Youth and mobility-impaired hunters utilizing private land have an early chance to harvest a gobbler during a special opportunity turkey season March 23-24, 2024, that takes place prior to the opening of the statewide season, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division.
This weekend hunt opportunity is available only for youth 16 years of age and younger, or hunters that are mobility impaired (i.e. confined to a wheelchair, hemiplegia, monoplegia, paraplegia, or single-leg amputation above the knee). Youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult (18 years or older) who may call for turkey but may not take or attempt to take a turkey.
The season bag limit for turkeys is one gobbler per hunter per day, and a season total of two gobblers.
All turkey hunters, including those under 16 years of age, landowners, honorary, lifetime, and sportsman license holders, must obtain a free harvest record each season. Before moving a harvested turkey, hunters are required to immediately enter the date and county on the harvest record, and within 24 hours, must complete the reporting process through Georgia Game Check. More information at GeorgiaWildlife.com/HarvestRecordGeorgiaGameCheck.
Resident youth hunters under age 16 will not need a license. Hunters age 16 years or older (including those accompanying youth or others) will need a hunting license and a big game license unless hunting on their own private land. Get your license at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com, at a retail license vendor or by phone at 1-800-366-2661.
The 2024 Georgia statewide turkey season opens Sat., March 30 (Private Land) and Sat. April 6 (Public Land). For more information, visit GeorgiaWildlife.com/turkey-info.
Want To Turkey Hunt, But Need Hunter Education? Courses Available Online Or In Person
If you are ready to go bag a gobbler, but need to take a hunter education class first – you have options! Hunters in need of the Georgia hunter education course can choose to go completely online or attend a classroom course, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division.
“We want new hunters out in the field and that is why we strive to offer different course options for individuals to decide which type of course is easier to manage for their schedule and their budget,” says Jennifer Davison, statewide hunter education administrator with the Wildlife Resources Division.
The five available online courses each require a fee (from $19.95 – $49.95) but all are “pass or don’t pay” courses. Fees for these courses are charged by and collected by the independent course developer. The Georgia DNR classroom course is free of charge.
Completion of a hunter education course is required for any person born on or after January 1, 1961, who:
- purchases a season hunting license in Georgia.
- is at least 12 years old and hunts without adult supervision.
- hunts big game (deer, turkey, bear) on a wildlife management area.
The only exceptions include any person who:
- purchases a short-term hunting license, i.e. anything less than annual duration (as opposed to a season license).
- is hunting on his or her own land or is a dependent hunting on land of his or her parents or legal guardians.
For more information, go to GeorgiaWildlife.com/hunting/huntereducation or call 706-557-3355.
