Duck Hunting Season in Georgia: Season Dates, Bag Limits and More

Waterfowl hunting is a popular activity across the United States and Canada, but understanding your state’s regulations and restrictions on duck hunting is key to a successful, legal hunt. Below outlines some duck hunting qualities and regulations unique to Georgia.

Background on Hunting in Georgia

Georgia is a state that makes up the Atlantic Flyway, which is a migration pathway that birds fly when going south for the winter. Duck hunting in Georgia should be done legally and in a way that is respectful to the environment and duck populations. Therefore, certain regulations, such as daily bag limits and possession limits, within Georgia that concern duck hunting should be followed. Detailed information about acquiring licensure and participating in hunting opportunities can be discovered through online research. Licenses and other permits that a hunter needs to acquire before hunting are listed below.

• Georgia Hunting License
• Georgia Migratory Bird License
• Federal Duck Stamp

Duck Hunting Season Dates in Georgia

Duck hunting season in Georgia begins on November 19^th and ends November 27^th. Duck hunting season begins again on December 10^th and lasts until January 29^th. However, November 12^th and 13^th are hunting days reserved for veterans, active-duty military, and youth who are hunting alongside an adult. Hunting hours for ducks begin 30 minutes before sunrise and end at sunset. These hours are particularly important to adhere to so that duck populations remain protected.

Daily Bag Limits

Daily bag limits are six per day. Duck species daily bag limits are one Black or Mottled Duck, one Fulvous Whistling Duck, one Pintail, one Scaup, two Canvasback, two Mallards (only one Mallard may be female), two Redheads, and three Wood Ducks.

Possession Limits

The possession limits reflect the bag limits. If the daily bag limit is six, then the possession limit is 18, as the possession limits are three times that of the daily bag limits.

Environment

Ducks are likely to be near moisture in areas like wetlands, ponds, or marshes. There is an abundance of food accessible to ducks in high-moisture areas, so identifying their habitat is key to finding out where ducks may reside. Whether a duck can be found in shallow or deep water depends on the species. For example, Wood Ducks and Mallards are typically found in shallow waters due to their diet, while Redheads and Canvasbacks will be found in water with more depth.

Public versus Private Land

A hunter needs to be conscious of whether they are duck hunting on private or public land. Private land is unique because many hunting opportunities exist on private land that do not exist on public land. Private land can be leased, or a hunter can ask to hunt on private property. However, a hunter must always ask permission first to avoid trespassing. Public land is readily available for hunting, but hunters must follow certain regulations that the owner or owners have laid out for them. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in each state has allocated several acres of land to be a Wildlife Management Areas. On these public lands, hunting is permitted so long as the hunter follows DNR regulations. Some regulations control aspects of the hunt like timing or number of hunters allowed at one time on a Wildlife Management Area. Other hunting opportunities like guided hunting trips exist in Georgia and across the United States. You can book guided hunting trips offer hunting experiences or packages during certain hunting seasons.

Tips for Hunting Ducks in Georgia

Before hunting, a hunter should know bag limits and regulations, especially regulations relating to gender. Hunters need to be able to distinguish between male and female ducks when hunting. For instance, they allow one female Mallard, per hunter, per day. If the hunter is not conscious of sex and kills two female Mallards, they would be violating Georgia hunting regulations. In addition, identification of gender can change depending on the species. Therefore, a hunter should be knowledgeable in what both male and female ducks look like across all species.

Be sure to set up all decoys before sunrise because ducks will begin to feed during the morning. The wind should be blowing from behind the hunter. The sun should be behind the hunter, too. In this way, the sun will help hide the hunter, and the ducks will naturally move closer within the range. Safety is extremely important when hunting, so ensure you follow all regulations and safety procedures. In addition, hunting in a group or with a partner is a wise idea. If an emergency occurs, someone else in the party will be able to call for help.

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Allen Allnoch