Primitive weapons deer hunting season opens Saturday

SOCIAL CIRCLE ­­­– Hunters in Georgia have the opportunity for an early “shot” at a deer during the upcoming weeklong primitive weapons deer hunting season, which opens Saturday. Last year, nearly 10,000 deer were harvested by more than 26,000 hunters, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division.

“The primitive weapons season is a chance to hit the woods before the modern firearms season opens,” Charlie Killmaster, state deer biologist with the WRD Game Management Section, said. “Mid-October is an excellent time to be afield when bucks are starting to cover more ground as they gear up for the rut.”

Young hunters also get this opportunity to take a deer early. A hunter under 16 years of age may hunt deer with any legal deer firearm during Primitive Weapons Season, including during any wildlife management area primitive weapons hunts.

During the primitive weapons season, hunters may use archery equipment, air bows, muzzle-loading shotguns (20 gauge and larger) and air rifles and muzzle-loading firearms that are .30 caliber or larger. Scopes and other optical sighting devices are legal for muzzle-loading firearms and archery equipment.

Hunters need to know:

· Dates/Harvest Limit: State law allows hunters to harvest up to 10 antlerless deer, and no more than two antlered deer (one of the two antlered deer must have 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. 14. For counties with extended firearms or archery season, review the Georgia Hunting Regulations 2023-24 guidebook at eregulations.com/georgia/hunting/. Deer of either sex may be taken with archery equipment on private land during the primitive weapons and firearms deer season.

· Licenses: Georgia deer hunters must have a hunting license, a big game license and a current deer harvest record. All are available online at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com, by phone at 1-800-366-2661, or at a license agent (a list of agents is available online).

· Report Harvest: All harvested deer must be reported through Georgia Game Check within 24 hours. Deer can be reported on the Outdoors GA app (which works regardless of cell service), at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com, or by calling 1-800-366-2661.

· Wear Your Orange: All deer hunters, including archers, are required to wear a minimum of 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange above the waist during primitive weapons season.

More than 1 million acres of public hunting land is available in Georgia, including more than 100 state-operated wildlife management areas. Many areas offer special hunts throughout the season, including primitive weapons hunts. More information in the 2023-2024 Georgia Hunting Seasons and Regulations guide (eregulations.com/georgia/hunting/).

“We also want to remind hunters that they are the first line of defense in protecting the Georgia deer herd from Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), 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 whole carcasses or heads into Georgia, and know what parts you can bring back from an out-of-state hunt. Please report deer with any disease symptoms. You can find more info at GeorgiaWildlife.com/cwd.”

For more on deer hunting, including finding a meat processor, reviewing regulations, and maps (either sex day or the rut map), visit GeorgiaWildlife.com/deer-info.

Special Photo: Georgia DNR