Apply For All WMA Quota Hunts Online

If you have been applying for WMA deer hunts online for a number of years, you’ll still need to go create a new account in the new system. Priority points, or rejections, will carry over.

Changes have occurred inside the WMA quota-hunt application process. With the exception of wheelchair-only hunts, if you—or your child—are planning to apply for an upcoming WMA big- or small-game quota hunt, it will have to be done through a new quota hunt system on the Georgia DNR website. Deadlines to apply for these hunts are listed below.

“The new quota-hunt system was implemented to increase awareness among our constituents of the innumerable opportunities within our WMA system and improve access to these opportunities,” said Brandon Anderson, senior wildlife biologist. “Additional benefits include: priority point accumulation for all hunt types, extended application periods, 24-hour access to the quota system, ability to edit applications up to the deadline, swift notice of drawing results, paperless system with no need to keep up with old letters or permit cards. In addition, it will save WRD hundreds of man hours that can be applied to conservation efforts rather than administration.”

If you have been applying for WMA deer hunts online for a number of years, you’ll still need to go create a new account in the new system. Priority points, or rejections, will carry over.

If you applied for a 2012 WMA turkey quota hunt, you have already set up your new online account. However, if you did not apply for a 2012 turkey hunt, and it’s been since last deer season since you have been to the DNR website, you’ll have to set up your new account before you apply for a WMA quota hunt.

Setting Up a New Account

The process for setting up your account is simple.

• Go to www.gohuntgeorgia.com

• Under the “Hunting” tab, go down to “Quota Hunts.”

• Click on “Access the NEW Quota Hunt System!”

• Under the “About” tab, there are three links. Read the information under all those links. It’s not overwhelming, and it does explain the new system very well.

• Finally, in the upper right-hand corner, click the link that says, “Log In.” From there you’ll click “Create an Account/Log In.” Follow the instructions that you read under the “About” tab.

Youth Accounts

All adult/child hunts must now be applied for online. In years past, these hunts have been applied for by letter. Do not send letters to local WRD offices this fall. Instead, you’ll need to set up an account for your child, with their social-security number, before they can apply for hunts.

I set up my new account prior to the 2012 turkey season. However, just for the sake of this article, and because my daughter is getting close to hunting age, I went into the DNR system and set up an account for her. I entered her social-security number, birth date and my e-mail address. The process took me less than five minutes and was super easy. Once signed in, all the quota-hunt options for youth were listed. Pretty cool! I even signed her up for a couple of the small-game hunts.

Applying For a Quota Hunt

Once you have created a new account, applying for the hunts is also easy. If you need to refresh your memory, go under the “About” tab again and read, “Instructions—Apply for a Quota Hunt.”

However, before you apply for a hunt, I advise that you first study the “Quota Hunt Selection Odds” table. You’ll access these charts by going to www.gohuntgeorgia.com. Under the “Hunting” tab, go down to “Quota Hunts.”

These tables are based on last season’s numbers but will give you a good idea of how many priority points to use when picking a hunt. For example, click on the “Quota Deer Hunt Selection Data.” Look at the first deer hunt on B.F. Grant WMA. You’ll see that 2,872 folks applied for this hunt, with 1,757 people requesting this as their first hunt choice. Of the 1,264 folks who applied with no priority, 0 percent were selected. Of the 381 folks who applied with one priority, 69 percent were picked. The 100 hunters who applied with priority two and 12 hunters who applied with priority three were all picked. Use the numbers in these tables to determine how many priority points to use on a hunt this year. Selection data is available for deer, alligator, waterfowl and turkey hunts.

Set up your online account. The state offers some awesome hunting, and the deadlines for many are approaching.

Quota Hunt Deadlines

Season: Application Deadline
Alligator: July 31
Dove: Aug. 15
Adult/Child Dove: Aug. 15
WMA Deer: Sept. 1
Adult/Child WMA Deer: Sept. 1
State Park Deer: Sept. 1
Dog-Deer: Sept. 1
Waterfowl: Oct. 15
Adult/Child Waterfowl: Oct. 15
Quail: Oct. 15
Adult/Child Quail: Oct. 15
Rabbit: Oct. 15
Hog: Dec. 1
Dog-Hog: Dec. 1
Turkey: Feb. 15, 2013
Adult/Child Turkey: Feb. 15, 2013

“What Do I Do With My Kid’s Ossabaw Adult/Child Rejection Letters?”

So you’ve been waiting two years to get your kid on the very coveted adult/child Thanksgiving hunt on Ossabaw Island. You’ve got two rejection letters that DNR has mailed you back over the last two years. With the new online system, will you lose those rejections? No!

However, before you do anything to regain your priority status, go to www.gohuntgeoriga.com and set up an online account in the new quota hunt system for the child you had been applying for. Then, call Joani Williford in the WRD Brunswick office at (912) 262-3173.

Quail Hunt Rejection Letters

If you have quail-hunt rejection letters, you must also set up an online account in the new quota hunt system. After you do this, call the local Game Management office responsible for those hunts.

If you’re applying for the private-land, youth BQI hunts, you’ll still need to apply for those by letter. On the Quota Hunts page, you’ll see a link that says, “Bobwhite Quail Youth Hunts.”

Do I Lose My Priority Points Going To The New System?

A concern among hunters is whether or not priority points, or “rejections,” will transfer over. The answer is, yes, but follow the instructions closely.

According to the DNR website, “It is very important that you enter your Social Security Number (SSN) correctly when creating your new account. The new quota system will use your SSN to transfer your priority points to your new account. If you have priority points from previous seasons, then go to the ‘Account’ tab once you are logged into your account. Select ‘My Priorities’ from the drop-down menu. Verify that the system transferred your priority points to your new account. Priority points will appear immediately after your account is created.”

If you applied for a 2012 WMA turkey quota hunt, then you’ve already set up your new account on the DNR website. If you did not apply, and can’t remember going onto the DNR site in some time, there is a chance you’ll need to get set up under their new system. Go to www.gohuntgeorgia.com. Under the hunting tab, click on “Quota Hunts.” Then click on “Access the NEW Quota Hunt System!” Read all instructions under the “About” tab.