GEORGIA · DEER · 2026–27
Georgia deer
seasons 2026–27.
All 159 counties, limited either-sex days, southwest exceptions, extended archery and county antler rules.
COUNTY SCHEDULES
Choose county, equipment and hunt area
Most firearms deer seasons run Oct. 17–Jan. 10. Nine southwest counties continue through Jan. 15 and begin archery with a Sept. 12–27 bucks-only period. Other northern counties have limited either-sex firearms days. Archery continues during primitive/firearms seasons and can have different sex rules on the same date.
Fulton: north of Hwy 92 is archery-only; Morgan Falls/Willeo Creek has closed waters. Forsyth: south of Hwy 20 uses shotguns/muzzleloaders only. Glynn: Jekyll Island prohibits firearms deer hunting and requires local access confirmation. Use the hunt-area choice.
Source: Georgia guide: county map and either-sex deer days ↗; Georgia guide: deer rules and county antler restrictions ↗; Georgia guide: legal equipment, hours and Game Check ↗
SHARED LIMITS
Season limit & county antler rules
At most 12 deer across seasons: 10 antlerless and 2 antlered. One buck must meet the statewide four-point or 15-inch outside-spread rule. Dooly and Macon: every buck needs a 15-inch outside spread. Hancock, Harris, Meriwether, Montgomery, Randolph, Talbot and Troup: every buck needs four qualifying points on one antler or a 15-inch outside spread. Special antlerless-only dates do not authorize a buck.
Source: Georgia guide: deer rules and county antler restrictions ↗
OFFICIAL MAP · YELLOW
Yellow county schedule
Rabun, Towns. Fulton includes the separate gray archery-only portion.
| Season | Dates | Where | Bag limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow county schedule · Firearms either sexOpens Nov. 28, 2026Legal deer rifle, handgun, shotgun, muzzleloader or qualifying air gun / air bow | Nov. 28 – Nov. 29, 2026 Jan. 1, 2027 | Private land · Yellow map counties Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. | Shared season limit: 12 deer, at most 10 antlerless and 2 antlered. One of the 2 bucks must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a 15-inch outside spread.source · source |
| Yellow county schedule · Firearms bucks onlyOpen now · through Nov. 27Legal deer rifle, handgun, shotgun, muzzleloader or qualifying air gun / air bow | Oct. 17 – Nov. 27, 2026 Nov. 30 – Dec. 31, 2026 Jan. 2 – Jan. 10, 2027 | Private land · Yellow map counties Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. | Antlered bucks only under this entry; no antlerless deer. Up to 2 antlered deer across all seasons; one must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a 15-inch outside spread.source · source |
OFFICIAL MAP · CYAN
Cyan county schedule
Fannin, Union. Fulton includes the separate gray archery-only portion.
| Season | Dates | Where | Bag limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyan county schedule · Firearms either sexOpens Nov. 6 (in 2 days)Legal deer rifle, handgun, shotgun, muzzleloader or qualifying air gun / air bow | Nov. 6 – Nov. 12, 2026 Jan. 1, 2027 | Private land · Cyan map counties Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. | Shared season limit: 12 deer, at most 10 antlerless and 2 antlered. One of the 2 bucks must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a 15-inch outside spread.source · source |
| Cyan county schedule · Firearms bucks onlyOpen now · through Nov. 5Legal deer rifle, handgun, shotgun, muzzleloader or qualifying air gun / air bow | Oct. 17 – Nov. 5, 2026 Nov. 13 – Dec. 31, 2026 Jan. 2 – Jan. 10, 2027 | Private land · Cyan map counties Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. | Antlered bucks only under this entry; no antlerless deer. Up to 2 antlered deer across all seasons; one must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a 15-inch outside spread.source · source |
OFFICIAL MAP · ORANGE
Orange county schedule
Dawson, Gilmer, Habersham, Lumpkin, Murray, Pickens, Stephens, White, Whitfield. Fulton includes the separate gray archery-only portion.
