Application period opens Monday for Georgia Hunt and Learn weekends

SOCIAL CIRCLE – There is a variety of game animals in Georgia, from deer to turkeys to quail, but each type requires specific skills on the part of the hunter.

For those ages 10-17 who are new to hunting, three of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources wildlife management areas, known as WMAs, are scheduling programs called Georgia Hunt and Learn.

DNR officials say the weekend programs provide “exceptional instruction” for youth and teens, with qualified teachers who will instruct participants on what they need to know to be safe and successful, whether hunting in the woods or in a field.

The programs are conducted at the WMAs and provide participants with hands-on learning opportunities, DNR officials say.

Classes cover topics from the basics to how to care for harvested game. Hunter education classes are offered for anyone that has not yet completed the course. The weekend additionally provides the opportunity for three guided hunts, DNR officials say, adding that participants 16 and older — including adults — must possess current hunting licenses.

Registration for all of the Hunt and Learns opens at 9 a.m. Monday. Applicants should call (770) 784-3059, and those applying for a quota Hunt and Learn will be put on the quota list. Names will be drawn one month ahead of those hunt weekends. Other hunts, not designated as quota, are on a first-come, first-served basis.

The classes start in mid-October and continue into March.

These WMAs have a variety of Hunt and Learn programs scheduled for the 2016-17 season:

— Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center/Clybel WMA ($90 per person fee includes lodging, food and all instruction);

— Buck Shoals WMA ($60 per person fee includes food and instruction; primitive camping also available);

— Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA ($60 per person fee includes food and instruction; primitive camping available).

For more information and a schedule, visit online www.georgiawildlife.com/CharlieElliott/LearnToHuntFish.

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