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Georgia Hunting License

Georgia Hunting License Cost 2026

GA resident and non-resident fees, deer tags, turkey permits — plus a calculator for your full season total.

Georgia Hunting Overview

Georgia pairs an affordable license structure with one of the longest deer seasons in the Southeast, making it a popular option for both in-state hunters and non-residents from neighboring states. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requires a separate Big Game License for deer and turkey on top of the base license — a two-tier structure shared with most Southeastern states — while still managing a robust network of Wildlife Management Areas across the state. Understanding Georgia's fee structure, quota hunt system, and season windows up front makes it easier to plan a cost-effective trip, whether you're chasing whitetail deer or wild turkey.

GA Hunting License Fees at a Glance

Resident Annual
$15.00
Base license
Non-Resident Annual
$325.00
Base license
Deer Tag
+$225.00
Big Game License, non-res (required)

Fees are approximate 2025–2026 rates. Verify at GA DNR.

GA Hunting Cost Calculator

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$15.00
+$27.00
Estimated Season Total
$15.00
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Complete Georgia Hunting License Fee Schedule

License / TagResidentNon-ResidentNotes
Annual Hunting License$15.00$325.00Base license
Deer TagAddl. fee*+$225.00*Big Game License required (confirm resident fee w/ GA DNR)
Spring Turkey TagAddl. fee*Addl. fee**Covered by the same Big Game License as deer
Archery EndorsementIncludedIncludedNo separate purchase
Federal Duck Stamp$27.00$27.00Required for waterfowl
Senior Resident65+ free—Verify at GA DNR
YouthUnder 16 free—Junior hunting license
Active Duty MilitaryActive duty free—With military ID

Georgia Hunting License Fees — What You're Actually Paying For

Georgia's $15.00 resident license is tied for one of the lowest base fees in the Southeast—cheaper than Florida ($17), North Carolina ($47.00), and Virginia ($23). Deer and turkey access require a separate Big Game License on top of the base license — $225.00 for non-residents — putting Georgia's real all-in cost closer to states like Michigan or Wisconsin, where a separate deer permit alone can add $20 to $24, than the headline base fee suggests.

Season length is the other reason Georgia draws hunters from neighboring states. Combined archery, muzzleloader, and firearms deer seasons stretch from September through January in many Wildlife Management Areas—close to four months, one of the longest windows east of the Mississippi. Georgia's climate allows this extended calendar in a way that colder Midwest and Northeast states, with shorter firearm windows tightly clustered around the November rut, simply can't match.

Non-residents pay $325.00, roughly 11x the resident fee—steep in isolation, but the license still includes deer and turkey privileges, whereas a comparable non-resident package in a state like Michigan requires paying full price for the base license and then a separate non-resident deer license nearly equal to that base fee again. A Georgia non-resident deer and turkey season, plus the $27 Federal Duck Stamp for waterfowl, runs about $197 total—no hidden per-species tag stack.

Many of Georgia's best public Wildlife Management Areas run limited-entry quota hunts for deer, requiring a separate sign-up through the DNR's quota system rather than general open access — a common surprise for out-of-state hunters used to simply showing up with a tag. General WMA access without a quota hunt is still open to any license holder, just with more hunting pressure during peak weekends.

Georgia vs. Nearby States: Hunting License Cost Comparison

Here's how Georgia's resident and non-resident hunting license fees stack up against nearby or commonly compared states.

StateResidentNon-Resident
Georgia (this page)$15.00$325.00
Florida$17.00$151.50
South Carolina$12.00$125.00
Alabama$34.35$399.50
Tennessee$33.00$305.00
Georgia vs. Nearby States — Resident vs. Non-Resident ($) Resident Non-Resident Georgia (this state) $15.00 $325.00 Florida $17.00 $151.50 South Carolina $12.00 $125.00 Alabama $34.35 $399.50 Tennessee $33.00 $305.00
Chart: annual base license fees, resident vs. non-resident. Source: state wildlife agency sites, verified July 2026.

How to Buy a Georgia Hunting License

Georgia hunting licenses are sold online through the Georgia DNR's licensing portal (georgiawildlife.com), by phone, or in person at license vendors including most sporting goods and outdoor retailers statewide. Online purchases are issued instantly as a digital license you can display on your phone. Because deer and turkey require a separate Big Game License on top of the base license, most Georgia hunters after those species will need to add it at checkout ($225.00 non-resident) — also double-check any Wildlife Management Area-specific quota hunt requirements, which use a separate sign-up system through the DNR.

Buying a GA License, Step by Step

1. Go to the GA DNR online licensing portal (or call/visit an agent in person).
2. Select residency status and the license type — base license, plus any required deer, turkey, or archery add-ons.
3. Enter hunter education certification details if this is your first license, or your existing customer ID if you've bought one before.
4. Pay online for an instant digital license, or complete the purchase in person.
5. Print or save your license and any tags to your phone, and review current season dates for your specific zone or unit before heading out.

Georgia Residency Rules & License Exemptions

Georgia residency for hunting license purposes generally requires living in the state for at least 30 consecutive days immediately before applying, along with a Georgia driver's license or state ID. Active-duty military stationed in Georgia, along with their dependents, qualify for resident rates regardless of home-of-record state. Georgia residents 65 and older and youth under 16 are fully exempt from license fees, and landowners (and immediate family) can hunt their own qualifying land without a license—a notable benefit given how much of Georgia's deer range is privately held family land.

Is a Georgia Hunting License Worth It?