| Season | Dates | Where | Bag limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange county schedule · Firearms either sexOpens Nov. 6 (in 2 days)Legal deer rifle, handgun, shotgun, muzzleloader or qualifying air gun / air bow | Nov. 6 – Nov. 12, 2026 Nov. 20 – Nov. 26, 2026 Dec. 28, 2026 – Jan. 10, 2027 | Private land · Orange map counties Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. | Shared season limit: 12 deer, at most 10 antlerless and 2 antlered. One of the 2 bucks must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a 15-inch outside spread.source · source |
| Orange county schedule · Firearms bucks onlyOpen now · through Nov. 5Legal deer rifle, handgun, shotgun, muzzleloader or qualifying air gun / air bow | Oct. 17 – Nov. 5, 2026 Nov. 13 – Nov. 19, 2026 Nov. 27 – Dec. 27, 2026 | Private land · Orange map counties Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. | Antlered bucks only under this entry; no antlerless deer. Up to 2 antlered deer across all seasons; one must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a 15-inch outside spread.source · source |
OFFICIAL MAP · MAGENTA
Magenta county schedule
Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Thomas. Fulton includes the separate gray archery-only portion.
| Season | Dates | Where | Bag limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magenta county schedule · Firearms either sexOpen now · through Jan. 15Legal deer rifle, handgun, shotgun, muzzleloader or qualifying air gun / air bow | Oct. 17, 2026 – Jan. 15, 2027 | Private land · Magenta map counties Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. | Shared season limit: 12 deer, at most 10 antlerless and 2 antlered. One of the 2 bucks must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a 15-inch outside spread.source · source |
| Magenta county schedule · Firearms antlerless onlyClosed for 2026-27Legal deer rifle, handgun, shotgun, muzzleloader or qualifying air gun / air bow | Oct. 3 – Oct. 4, 2026 | Private land · Magenta map counties Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. | Antlerless deer only under this entry; no antlered deer. At most 10 antlerless deer across the season; all shared season limits apply.source · source |
OFFICIAL MAP · GRAY
Gray county schedule
Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb. Fulton includes the separate gray archery-only portion.
| Season | Dates | Where | Bag limit |
|---|
OFFICIAL MAP · GREEN
Green county schedule
Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baldwin, Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Camden, Candler, Carroll, Catoosa, Charlton, Chatham, Chattahoochee, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clay, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Coweta, Crawford, Crisp, Dade, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Douglas, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Franklin, Fulton, Glascock, Glynn, Gordon, Greene, Gwinnett, Hall, Hancock, Haralson, Harris, Hart, Heard, Henry, Houston, Irwin, Jackson, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Lamar, Lanier, Laurens, Lee, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, Macon, Madison, Marion, McDuffie, McIntosh, Meriwether, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Muscogee, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Paulding, Peach, Pierce, Pike, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Quitman, Randolph, Richmond, Rockdale, Schley, Screven, Spalding, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Taylor, Telfair, Terrell, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Troup, Turner, Twiggs, Upson, Walker, Walton, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler, Wilcox, Wilkes, Wilkinson, Worth. Fulton includes the separate gray archery-only portion.
