Legislation that would open up archery deer hunting statewide until Jan. 31 is still in play at the Georgia capitol, although there doesn’t seem to be widespread support for the measure as of yet. The legislation is an amended version of Senate Bill 122, which was introduced last legislative session.
Allowing either-sex archery deer hunting with bows and crossbows statewide until Jan. 31 would mirror what the state currently allows for counties in the metro Atlanta area, where growing deer populations pose problems and hunting options are limited.
The firearms deer season was just changed by the legislature two years ago so that it ends statewide on the second Sunday of January. That legislation did away with split seasons where the Northern Zone closed on Jan. 1.
SB 122 would have to be passed by both the state Senate and House of Representatives, and then be signed by the Governor before it would be law.
In addition to creating archery-only deer hunting through Jan. 31, SB 122 would also extend small-game seasons through the first week of March.
Last year when this topic was discussed, the Wildlife Resources Division said extending small-game seasons could negatively impact the populations of three game animals in particular—fox squirrels, rabbits and quail. Small-game hunting currently ends Feb. 28, a week sooner than the proposal in SB 122.
A similar House version of the legislation, HB 186, was introduced last year but didn’t progress. HB 186 would extend firearms deer hunting until the third Monday of January (MLK Day) and provide for archery deer hunting statewide through Jan. 31. HB 186 does not currently include the measure to extend small-game seasons through first weekend of March.
Allowing either-sex archery deer hunting with bows and crossbows statewide until Jan. 31 would mirror what the state currently allows for counties in the metro Atlanta area, where growing deer populations pose problems and hunting options are limited.
The firearms deer season was just changed by the legislature two years ago so that it ends statewide on the second Sunday of January. That legislation did away with split seasons where the Northern Zone closed on Jan. 1.
SB 122 would have to be passed by both the state Senate and House of Representatives, and then be signed by the Governor before it would be law.
In addition to creating archery-only deer hunting through Jan. 31, SB 122 would also extend small-game seasons through the first week of March.
Last year when this topic was discussed, the Wildlife Resources Division said extending small-game seasons could negatively impact the populations of three game animals in particular—fox squirrels, rabbits and quail. Small-game hunting currently ends Feb. 28, a week sooner than the proposal in SB 122.
A similar House version of the legislation, HB 186, was introduced last year but didn’t progress. HB 186 would extend firearms deer hunting until the third Monday of January (MLK Day) and provide for archery deer hunting statewide through Jan. 31. HB 186 does not currently include the measure to extend small-game seasons through first weekend of March.