Want More Doe Days Or Not? April 30 Deadline To Make Comment

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.

WRD has hosted two of their three public hearings this week as they are in the process of gathering comments on proposed hunting regulations for the next two hunting seasons. The final public hearing will be tonight at 7 p.m. at Rabun County Health Department, 184 S Main St., Clayton, GA 30525.

The increase in doe days has been the most popular topic for those choosing to make comments. As of April 13, about 65 comments have been made to WRD, with about a 50-50 split on those favoring or opposing the increase in doe days. Jared Norton, of Greensboro, attended last night’s public hearing in Madison. After a regulations presentation by Tina Johannsen, WRD Game Management’s assistant chief, he was allowed to make comments and ask questions.

“The increase in doe days is my main interest for being here,” said Jared.

Other than GON, Jared and his young daughter were the only hunters at the Madison meeting.

“I hunt in Greene and surrounding counties, and I haven’t really seen the doe population rebound enough,” said Jared.

Jared’s concern was the number of deer in the areas he hunts may not be back to a level where it could withstand antlerless hunting for the entire rifle season. He also expressed concerns about “blanket regulation changes,” specifically when antlerless dates cover a large swath of counties, as seen in the 2023-24 Proposed Firearms Doe Days map above.

Interestingly, increasing doe days wasn’t really on WRD’s radar for this round of regulations. They were looking to include that in the next 10-year Strategic Management Plan for Deer, which would have implemented the increase in doe hunting beginning during the 2025-26 deer season.

“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.

That’s how more antlerless hunting was included in the new packages for the next two hunting seasons. Like it? Don’t like it? Comment now or hold your tongue for the next two hunting seasons.

Comment On Proposed Hunting Regulations

Hunters still have several ways to comment on the hunting regulations proposals before the April 30 deadline:

• Attend the public hearing tonight, April 13 at the Rabun County Health Department, 184 S Main St., Clayton, GA 30525 at 7 p.m.

• Submit comments by email ([email protected]), by telephone 706.557.3350 or by mail to: 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.

Facebook Live Meeting

There will be a virtual regulation presentation on WRD’s Facebook page on Monday, April 17 at 7 p.m. Folks with WRD will be on hand to field questions. However, you will not be able to make an official comment during that online meeting.

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.