Letters To The Editor – June 2022

Turkey Baiting Question For DNR Law Enforcement

Dear GON,

It is obviously not legal to hunt turkeys over bait in Georgia, but for some reason our regulations do not specify how far you must be away from bait in order to legally hunt (screen shot to the right of eRegulations). 

I contacted a game warden and was told the distance was 200 yards. A friend of mine spoke to another warden and was told that it was up to their discretion. This would not be the first time I have gotten conflicting information from two different wardens. I can’t seem to get any concrete answers and believe that there are a lot of hunters who may be baiting illegally without even knowing it. I was hoping that someone at GON could contact DNR Law Enforcement and clarify this issue.

Steve Barron

Editor’s Note: Steve, this is a really good question. We contacted Col. Thomas Barnard with DNR Law Enforcement. He was more than happy to help and provided the following response citing OCGA 27-3-9: “Any person who takes a big game animal other than a deer within 200 yards of any place where any corn, wheat, or other grains, salts, apples or other feed or bait has been placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, or scattered so as to constitute a lure, attraction, or enticement for any game bird or game animal shall, upon conviction thereof, be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.

 “So in short you cannot hunt within 200 yards of feed for turkeys. The discretion referred to by one of our officers is in regards to whether they write a citation or warning when a person is within 200 yards based on certain facts obtained through there investigation.”

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GON Instagram: Ethan Hall, 18, with a 7-lb. rainbow from the Chattooga River caught on April 25.

GON Instagram: Addison Loeffler with a farm pond bass from Rome that she caught on April 15. It went 6-11.