| Season | Dates | Where | Bag limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green county schedule · Firearms either sexOpen now · through Jan. 10Legal deer rifle, handgun, shotgun, muzzleloader or qualifying air gun / air bow | Oct. 17, 2026 – Jan. 10, 2027 | Private land · Green map counties Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. | Shared season limit: 12 deer, at most 10 antlerless and 2 antlered. One of the 2 bucks must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a 15-inch outside spread.source · source |
| Green county schedule · Firearms antlerless onlyClosed for 2026-27Legal deer rifle, handgun, shotgun, muzzleloader or qualifying air gun / air bow | Oct. 3 – Oct. 4, 2026 | Private land · Green map counties Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. | Antlerless deer only under this entry; no antlered deer. At most 10 antlerless deer across the season; all shared season limits apply.source · source |
ARCHERY & PRIMITIVE WEAPONS
Archery, youth and area-specific entries
| Season | Dates | Where | Bag limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery / crossbow · either sexOpen now · through Jan. 10Bow / crossbow | Sept. 12, 2026 – Jan. 10, 2027 | Private land statewide Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. | Shared season limit: 12 deer, at most 10 antlerless and 2 antlered. One of the 2 bucks must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a 15-inch outside spread.source · source |
| Extended archery / crossbow · either sexOpen now · through Jan. 31Bow / crossbow | Sept. 12, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027 | Private land statewide Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. | Shared season limit: 12 deer, at most 10 antlerless and 2 antlered. One of the 2 bucks must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a 15-inch outside spread.source · source |
| Southwest archery · bucks onlyClosed for 2026-27Bow / crossbow | Sept. 12 – Sept. 27, 2026 | Private land statewide Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. | Antlered bucks only under this entry; no antlerless deer. Up to 2 antlered deer across all seasons; one must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a 15-inch outside spread.source · source |
| Southwest archery · either sexOpen now · through Jan. 31Bow / crossbow | Sept. 28, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027 | Private land statewide Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. | Shared season limit: 12 deer, at most 10 antlerless and 2 antlered. One of the 2 bucks must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a 15-inch outside spread.source · source |
| Primitive weapons - eligible countiesClosed for 2026-27Qualifying muzzleloader / air rifle / air bow | Oct. 10 – Oct. 16, 2026 | Private land outside archery-only counties and restricted county areas Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. | Shared season limit: 12 deer, at most 10 antlerless and 2 antlered. One of the 2 bucks must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a 15-inch outside spread.source · source |
| Youth firearms - primitive weapons weekClosed for 2026-27Legal deer firearm; county equipment restrictions apply | Oct. 10 – Oct. 16, 2026 | Private land outside archery-only counties and restricted county areas Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. Youth must be under 16; adult supervision and licensing requirements apply. | Shared season limit: 12 deer, at most 10 antlerless and 2 antlered. One of the 2 bucks must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a 15-inch outside spread.source · source |
| Primitive weapons - designated county areasClosed for 2026-27Qualifying muzzleloader / air rifle / air bow | Oct. 10 – Oct. 16, 2026 | Private land: Fulton south of Hwy 92; Forsyth north of Hwy 20; Glynn outside Jekyll Island Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. | Shared season limit: 12 deer, at most 10 antlerless and 2 antlered. One of the 2 bucks must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a 15-inch outside spread.source · source |
| Youth firearms - designated county areasClosed for 2026-27Legal deer firearm; county equipment restrictions apply | Oct. 10 – Oct. 16, 2026 | Private land: Fulton south of Hwy 92; Forsyth north of Hwy 20; Glynn outside Jekyll Island Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. Youth must be under 16; adult supervision and licensing requirements apply. | Shared season limit: 12 deer, at most 10 antlerless and 2 antlered. One of the 2 bucks must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a 15-inch outside spread.source · source |
| Primitive weapons - Forsyth south of Hwy 20Closed for 2026-27Muzzleloader only (south of GA Hwy 20) | Oct. 10 – Oct. 16, 2026 | Private land: Forsyth south of GA Hwy 20; shotgun / muzzleloader restrictions apply Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. | Shared season limit: 12 deer, at most 10 antlerless and 2 antlered. One of the 2 bucks must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a 15-inch outside spread.source · source |