Is a Georgia non-resident license worth $325.00? Deer and turkey both require Georgia's separate $225.00 Big Game License on top of the base fee — already included in the $325.00 total above — so the season length (nearly four months) is the bigger differentiator than the pricing structure, which resembles Michigan's or Wisconsin's base-plus-tag setup rather than a true bundle.

Other State Hunting License Costs

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See how Georgia compares to all 50 states — resident and non-resident.

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Georgia Hunting Season Dates

SeasonTypical DatesNotes
Deer — ArcherySeptember – JanuaryCheck zone/unit dates
Deer — General FirearmOctober – JanuaryVaries by zone/unit
Spring Wild TurkeyMarch – MayIncluded with license
Waterfowl / DuckNovember – JanuaryDuck Stamp + state validation
Georgia Hunting Season Timeline Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Deer — Archery Deer — General Firearm Spring Wild Turkey Waterfowl / Duck
Typical season windows shown by month. Exact open/close dates vary by zone or unit — verify with the state wildlife agency each year.

Season dates vary by zone/unit. Verify your area's exact calendar at GA DNR.

Frequently Asked Questions — GA Hunting License

How much is a hunting license in Georgia?
A Georgia resident hunting license costs $15.00 per year. A non-resident license costs $325.00. Deer and turkey hunting require a separate $225.00 non-resident Big Game License on top of the base license (that $225 is already folded into the $325.00 total above) — residents should confirm the current resident Big Game License fee with GA DNR, as it is not included free either.
How much is a Georgia non-resident hunting license?
A Georgia non-resident annual hunting license costs $100.00, plus a required $225.00 Big Game License for deer and turkey — $325.00 total, which is the figure shown above. The Federal Duck Stamp ($27) is required separately for waterfowl hunting.
Do I need a separate deer tag in Georgia?
No — Georgia requires a separate $225.00 Big Game License (non-resident) on top of the base license for deer and turkey. It is not included free; the $325.00 total above already accounts for it.
When is deer season in Georgia?
Georgia's general firearm deer season typically runs October – January, with archery season running September – January. Season dates vary by zone or unit — always check the current year's dates at GA DNR before hunting.
Do seniors get a discount on Georgia hunting licenses?
Georgia residents qualify for a senior hunting license benefit: 65+ free. Active duty military members also qualify for a discount (Active duty free). Verify current senior and military rates directly with GA DNR.
Does Georgia's hunting license include turkey tags?
No — Georgia's $15.00 resident base license covers small game only. Deer and spring turkey require an additional resident Big Game License, priced separately from the base fee (confirm the current resident rate with GA DNR; non-residents pay $225.00).
How long is Georgia's deer season?
Combined archery, muzzleloader, and firearms phases run from September through January in many parts of the state—close to four months, among the longest deer seasons in the eastern U.S., thanks to Georgia's mild climate and multiple weapon-specific windows.
Do Georgia landowners need a hunting license?
Landowners and their immediate family are generally exempt from license requirements when hunting their own qualifying land, though this doesn't extend to guests or leased hunting land—always confirm current rules with Georgia DNR before assuming an exemption applies.
What is a quota hunt on a Georgia WMA?
A quota hunt is a limited-entry deer or turkey hunt on a specific Wildlife Management Area, requiring a separate sign-up through the DNR's quota system due to limited hunter slots — general (non-quota) access to most WMAs remains open to any license holder.
Do Georgia hunters need to report harvests?
Georgia requires hunters to report deer and turkey harvests through the DNR's Game Check system, typically within 24-72 hours, regardless of whether the animal was taken on public or private land.
How does Georgia's license compare to Florida's?
Georgia's $15.00 resident fee is slightly cheaper than Florida's $17, and both include deer access, but Georgia's non-resident fee ($325.00) runs higher than Florida's ($151.50) — Florida is the better non-resident value of the two.
Does Georgia offer a lifetime hunting license?
Georgia offers a lifetime hunting license option for residents, which can be a better long-term value than paying the annual $15.00 fee year after year — check current DNR pricing for exact terms.
When is duck and waterfowl season in Georgia?
Georgia's general waterfowl season runs approximately November – January, though exact opener dates are set annually within federal USFWS framework dates and can vary by zone. A Federal Duck Stamp ($27) is required for all waterfowl hunters age 16 and older, on top of your Georgia hunting license — check GA DNR each year for the confirmed season dates in your zone.
What do I need to buy a Georgia hunting license?
You'll typically need a government-issued photo ID (driver's license or state ID), your hunter education certification number if this is your first license, and a form of payment. Online purchases through GA DNR accept major credit or debit cards and issue your license instantly; in-person purchases at a license agent may also accept cash or check depending on the retailer.
What's the total cost for a full deer, turkey, and archery season in Georgia?
Adding the Georgia base license ($15.00) to the required Big Game License for deer and turkey access (confirm the current resident rate with GA DNR) and archery access (included), a resident hunter pursuing all three in the same season pays more than the $15.00 base license alone before the $27 Federal Duck Stamp needed for waterfowl. Non-resident totals run higher across the board — check GA DNR for exact current tag prices before budgeting a multi-species season.
Does Georgia require hunter education to get a hunting license?
Yes — like nearly every U.S. state, Georgia requires hunter education certification for first-time license buyers born after a state-set cutoff date, typically covering firearm safety, ethics, and wildlife identification. Hunters who haven't completed the course yet can often still get afield through an apprentice or mentored hunting license, which lets a certified adult bring along an uncertified newcomer for one or more license years before certification is required.

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