Georgia archery season opens Saturday

ALBANY‒ The Georgia 2024-2025 archery season opens Saturday, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division. The opening date allows archery hunters to get any early start four weeks ahead of those hunting with black powder firearms and five weeks ahead of those choosing to hunt with modern firearms.

Last year, 85,000 archery hunters harvested 55,000 deer. Statewide, hunters can use archery equipment throughout the entire 2024-2025 deer season.

“Hunters heading out for archery season can begin filling their own freezers and then sharing any further abundance with the Georgia Hunters for the Hungry program,” State Deer Biologist Charlie Killmaster said. “We want to especially encourage those that hunt near crop fields to harvest extra antlerless deer to donate. Not only will this help reduce potential agriculture damage, but it will also provide a healthy meat source to those in need. Archery season is also an ideal time to donate as deer processors can more easily handle the increased volume.”

Regulations for the Georgia 2024-2025 season allow hunters to harvest up to 10 antlerless deer, and no more than two antlered deer (with one of the two antlered deer having a minimum of four points, one inch or longer, on one side of the antlers or a minimum 15-inch outside antler spread). For most hunters in the state, the deer season ends on Jan. 12. However, the Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations 2024-25 guidebook at GeorgiaWildlife.com/hunting/hunter-resources provides a list of counties that have an extended season beginning Jan. 13 and ending Jan. 31. A number of these counties are in southwest Georgia. Archery hunters may also take deer of either sex at any time during the primitive weapons and firearms deer season.

Deer hunters in Georgia must have a hunting license, a big game license and a current deer harvest record. Licenses can be purchased online at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com, by phone at 1-800-366-2661, or at a license agent. A list of agents is available online.

“We continue to ask hunters to help protect the Georgia deer herd from Chronic Wasting Disease, a fatal disease affecting deer,” Killmaster said. “This disease has not been detected in our state, and you can be instrumental in keeping it out.

“Do not bring live deer, whole carcasses or heads into Georgia; know what parts you can bring back from an out-of-state hunt, and report deer with any disease symptoms. You can find more info at GeorgiaWildlife.com/cwd.”

For more on deer hunting, including finding a game processor, viewing regulations and maps, visit GeorgiaWildlife.com/deer-info.

Special Photo: DNR