same day the Georgia Bulldogs Football season begins.
Dates: September 14 – October 11, 2025
This season is open statewide on private and public lands, unless WMA-specific dates apply. Either-sex harvest is generally allowed.
However, an important exception exists in Baker, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Thomas, and Seminole counties where the first two weeks (September 14-27) are for antlered bucks only.
Legal archery equipment includes longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, and crossbows with broadhead-type arrows.
Extended Archery Season
Extended archery only seasons for are scheduled for some urban areas.
Dates: September 14, 2025 – January 31, 2026
This extended opportunity applies only to the following counties: Baker, Barrow, Bibb, 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.
Either-sex harvest is allowed throughout this season in these designated counties.
Georgia Deer Season 2025-2026 – Primitive Weapons & Youth-Only Firearms Season
This special week-long season provides an early opportunity for those using primitive weapons and for young hunters.
Dates: October 12 – October 18, 2025
This season is statewide, except for designated archery-only counties. Either-sex harvest is allowed statewide. Legal primitive weapons include archery equipment, muzzleloading rifles or shotguns (.30-caliber or larger rifle, 20-gauge or larger shotgun), air bows, and air rifles (.30-caliber or larger). A key feature is that youth under 16 may use any legal deer firearm during this week.
Hunter orange (500 sq. inches) is required.
Georgia Deer Season 2025-2026 – Firearms Season
The general firearms season in Georgia for deer is open in most areas. Some areas have different dates.
Dates: October 19, 2025 – January 12, 2026
This season is open statewide on private lands, excluding archery-only counties. Public lands, like WMAs and the Chattahoochee National Forest, have specific dates and regulations. The opportunity to harvest antlerless deer (either sex days) varies significantly by zone and county, so hunters must consult the official regulations map.
In the select southwestern counties of Baker, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, and Thomas, the firearms season is extended to January 15, 2026, for either-sex deer. Legal firearms include centerfire rifles and handguns (.22-caliber or larger), shotguns (20-gauge or larger with slugs or buckshot), muzzleloaders, and large-bore air guns.
Hunter orange is mandatory.
Georgia Deer Season 2025-2026 – Licenses and Permits
A 2025-2026 (or life-time license) Georgia hunting license and appropriate permits are required for deer hunting. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources offers various options for residents and non-residents.
Hunters aged 16 and over typically need a base hunting license and a Big Game license. Youth under 16 are exempt from the license requirement but must have a Harvest Record.
Hunting Licenses
Georgia Hunting License Costs for Deer (2025-2026)
| License Name | Residency | Deer Privileges Included | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting License | Resident | Basic Hunting (Prerequisite for Big Game) | $15 |
| Big Game License | Resident | Allows harvest of Deer, Turkey, Bear | $25 |
| Sportsman’s License | Resident | All state hunting & fishing including Big Game, Trout | $65 |
| Hunting License | Non-Resident | Basic Hunting (Prerequisite for Big Game if 16+) | $100 |
| Big Game License | Non-Resident | Allows harvest of Deer, Turkey, Bear | $225 |
| WMA License | Both | Allows access to hunt on Wildlife Management Areas | $19 |
| Harvest Record (Deer, Turkey, Bear) | Both | Required documentation for harvest | FREE |
Licenses can be purchased online at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com, by phone, or from licensed retail agents. Transaction fees may apply. Remember, all hunters, including those under 16 or landowners hunting their own property, must obtain and carry a free annual Deer Harvest Record. Georgia law requires harvest reporting via Georgia Game Check within 24 hours.
