SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. –-(Ammoland.com)- The statewide turkey hunting season opens on March 25. However, youth and mobility-impaired hunters utilizing private land have a chance to harvest a bird during a special early opportunity turkey season on March 18-19, 2017, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division.
“What a fantastic opportunity for two deserving groups to get a chance to get in the woods before the season opens statewide the following weekend,” said John Bowers, chief of WRD Game Management.
This weekend hunt opportunity is available only for youth 16 years of age and younger or hunters that are mobility impaired (i.e. confined to a wheelchair, hemiplegia, monoplegia, paraplegia, or single-leg amputation above the knee). Youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult (18 years or older) who may call for turkey, but may not take or attempt to take a turkey.
All turkey hunters, including those under 16 years of age, landowners, honorary, lifetime, and sportsman license holders, must obtain a free harvest record each season. Before moving a harvested turkey, hunters are required to immediately enter the date and county on the harvest record, and within 72 hours, must complete the reporting process through Georgia Game Check. More information at www.georgiawildlife.com/HarvestRecordGeorgiaGameCheck.
Resident youth hunters under age 16 will not need a license. Hunters age 16 years or older (including those accompanying youth or others) will need a hunting license and a big game license unless hunting on their own private land. Where can you get a license? Buy it online (www.gooutdoorsgeorgia.com/), at a retail license vendors (list available at www.georgiawildlife.com/licenses-permits-passes) or buy it by phone at 1-800-366-2661.
The 2017 Georgia statewide turkey season opens Saturday, March 25. For more information, visit www.georgiawildlife.com/hunting/regulations .