Here is a quick reference to the dates for the 2022-2023 Georgia hunting season. Georgia deer archery season begins September 10, and statewide firearms season begins October 22. If that firearms start seems late, it is. But it’s just a quirk of the calendar.
“Deer season is scheduled to open on a Saturday each year, so we have a general rule set in regulation to account for the calendar change each year,” said Charlie Killmaster, state deer biologist with the Division of Resources. Wildlife of the DNR. “Gun deer season always opens the first Saturday after October 15. Because October 15, 2022 is a Saturday, the first Saturday after that is October 22.”
As always, when hunting deer in Georgia, be sure to check the regulations before you decide to pull the trigger on an antlerless deer. During gun season, there are certain dates that are male-only in much of the state, and then there are mixed-sex days, also known as “doe days.” See the map below.
This year’s deer hunting season will close statewide on Sunday, January 8. The one exception is suburban archery-only counties, open to bowhunting through Jan. 31. Antlerless deer can be hunted statewide with archery equipment from September 10 through January 8.
Also keep in mind the spring turkey season. We have another opening day later, April 1 on private land and April 8 on public land, and the seasonal limit is again two gobblers, and there is a restriction of one gobbler per day.
Complete 2022-23 Georgia hunting season dates and bag limits will soon be available from license providers and online. Hunters are responsible for knowing and adhering to seasons and limits or be subject to fees and fines.
Georgia Hunting Season Dates 2022-23
deer seasons
Archery: September 10 – January 8
Extended Archery*: September 10 – January 31
(*Suburban counties only, listed below)
Youth Firearms Week: October 15-21
Primitive Weapons: October 15 to January 8
Firearms: from October 22 to January 8
Extended Archery Season
The following counties allow archery-only deer hunting of both sexes through January 31: Barrow, Bibb, Chatham, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Decatur, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Muscogee, Paulding, Rockdale, and Seminole.
National Forest Deer Hunting
Chattahoochee NF Gun Deer Season (non-WMA): Oct. 15-Jan. West of I-75, follow the County’s Gay Days. East of I-75, closed hunting the antlerless deer. Oconee NF Gun Deer Season: October 15 – January 8. Oconee National Forest Gay Days (outside WMAs): Oct. 29-30, Nov. 26-27, Dec. 31-Jan.
waterfowl seasons
Early Teal: September 10-25
Canada Geese: September 3-25; October 8-23; November 19-27; December 10 – January 29
Duck: November 19-27; December 10 – January 29
Youth/Military Waterfowl: November 12-13
North Zone Bear
Archery: September 10 – January 8
Primitive Weapons: October 15 to January 8
Firearms: from October 22 to January 8
central area of the bear
Firearms: December 17
South Zone Bear
Firearms: September 22-24; September 29 – October 1; October 6-8; October 13-15
Turkey
Children, reduced mobility: March 25 and 26
Public-Land: April 8 – May 15
Private Land: April 1 – May 15
* Limit two gobblers per season; Restriction of one gobbler per day.
Alligator
Zone and limited quota: from August 19 to October 3
pigeon statewide
September 3 – Oct. 9; Nov 19-27; December 19 – January 31
Opossum and raccoon (no limit)
Private land: No closed season
Public-Land: August 15 – February 28
Small game and other seasons
Raven: November. 5 – Feb. 28
Fox and Bobcat: December 1 to February 28
Capercaillie: October 15 – February 28
Quail: Nov. 12 – Feb. 28
Rabbit: November 12 – February 28
Snipers: November. 15 – February 28
Squirrel: August 15 – February 28
Woodcock: December 10 – January 23