Legislature Tries To Add 30 Days To GA Deer Season

A late amendment to HB 491 would mandate that DNR increase Georgia’s deer season by 30 days. Whether you agree with that idea or not, the Georgia state legislature managing wildlife with no input from sportsmen or DNR biologists is a terrible idea. The Georgia Wildlife Federation and its Camo Coalition, along with the Georgia Trappers Association, are among organizations calling on sportsmen to contact their state representatives right now.

The following was posted by the Camo Coalition:

HB 491 was offered to address a couple of issues that included the utilization air powered rifles for deer hunting and the taking of catfish with archery equipment. The bill was altered a bit after introduction, a regular and healthy part of the legislative process, and was in good shape. However, Senator Carden Summers (R- 13) of Cordele has offered an amendment that is a terrible idea for the management of our deer herd.

Georgia already has one of the longest deer seasons in the country. We also have one of the nation’s most liberal bag limits, deer hunters can harvest 2 antlered and 10 un-antlered deer annually. We have plenty of opportunities for hunters to harvest deer.

The amendment would allow for an additional 30 days in Georgia’s deer season, with DNR given the direction to determine when to add those days. This proposal has not been reviewed by our deer biologists, it hasn’t been through the traditional public hearing process and it is, generally, a bad idea both in process and in effect.

Starting the deer hunting season earlier would likely result in the harvest of does that are still suckling their fawns. Deer hunting is our legitimate and tested methodology of controlling our deer populations. Hunting has traditionally been viewed as an ethical and appropriate tool of management. It also allows for recreational opportunities and allows folks to provide food for their families. Shooting nursing does is certainly not an appropriate ethical management tool.

Adding the days to the end of deer season takes us further into the time when bucks have shed their antlers. Even today, with the length of our season, we see buck deer that have dropped their antlers. An additional 30 days will amplify that problem. Some will ask why dropping antlers is a concern. One of the tools of current deer management practice is knowing the age structure of the buck populations and one of the critical tools of that management is the evaluation of antlers to determine age and health. Management of the deer herd becomes significantly more difficult when we reduce the ability to evaluate the health of the population.

Another significant concern is the impact on other hunting seasons. Georgia’s long deer season already impacts small game hunters and small game hunting. An earlier deer season will impact dove season, and few hunter are keen on going into the woods to harvest a nursing doe in 100 degree heat. A later deer season impacts squirrel and rabbit hunters, quail and woodcock hunters and we already see a fall off in deer hunting late in the season. Why add more? This proposal is bad policy amplified by utilizing a bad process and seems very unlikely to achieve any positive result of any type.

Please contact your State Senator immediately and encourage them to vote against the amended version of HB 491 that extends the deer season. It is bad policy, it is bad process, it will likely not encourage more hunting, it will entail ethical challenges for hunters and lead to more unjust criticism of hunting and hunters. I also encourage you to contact Senator Summers office directly at 404.656.9224 to voice your concerns.