when is georgia turkey season

ATLANTA — As the state’s turkey hunting season kicks off with a bang this Saturday, Georgia is preparing for everyone hoping to take advantage of the opportunity.

Beginning March 30, turkey hunting opens on private lands, while public turkey hunting opens on April 6.

Prior hunting seasons, Georgia officials reported that the state’s turkey populations were not growing as quickly as expected from 2021 to 2022, with the exception of the Coastal Plain Regions.

In areas like Blue Ridge, Ridge and Valley and Piedmont, there were slight decreases as well.

“Looking back to 2022, statewide turkey reproduction averaged 1. While the number of poults per hen was less than the 10-year record high in 2021, Emily Rushton, the Wildlife Resources Division’s coordinator for the wild turkey project, noted that it was still comparable to the average over the preceding ten years. “Even though that will likely result in fewer adult birds than last year, the number of gobblers that will be available this spring will probably be comparable to the previous few years.” ” ”.

A hunter is only permitted to harvest one turkey per day, for a maximum of two harvests, during the hunting season. For Georgia Wildlife Management Areas and National Forest lands, the bag limit is one per area.

All turkey hunters, regardless of age, including landowners and holders of honorary, lifetime, and sportsman licenses, are required to “maintain a free harvest record each season.” ” Before moving a harvested turkey, hunters have to enter the data and county on the harvest record.

Within 24 hours, they also have to complete the reporting process through Georgia Game Check.

Thanks to the 2022 changes to the season dates and bag limits, hunters often inquire as to whether poult production has changed. The short answer is that it is still too soon post-regulation change to know,” Rushton said. “A better, science-driven understanding of the turkey population’s trajectory will require quite a few years of data, as many factors,” like weather, mast crop, and insect availability, affect poult production on an annual basis. ”.

Hunters 16 years of age and older need to get both a hunting license and a big game license, unless they are hunting on their own private land. This requirement includes those accompanying youth or others, according to DNR.

Potential hunters can get their licenses online, at a retail license vendor or by calling 1-800-366-2661.

Opening Day DOUBLE! Georgia TURKEY Hunt

FAQ

What are the dates for hunting season in Georgia?

How many turkeys can you harvest in Georgia?

Is turkey hunting good in Georgia?

Do you need turkey license in Georgia?

When is turkey hunting season in Georgia?

The Georgia turkey hunting season opens Saturday, April 2, 2022. However, if hunting on public lands, including Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and National Forest land, the season opens on April 9, 2022. Turkey season ends on May 15, 2022, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division. Bag Limit Change!

How to hunt a Turkey in Georgia?

Turkeys are very proficient at spotting potential dangers on the ground, so camouflage is probably more important than with any other type of hunting in Georgia. Camo should include a head and face covering as well as gloves.

When is a good time to hunt a Turkey?

Remember, legal hunting for Turkey is 1⁄2 before sunrise and 1⁄2 hour after sunset. Early season scouting will lead to a better chance of a successful turkey hunt. Locating suitable habitat, identifying food sources, observing birds and paying attention feeding and roosting patterns will improve the hunter’s chances.

Is Turkey harvest down in South Carolina?

The furthest south regions of the state may see a decrease in harvest, as reproduction was down in the Lower Coastal Plain in 2020. 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.