In my article titled Thunder Chickens earlier this week, I mentioned the youth hunt that began before the regular statewide turkey season. This season is open to all youth and mobility-impaired hunters. Youth hunter is defined as any hunter 16 years of age and under. Mobility impaired hunters are hunters who are confined to a wheelchair, hemiplegic, monoplegic, paraplegic, 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.
Youth and mobility-impaired hunters utilizing private land have a jumpstart on the statewide season and have the chance to harvest a bird during a special early opportunity turkey season on March 17-18, 2018.
“This special opportunity season for youth and mobility-impaired hunters allows these groups to get in the woods before the season opens statewide the following weekend,” said John Bowers, chief of WRD Game Management.
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 enter the date and county on the harvest record, and within 72 hours, must complete the reporting process through Georgia Game Check. More information at www.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 www.gooutdoorsgeorgia.com, at a retail license vendor or by phone at 1-800-366-2661.
The 2018 Georgia statewide turkey season opens Saturday, March 24. For more information, visit www.georgiawildlife.com/hunting/regulations.
Photo Credit: Wayne Morgan
