Georgia · Deer · 2026–27 Edition
Georgia Deer Season 2026–27: Dates, Zones & Bag Limits
Sep 12 — mark it
Mark it.
2026–27 Edition
01 — Seasons by method
| Method | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Archery · Either-Sex | Green (residual area — county list not printed in source; defined by WRD color map) | Sep 12 – Oct 9 |
| Firearms · Antlerless Only | Green | Oct 3 – Oct 4 |
| Primitive Weapons · Either-Sex (incl. Youth-Only Firearms) | Green | Oct 10 – Oct 16 |
| Firearms · Either-Sex | Green | Oct 17 – Jan 10 |
| Archery · Either-Sex | Yellow (Rabun, Towns) | Sep 12 – Oct 9 |
| Primitive Weapons · Either-Sex (incl. Youth-Only Firearms) | Yellow (Rabun, Towns) | Oct 10 – Oct 16 |
| Firearms · Antlered Bucks Only | Yellow (Rabun, Towns) | Oct 17 – Nov 27 |
| Firearms · Either-Sex | Yellow (Rabun, Towns) | Nov 28 – Nov 29 |
| Firearms · Antlered Bucks Only | Yellow (Rabun, Towns) | Nov 30 – Dec 31 |
| Firearms · Either-Sex (New Year's Day) | Yellow (Rabun, Towns) | Jan 1 – Jan 1 |
| Firearms · Antlered Bucks Only | Yellow (Rabun, Towns) | Jan 2 – Jan 10 |
| Archery · Either-Sex | Cyan (Fannin, Union) | Sep 12 – Oct 9 |
| Primitive Weapons · Either-Sex (incl. Youth-Only Firearms) | Cyan (Fannin, Union) | Oct 10 – Oct 16 |
| Firearms · Antlered Bucks Only | Cyan (Fannin, Union) | Oct 17 – Nov 5 |
| Firearms · Either-Sex | Cyan (Fannin, Union) | Nov 6 – Nov 12 |
| Firearms · Antlered Bucks Only | Cyan (Fannin, Union) | Nov 13 – Dec 31 |
| Firearms · Either-Sex (New Year's Day) | Cyan (Fannin, Union) | Jan 1 – Jan 1 |
| Firearms · Antlered Bucks Only | Cyan (Fannin, Union) | Jan 2 – Jan 10 |
| Archery · Either-Sex | Orange (Dawson, Gilmer, Habersham, Lumpkin, Murray, Pickens, Stephens, Whitfield, White) | Sep 12 – Oct 9 |
| Primitive Weapons · Either-Sex (incl. Youth-Only Firearms) | Orange | Oct 10 – Oct 16 |
| Firearms · Antlered Bucks Only | Orange | Oct 17 – Nov 5 |
| Firearms · Either-Sex | Orange | Nov 6 – Nov 12 |
| Firearms · Antlered Bucks Only | Orange | Nov 13 – Nov 19 |
| Firearms · Either-Sex | Orange | Nov 20 – Nov 26 |
| Firearms · Antlered Bucks Only | Orange | Nov 27 – Dec 27 |
| Firearms · Either-Sex | Orange | Dec 28 – Jan 10 |
| Archery · Antlered Bucks Only | Magenta (Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Thomas) | Sep 12 – Sep 27 |
| Archery · Either-Sex | Magenta | Sep 28 – Oct 9 |
| Firearms · Antlerless Only | Magenta | Oct 3 – Oct 4 |
| Primitive Weapons · Either-Sex (incl. Youth-Only Firearms) | Magenta | Oct 10 – Oct 16 |
| Firearms · Either-Sex | Magenta | Oct 17 – Jan 15 |
| Archery (late) · Either-Sex | Magenta | Jan 16 – Jan 31 |
| Archery Only — Either-Sex | Gray (Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton — archery-only counties) | Sep 12 – Jan 31 |
| Extended Archery Season · Either-Sex | Baker, Barrow, Bibb, Calhoun, Chatham, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Decatur, DeKalb, Douglas, Early, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Grady, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Miller, Mitchell, Muscogee, Paulding, Richmond, Rockdale, Seminole, Thomas | Sep 12 – Jan 31 |
| Extended Firearms Season | Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Thomas, Seminole | Oct 17 – Jan 15 |
02 — Bag limits
| Statewide season limit | 12 deer per season. No more than 10 may be antlerless and no more than 2 may be antlered. One of the 2 antlered must have ≥4 points (≥1 inch) on one side or a ≥15-inch outside spread. |
|---|---|
| Antler-restriction counties | Hancock, Harris, Meriwether, Montgomery, Randolph, Talbot, Troup: antlered bucks only if ≥4 points (≥1 inch) on either side or ≥15-inch outside spread. Dooly and Macon: antlered bucks must have ≥15-inch outside spread. |
| Firearms restrictions | No firearms deer hunting in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton (north of GA Hwy 92), and Jekyll Island (Glynn). South Forsyth (below GA Hwy 20): shotguns and muzzleloaders only. |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 12, 2026) 06:45 — 20:12
Rule: 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset (nocturnal exceptions for alligators, raccoons, opossums, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, feral hogs). Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Georgia sun times for any other date.
04 — License
A Georgia hunting license and deer permit are required. A dedicated Georgia license page — costs, age rules and where to buy — is coming; for now, buy and read the rules straight from the agency.
Georgia licenses & permits — Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division →
05 — FAQ
When does deer season start in Georgia?
The earliest 2026–27 opener is September 12, 2026 (archery). Gun and muzzleloader dates differ — see the table above.
When does deer season end in Georgia?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is January 31, 2027. Individual methods and zones close on their own dates.
Verified · Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division · Last verified 2026-08-01
Publisher's note. Zones from the 2026–2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations (final, not preliminary). The 'Green' zone is the statewide residual area defined by WRD's color map; a county list is not printed in the source. The season-dates flyer labels the SW zone 'PINK' while the regulations book and map legend label it 'MAGENTA' (same counties, same dates) — MAGENTA used here. No standalone Youth deer season: the Oct 10–16 window is Primitive Weapons + Youth-Only Firearms. Firearms deer hunting is not allowed in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton (north of GA Hwy 92), and Jekyll Island portion of Glynn County; south Forsyth (below GA Hwy 20) is shotgun/muzzleloader only. Dog-deer seasons are permit-only and not included.