Doe Days Jump For Most Counties In WRD Proposed Hunting Regs

Georgia’s Wildlife Resources Division was already looking to bring back more antlerless hunting, but the hunting regulations comment period spurred them to move early on bringing back more antlerless hunting opportunity. Either-sex harvest is allowed statewide with archery equipment during open dates.

One of WRD’s biggest take aways from January’s public meetings to determine hunting regulations for the next two hunting seasons appeared to be that hunters wanted more opportunity to harvest does. As a result, a large majority of hunters could see an earlier return of doe days that would begin on the opening day of the next two firearms seasons—Oct. 21, 2023 and Oct. 19, 2024—and last throughout the entire rifle seasons.

“During the January public input period, we received more than 200 comments from hunters, farmers and other concerned citizens in support of increasing deer harvest. That was nearly half of the total comments we received,” said Tina Johannsen, WRD Game Management’s assistant chief.

WRD was already looking to bring back more antlerless hunting, but the hunting regulations comment period spurred them to move early on bringing back more antlerless hunting opportunity.

“This fall hunting season will be the last deer season before we begin our stakeholder-driven process to revise the 10-year Strategic Management Plan for Deer, and we’d originally planned to adjust doe days where needed as part of the new plan process,” said Tina. “Although the current plan wraps up in 2024, many counties have already met or exceeded the population goals established 10 years ago. With the exception of counties in far northwest Georgia, biologically our deer herd can support additional doe harvest.

“Given the circumstances, we changed course to better serve hunters and landowners by making the doe days changes now instead of in 2025.”

WRD’s deer population data appears to mirror what GON’s Rate Your Season survey has shown over the last 10 years. According to GON’s annual survey, only 6.8% of hunters rated their season as “Excellent” in 2012. Since that year, we’ve seen a steady uptick in hunters who have rated their seasons as Excellent. During the 2022-23 season, a record-setting 25.1% of hunters said their hunting was Excellent.

A decade ago, deer populations were lower than they currently are going into the 2023-24 season. That, along with a help cry from hunters, is what led WRD to lowering the number of days when many hunters in those concerned areas could harvest antlerless deer.

“The number of doe days has a much bigger impact on total harvest than bag limit does—that’s why when the goal was to increase the population for many counties, we had to take away doe opportunity, especially on the days that normally have the highest doe harvest (opening weekend of rifle season, for example),” said Tina. “Now that we are positioned to stabilize or increase many of those same counties, restoring some or all of their doe days is the tool of choice. We will always need to tweak doe opportunity in most of the state because deer management, as most hunters can attest, is not a precise science. It requires us to annually examine data and public desires, then adjust regulations as needed. Fortunately, Georgia has a generous season that allows land managers to control how much and when they harvest deer to meet their objectives.”

Summary Of Other Proposed Hunting Regulation Changes 

• Allow a drawn hunter on a quota hunt to bring along a non-hunting companion if they need help getting gear in and out of the woods and/or getting big game out of the field.

• Add 100 gator quota tags that would be distributed across alligator hunting zones proportionally (except zones 1A and 9A).

• Adds cooperating processors and taxidermists as additional locations for Northern Zone bear hunters to get bears tagged.

Full listing with additional information and WMA proposed changes found on WRD website.

Comment On Proposed Hunting Regulations

Hunters are asked to comment on the hunting regulations proposals and have that opportunity in several ways before the April 30, 2023 deadline:

Virtual and In-Person Scheduled Meetings: Members of the general public will have an opportunity to comment on these proposed regulations at three public hearings scheduled at 7 p.m. each night.

• April 11: Herty Building, Georgia Forestry Commission, 4983 Jacksonville Hwy, Waycross, GA 31503.

• April 12: UGA Extension Office, 440 Hancock St., Madison, GA 30650.

• April 13: Rabun County Health Department, 184 S Main St., Clayton, GA 30525.

• April 17: Additionally, an online public meeting will be held.

• Alternative Comment Submission Methods: Those unable to attend the hearings may submit comments on these proposed regulations electronically by email ([email protected]), by telephone 706.557.3350 or by submitting written statements, before close of business on April 30, 2023. Written statements should be mailed to the attention of Dr. Tina Johannsen at: Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division Game Management Section 2067 U.S. Highway 278, S.E. Social Circle, Georgia 30025.

After the April 30 deadline, a package will go to the DNR Board for final approval.