New Legislation Would Define Navigable Waters, Another Would Create Turkey Stamp

Several days remain in the legislation session as this April issue of GON goes to press, and most potential new laws that could affect sportsmen are yet to be decided. A bill to define navigable streams in Georgia and a bill to create a Turkey Stamp were likely introduced too late for consideration this year, but they are sure to generate discussion going forward.

House Bill 1397: This legislation would codify into law the waters that are navigable in Georgia, stating: “The following streams and parts of streams in this state shall be presumed to be navigable  streams in any judicial or administrative proceeding where the navigability of any such stream or part of a stream is at issue.” Non-navigable flowing waters are considered private. The list of navigable streams (see sidebar) in the current version of HB 1397 leaves off some waters currently being paddled and fished. According to the Georgia River Network, at least five streams where outfitters currently operate are not included, and nearly 50% of the rivers profiled in the book Canoeing and Kayaking Georgia are not included in this list of navigable waters. See list from HB 1397 below.

House Bill 1508: Creates an optional $10 turkey stamp for Georgia resident turkey hunters and mandates a $100 non-resident turkey stamp for out-of-state hunters 16 years old and older.

House Bill 1018: HB 1018 would protect the privacy of Georgia gun owners and sportsmen from a new international standard that tracks credit card purchases of guns and ammo. It prohibits a financial entity from using a firearms merchant category code to distinguish a firearms retailer from other retailers and prohibits persons or government entities from keeping registries of firearms or owners of firearms. Passed House 106 to 60, voting mostly along party lines with Democrat opposition. Passed Senate 33-19 on March 26. Awaiting Gov. Kemp’s signature. 

House Bill 244: HB 244 includes several DNR rules and regulation changes, including the legalization of electronic calls for hunting bobcat and fox during hunting season. Passed with only one nay vote in each Chamber. Awaiting Gov. Kemp’s signature. 

House Bill 927: Fluorescent Pink —During gun season, a hunter must wear at least 500 square inches of “daylight fluorescent orange.” HB 927 legalizes “fluorescent pink material.” Other legislation was wrapped into HB 927—amendments legalize air rifles .30 caliber and larger and air bows; and legalize bowfishing for catfishing statewide. Passed House with one nay vote, awaiting Senate floor vote. 

For updates, go to www.legis.ga.gov.

 

Navigable Streams As Defined By HB 1397

• Alabaha River downstream from confluence of Hurricane Creek and L. Hurricane Creek;

• Alapaha River downstream from confluence with Deep Creek upstream of Crystal Lake Rd;

• Alcovy River downstream of Alcovy Trestle Rd;

• Altamaha River downstream from confluence of Ocmulgee and Oconee Rivers;

• Apalachee River downstream of confluence with Jacks Creek above Hwy 441;

• Armuchee Creek downstream of US Hwy 27;

• Big Indian Creek downstream from confluence with Mossy Creek above US Hwy 129;

• Big Satilla Creek downstream from confluence with Colemans Creek above US Hwy 84;

• Brier Creek downstream from confluence with Reedy Creek above GA Hwy 88;

• Broad River downstream of confluence of North Fork and Middle Fork Broad River above Bond Bridge Rd;

• Canoochee River downstream of confluence with 15 Mile Creek above Kennedy Bridge Rd;

• Chattahoochee River downstream of GA Hwy 115;

• Chattooga River (NE) downstream of boundary between Georgia and North Carolina;

• Chattooga River (NW) downstream of US Hwy 27;

• Chestatee River downstream of confluence with Tesnatee Creek above Copper Mines Rd;

• Conasauga River downstream of the boundary between Georgia and Tennessee;

• Coosa River downstream of confluence of Oostanaula River and Etowah River;

• Coosawattee River downstream of confluence of Cartecay River and Ellijay River;

• Etowah River downstream of GA Hwy 9;

• Flint River downstream of W McIntosh Rd;

• Hudson River downstream of GA Hwy 326;

• Kinchafoonee Creek downstream of confluence with Choctahatchee Creek above GA Hwy 45;

• Line Creek downstream of Line Creek Rd;

• Little Ocmulgee River downstream of GA Hwy 134;

• Little Ohoopee River in its entirety;

• Little River (Sinclair) downstream of GA Hwy 16;

• Little River (Withlacoochee) downstream of Kinard Bridge Landing;

• Little River (Clarks Hill) downstream of Lumburg Rd;

• Little Satilla River downstream of confluence of Big Satilla Creek and Little Satilla Creek;

• Little Tallapoosa River downstream of Bowdon Tyus Rd;

• Middle Fork Suwannee River downstream of confluence with Bird Wing Run;

• Middle Oconee River downstream of Etheridge Rd;

• Muckalee Creek downstream of confluence with Fox Creek above GA Hwy 195;

• North Oconee River downstream of Newton Bridge Rd;

• Nottely River upstream of Nottely Lake to boundary between Georgia and North Carolina;

• Ochlockonee River downstream of GA Hwy 188;

• Ocmulgee River downstream of Lake Jackson to the Altamaha River;

• Oconee River downstream from confluence of North and Middle Oconee River to Altamaha;

• Ogeechee River downstream of confluence with Little Ogeechee River above Mitchell Rd;

• Ohoopee River downstream of GA Hwy 56;

• Okapilco Creek downstream of US Hwy 84;

• Oostanaula River downstream of confluence of Conasauga River and Coosawattee River;

• Pataula Creek downstream of confluence with Hodchodkee Creek above US Hwy 82;

• Saint Marys River downstream of confluence with N. Prong and S. Prong Saint Marys River;

• Salacoa Creek downstream of confluence with Pine Log Creek above Lovebridge Rd;

• Satilla River downstream of GA Hwy 64;

• Savannah River in its entirety;

• South River downstream of GA Hwy 138;

• Spring Creek downstream of confluence with Long Branch above US Hwy 27;

• Suwannee River in its entirety;

• Sweetwater Creek downstream of confluence with Olley Creek above Perkinson Mill Rd;

• Tallapoosa River downstream of the boundary between Harrison Co. and Paulding Co.;

• Tallulah River downstream of Seed Lake to confluence with Chattooga River;

• Tobesofkee Creek downstream of confluence with Rocky Creek above Bond Swamp NWR;

• Toccoa River downstream of confluence with Cooper Creek;

• Towaliga River downstream of confluence with Little Towaliga River above GA Hwy 42;

• Tugaloo River downstream of Tugaloo Lake;

• Turkey Creek downstream of GA Hwy 19;

• Upatoi Creek downstream of confluence with Randall Creek above Red Arrow Rd;

• Warrior Creek downstream of Ellenton Omega Rd;

• Withlacoochee River downstream of GA Hwy 37;

• Yellow River downstream of GA Hwy 124.