| Youth firearms - Forsyth south of Hwy 20Closed for 2026-27Legal deer firearm; shotgun / muzzleloader only south of GA Hwy 20 | Oct. 10 – Oct. 16, 2026 | Private land: Forsyth south of GA Hwy 20; shotgun / muzzleloader restrictions apply Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. Youth must be under 16; adult supervision and licensing requirements apply. | Shared season limit: 12 deer, at most 10 antlerless and 2 antlered. One of the 2 bucks must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a 15-inch outside spread.source · source |
| County-area firearms · either sexOpen now · through Jan. 10Legal deer firearm, muzzleloader or qualifying air gun / air bow | Oct. 17, 2026 – Jan. 10, 2027 | Fulton south of Hwy 92; Forsyth north of Hwy 20; Glynn outside Jekyll Island Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. | Shared season limit: 12 deer, at most 10 antlerless and 2 antlered. One of the 2 bucks must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a 15-inch outside spread.source · source |
| Forsyth south of Hwy 20 · either sexOpen now · through Jan. 10Shotgun / muzzleloader only; no rifles or handguns | Oct. 17, 2026 – Jan. 10, 2027 | Private land · Forsyth south of GA Hwy 20 Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. | Shared season limit: 12 deer, at most 10 antlerless and 2 antlered. One of the 2 bucks must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a 15-inch outside spread.source · source |
| County-area firearms · antlerless onlyClosed for 2026-27Legal deer firearm, muzzleloader or qualifying air gun / air bow | Oct. 3 – Oct. 4, 2026 | Fulton south of Hwy 92; Forsyth north of Hwy 20; Glynn outside Jekyll Island Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. | Antlerless deer only under this entry; no antlered deer. At most 10 antlerless deer across the season; all shared season limits apply.source · source |
| Forsyth south of Hwy 20 · antlerless onlyClosed for 2026-27Shotgun / muzzleloader only; no rifles or handguns | Oct. 3 – Oct. 4, 2026 | Private land · Forsyth south of GA Hwy 20 Private-land reference. Archery remains legal during primitive/firearms seasons under its own dates and sex rules. County antler restrictions and authorized local access still apply. Record harvest before moving it and Game Check within 24 hours. National Forest and WMA dates/sex rules differ. | Antlerless deer only under this entry; no antlered deer. At most 10 antlerless deer across the season; all shared season limits apply.source · source |
| Dog deer · property permit requiredCheck Georgia DNRPermitted dog-deer hunting | Check Georgia DNR | Only authorized county portions and DNR-permitted properties County road/river boundaries, tract size, dog/vehicle identification and the property permit control this hunt. | Shared season limit: 12 deer, at most 10 antlerless and 2 antlered. One of the 2 bucks must have at least 4 points (1 inch or longer) on one antler OR a 15-inch outside spread.source · source |
DEER HARVEST & CWD
Testing and carcass disposal
The current CWD Management Area includes Atkinson, Berrien, Lanier and Lowndes. DNR strongly encourages voluntary testing of deer harvested there; check current sampling sites. A DNR-approved positive test can qualify for a deer bag-limit credit. This is not a mandatory-sampling calendar.
Statewide carcass-disposal requirements apply. Use an approved disposal method; imported deer parts also have restrictions. Record harvest before moving it and report through Georgia Game Check within 24 hours.
Source: Georgia DNR: current CWD Management Area ↗; Georgia DNR: CWD guidance and carcass disposal ↗; Georgia DNR: voluntary CWD testing locations ↗; Georgia guide: legal equipment, hours and Game Check ↗
BEFORE YOU GO
Licenses, access & check-in
- Confirm the hunting license, big-game privileges where required, harvest record, hunter education and age/residency exemptions. Get permission and verify legal access, hours and equipment.
- Record deer, bear, turkey and alligator harvest before moving it; report through Georgia Game Check within 24 hours. Confirm additional area, bear-tagging and permit requirements.
- Public areas have their own schedules, quotas and sign-in/check-in rules. A statewide reference does not establish permission to hunt a WMA, VPA, National Forest, park, refuge or reservoir.
- County antler limits apply across equipment seasons. Hunter orange/pink is required during the relevant primitive/firearms seasons; archery-only area exceptions differ. Youth firearm access during primitive week is limited to hunters under 16 and the local equipment rules.
Source: Georgia guide: licenses, hunter education and supervision ↗; Georgia guide: legal equipment, hours and Game Check ↗; Georgia guide: public hunting and WMA requirements ↗
GET READY FOR THE WOODS
Plan your hunt
WHERE THESE DATES COME FROM
Official sources
We compare Georgia DNR’s current guide, official season flyers and administrative rules. County exceptions and split dates stay separate. Missing or permit-dependent dates require confirmation. Sources are reviewed weekly, with editorial review before changes are published.
- Georgia guide: county map and either-sex deer days ↗
- Georgia guide: deer rules and county antler restrictions ↗
- Georgia DNR: current 2026–27 Hunting & Fishing Guide ↗
- Georgia Administrative Rules: hunting regulations ↗
- Georgia DNR: current CWD Management Area ↗
Last checked: Nov. 2, 2026. Saved calendar files and printouts do not update automatically. Report a change.