Georgia hunting license

How much is a Georgia hunting license?

A resident Georgia hunting license costs $15.00 for hunters 16 to 64, as listed in GA DNR's current price list for the current license year. Nonresidents pay $100.00. That basic license covers hunting in general, but not deer, turkey or bear. For those species you add the Big Game License, which is $25 a year for residents and $225 for nonresidents, along with a free Harvest Record.

Many residents skip the two-step purchase and buy the Sportsman's License for $65, which bundles big game with other privileges. The nonresident Sportsman's is $400. Every license with a cost also carries a transaction fee, which is $3 online, so your checkout total will be a little higher than the listed price.

A quick way to compare: a resident deer hunter who buys the basic license and the Big Game License separately pays $40 before fees, while the Sportsman's costs $65 and bundles more privileges. Check exactly what the bundle includes on the license selection page before choosing. A resident who only hunts deer and turkey may be fine with the two separate licenses.

The table below shows these fees as listed by the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division. The Big Game and lifetime amounts come from the agency's license price list, which carries a May 2025 update date, while the basic license prices match the license selection page. Check both before you buy, since prices can change between license years.

Do you need hunter education for a Georgia hunting license?

Yes, if you were born on or after January 1, 1961, you must complete hunter education before buying a season license. Hunters born before 1961 are not covered by the rule. Georgia makes the course easy to fit in: approved online-only courses are accepted, and the agency page mentions no required field day.

Young hunters aged 12 to 15 need the course too, unless an adult directly supervises them while they hunt. There is also an exemption for anyone hunting on their own land or a parent's land.

If you want to try hunting before taking the course, Georgia has two ways to do it. The Apprentice Combo Hunting and Fishing License and the short-term one-day licenses do not require hunter education. Apprentice licenses are one-day only and cost $5 for residents and $30 for nonresidents, which makes them a cheap way to join a friend for a day. Course options are listed on the Georgia hunter education page.

Where can you buy a hunting license in Georgia?

Georgia gives you four ways to buy: online at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com, in the Outdoors GA app, by phone at 1-800-366-2661, or in person at a license agent. The website and app let you buy at any time of day, while the phone line and license agents suit hunters who prefer to talk to a person.

Decide on the license mix before you start. A deer or turkey hunter needs either the basic license plus the Big Game License, or a Sportsman's License that already includes big game. Everyone hunting deer or turkey, whatever their age, also needs the free Harvest Record, so add it to the same order.

Annual licenses are good for 365 days from the date you buy them, so there is no rush to buy at a set point in the calendar. Buy shortly before your first hunt to get the full year of use.

1. Complete hunter education if you were born on or after January 1, 1961, or choose an apprentice or one-day license.
2. Go to GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com, open the Outdoors GA app, call 1-800-366-2661, or visit a license agent.
3. Choose the basic license plus the Big Game License, or a Sportsman's License that includes big game.
4. Add the free Harvest Record for deer and turkey, then pay the listed price plus the transaction fee.

Buy a Georgia hunting license on the official site

How do deer and turkey licenses work in Georgia?

Deer, turkey and bear require a Big Game License (or a Sportsman's License that includes it) plus the free Harvest Record. The Harvest Record runs for one season, from March to February, so renew it each year even if your annual license is still valid.

Recording a kill has two steps. First, log the animal on your Harvest Record before you move it. Then report it through Georgia Game Check within 24 hours.

Quota hunts are Georgia's limited-entry hunts, and you apply at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com. The agency publishes yearly windows that it says typically do not change: deer from June 1 to September 1, turkey from June 1 to February 15, alligator from June 1 to July 15, and dog-bear from August 1 to 15. Details are on the quota hunts page.

Do kids need a license to hunt in Georgia?

Residents 15 and under do not need a basic license, since the resident license covers ages 16 to 64. They do still need the free Harvest Record to hunt deer or turkey, the same as adults.

Families who want more can buy the optional Youth Sportsman's License for $15. It lasts until the young hunter turns 17, which makes it one of the better values on the price list for a child who hunts every year.

Nonresident kids follow different rules. Nonresidents 15 and under can hunt small game for free, but they need a nonresident hunting license to hunt big game. Remember the hunter education rule as well: hunters 12 to 15 need the course unless an adult directly supervises them in the field.

A simple plan for a young hunter: get the free Harvest Record every season, finish the online hunter education course before hunting alone, and decide whether the $15 Youth Sportsman's is worth it for your family.

What does a nonresident Georgia hunting license cost?

A nonresident annual Georgia hunting license costs $100.00, and deer, turkey or bear add a $225 annual Big Game License. The nonresident Sportsman's at $400 is another option if you plan to do more than hunt.

For a short trip, the one-day licenses usually cost less. Nonresident hunting is $20 for the first day plus $6 for each added day, and nonresident big game is $130 plus $8 per added day. You can add up to 10 consecutive days. Residents have short-term big game too, at $10 plus $2 a day. Since these licenses do not require hunter education, they also suit a first-timer.

Nonresident landowners still need nonresident licenses to hunt their Georgia property. Hunting next door too? Compare the Alabama hunting license and South Carolina hunting license guides, or see every hunting license by state.

What other rules apply to Georgia hunters?

Annual licenses last 365 days from purchase, short-term licenses cover one day plus up to 10 added days, and the Harvest Record follows the March to February season. Here are the other points most hunters ask about.

• Hunter orange: deer, bear and feral hog hunters, and anyone with them, must wear at least 500 square inches of fluorescent orange or blaze pink above the waist during primitive weapons and firearms seasons. Archery-only areas are exempt.
• Landowners: resident landowners and their immediate household family are exempt from license requirements on their own land, but still need the free Harvest Record, plus the migratory bird license and duck stamp where they apply.
• Seniors: residents 65 and older pay $4 for the Senior Hunting license or $7 for the Senior Sportsman's.
• Disability and veterans: Disability Hunting is $3 a year and Disability Sportsman's is $5. The One-Time Honorary Veterans license is free.
• Lifetime: resident lifetime sportsman's licenses run from $70 (65 and older) to $750 (ages 16 to 49), and the Military and Veterans Lifetime Sportsman's is $600.
• Keep your license and Harvest Record with you whenever you hunt, since you log every deer and turkey before moving it.