GEORGIA · SMALL GAME · 2026–27
Georgia small game
seasons 2026–27.
Individual-animal filters, Georgia’s small-game openings, split migratory dates and private-land furbearer/hog rules.
SMALL GAME
Squirrel, rabbit, quail & grouse
Rabbit and quail open Nov. 14, 2026. Squirrel opens Aug. 15; grouse opens Oct. 15. Check Georgia’s public-area restrictions alongside these statewide dates.
| Season | Dates | Where | Bag limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| SquirrelOpen now · through Feb. 28Legal species-specific hunting equipment | Aug. 15, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 | Private land statewide Legal hours generally 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. These are hunting dates; falconry and trapping use separate rules. Local access and public-area dates must be checked. | 12 daily.source · source |
| RabbitOpens Nov. 14 (in 10 days)Legal species-specific hunting equipment | Nov. 14, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 | Private land statewide Legal hours generally 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. These are hunting dates; falconry and trapping use separate rules. Local access and public-area dates must be checked. | 12 daily.source · source |
| Bobwhite quailOpens Nov. 14 (in 10 days)Legal species-specific hunting equipment | Nov. 14, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 | Private land statewide Legal hours generally 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. These are hunting dates; falconry and trapping use separate rules. Local access and public-area dates must be checked. | Private land: 12 daily. On WMAs, VPAs and National Forests: 3 per person daily; check individual area rules.source · source |
| Ruffed grouseOpen now · through Feb. 28Legal species-specific hunting equipment | Oct. 15, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 | Private land statewide Legal hours generally 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. These are hunting dates; falconry and trapping use separate rules. Local access and public-area dates must be checked. | 3 daily.source · source |
MIGRATORY BIRDS
Dove, woodcock, rails, snipe & crow
| Season | Dates | Where | Bag limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning / white-winged doveReopens Nov. 21, 2026Legal migratory-bird equipment | Sept. 5 – Oct. 11, 2026 Nov. 21 – Nov. 29, 2026 Dec. 19, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027 | Private land statewide 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. Possession is 3 times the daily bag where a daily bag applies. Confirm license and equipment requirements. | 15 daily combined mourning and white-winged doves.source · source |
| WoodcockOpens Dec. 5, 2026Legal migratory-bird equipment | Dec. 5, 2026 – Jan. 18, 2027 | Private land statewide 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. Possession is 3 times the daily bag where a daily bag applies. Confirm license and equipment requirements. | 3 daily.source · source |
| Common / Wilson’s snipeOpens Nov. 15 (in 11 days)Legal migratory-bird equipment | Nov. 15, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 | Private land statewide 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. Possession is 3 times the daily bag where a daily bag applies. Confirm license and equipment requirements. | 8 daily.source · source |
| King / clapper railsOpen now · through Nov. 30Legal migratory-bird equipment | Sept. 11 – Sept. 14, 2026 Sept. 26 – Nov. 30, 2026 | Private land statewide 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. Possession is 3 times the daily bag where a daily bag applies. Confirm license and equipment requirements. | 15 daily combined king and clapper rails.source · source |
| Sora / Virginia railsOpen now · through Nov. 30Legal migratory-bird equipment | Sept. 11 – Sept. 14, 2026 Sept. 26 – Nov. 30, 2026 | Private land statewide 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. Possession is 3 times the daily bag where a daily bag applies. Confirm license and equipment requirements. | 25 daily combined sora and Virginia rails.source · source |
| CrowOpens Nov. 7 (in 3 days)Legal migratory-bird equipment | Nov. 7, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 | Private land statewide 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. Possession is 3 times the daily bag where a daily bag applies. Confirm license and equipment requirements. | No daily limit.source · source |
FURBEARERS & HOGS
Private-land and public-land rules differ
| Season | Dates | Where | Bag limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| RaccoonOpen now · through June 30Legal species-specific hunting equipment | July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 | Private land statewide No closed hunting season on private land. Night hunting permitted with the legal carried/attached light. Year-round entries are clipped to the current guide period, July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. Hunting and trapping are separate. | No limit.source · source |
| OpossumOpen now · through June 30Legal species-specific hunting equipment | July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 | Private land statewide No closed hunting season on private land. Night hunting permitted with the legal carried/attached light. Year-round entries are clipped to the current guide period, July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. Hunting and trapping are separate. | No limit.source · source |
| FoxOpens Dec. 1, 2026Legal species-specific hunting equipment | Dec. 1, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 | Private land statewide Night hunting permitted; legal light placement and equipment rules apply. Year-round entries are clipped to the current guide period, July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. Hunting and trapping are separate. | No limit.source · source |
| BobcatOpens Dec. 1, 2026Legal species-specific hunting equipment | Dec. 1, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 | Private land statewide Night hunting permitted; legal light placement, equipment and applicable export-tag rules differ from trapping. Year-round entries are clipped to the current guide period, July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. Hunting and trapping are separate. | No limit.source · source |
| CoyoteOpen now · through June 30Legal species-specific hunting equipment | July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 | Private land statewide Unprotected species; no closed season on private land. Night hunting allowed; electronic calls permitted. Year-round entries are clipped to the current guide period, July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. Hunting and trapping are separate. | No limit.source · source |
| Feral hogOpen now · through June 30Legal species-specific hunting equipment | July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 | Private land statewide Private land: no closed season; night hunting allowed. Public lands use the open game season’s equipment and prohibit night hunting. Transport/release rules apply. Year-round entries are clipped to the current guide period, July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. Hunting and trapping are separate. | No limit.source · source |
| BeaverOpen now · through June 30Legal species-specific hunting equipment | July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 | Private land statewide Unprotected species; no closed season. Confirm legal hours and equipment. Year-round entries are clipped to the current guide period, July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. Hunting and trapping are separate. | No limit.source · source |
| NutriaOpen now · through June 30Legal species-specific hunting equipment | July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 | Private land statewide Unprotected species; no closed season. Confirm legal hours and equipment. Year-round entries are clipped to the current guide period, July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. Hunting and trapping are separate. | No limit.source · source |
| ArmadilloOpen now · through June 30Legal species-specific hunting equipment | July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 | Private land statewide Unprotected species; no closed season. Confirm legal hours and equipment. Year-round entries are clipped to the current guide period, July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. Hunting and trapping are separate. | No limit.source · source |
| GroundhogOpen now · through June 30Legal species-specific hunting equipment | July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 | Private land statewide Unprotected species; no closed season. Confirm legal hours and equipment. Year-round entries are clipped to the current guide period, July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. Hunting and trapping are separate. | No limit.source · source |
| Raccoon · public-land referenceOpen now · through Feb. 28Legal species-specific hunting equipment | Aug. 15, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 | Department-managed public lands; area rules control Public-area dates and night restrictions differ. Check the specific property. | No limit.source · source |
| Opossum · public-land referenceOpen now · through Feb. 28Legal species-specific hunting equipment | Aug. 15, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 | Department-managed public lands; area rules control Public-area dates and night restrictions differ. Check the specific property. | No limit.source · source |
| Feral hog · public-land referenceCheck Georgia DNRLegal species-specific hunting equipment | Check Georgia DNR | WMAs / National Forests and other public lands No night hunting or hunting over bait on WMAs/National Forests. Confirm the specific open game season and area authorization. | No limit; area and open game-season equipment control.source · source |
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.
- These are hunting seasons. Falconry and trapping have separate dates, permits and equipment. Public-land quail limits are lower; do not substitute private-land limits.
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: small-game hunting dates and limits ↗
- Georgia guide: migratory-bird dates, bags and special days ↗
- Georgia guide: turkey, bear, hog, alligator and small-game rules ↗
- Georgia guide: legal equipment, hours and Game Check ↗
Last checked: Nov. 2, 2026. Saved calendar files and printouts do not update automatically. Report a change.