(1) Bears may be taken with archery equipment during the statewide archery deer season, with primitive weapons during the statewide primitive weapons deer season, and with firearms during the statewide firearms deer season in Barrow, Carroll, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hart, Jackson, Madison, and Walton counties and all counties north of these counties except that county specific weapons restrictions enumerated in 391-4-2-.25 and 391-4-2-.26 shall apply to bear hunting in such counties. Youth under 16 years of age may hunt bears with any firearm legal for hunting deer during the northern zone primitive weapons season for bears.(2) Bears All harvested bears in the counties specified in subsection (1) must be reported within 24 hours of carcass recovery pursuant to 391-4-2-.03.(3) The entire hide and skull of any harvested bear in the counties specified in subsection (1) shall be taken during normal business hours to any Game Management facility or participating processor or taxidermist listed as open for bear check-in in the annual Hunting Seasons and Regulations guide for tagging by the department within 3 business days of harvest.(4) Bears may be taken in Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Clinch, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes and Ware counties on the last two (2) Thursdays of September and the Friday and Saturday immediately following each, and the first two (2) Thursdays of October and the Friday and Saturday immediately following each. Hunting with dogs is allowed except that still hunting only is allowed in Lanier and Lowndes counties. Bears must be checked and tagged within 24 hours of harvest at the Georgia Forestry Commission Office at Fargo, the Georgia Forestry Commission Office at Folkston, or the Dixon Memorial check station during the hours and dates listed as open for bear check-in in the annual Hunting Seasons and Regulations guide.(5) Bears may be taken in Bibb, Bleckley, Houston and Twiggs counties on the third Saturday in December. If fewer than 6 female bears are killed by hunters during the December season, the 1st Saturday after January 1 will be open to hunting. Hunting with dogs is prohibited. Bears must be checked and tagged at the Oaky Woods WMA check station from 12 noon through 9 p.m. on the day of hunt.(6) It is unlawful to kill a female with cubs or kill a cub having a live weight of less than 75 pounds.(7) It is unlawful to possess a bear unless it is reported and tagged as stated in subsections (1), (2) and (3) above.(8) Bag limit 2; provided, however, that an individual may take no more than 1 bear per season from Bibb, Brantley, Bleckley, Camden, Charlton, Clinch, Echols, Houston, Lanier, Lowndes, Twiggs or Ware counties.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-4-2-.22
O.C.G.A. §§ 27-1-4, 27-3-15, 27-3-26.
Original Rule entitled "Possession, Sale or Transportation of Alligators and Their Hides" was filed on October 19, 1973; effective November 6, 1973.Amended: Rule repealed and a new Rule of same title adopted. Filed July 22, 1974; effective August 11, 1974.Amended: Rule repealed and e new Rule entitled "Importation of Wildlife" adopted. Filed December 9, 1975; effective December 29, 1975.Amended: Rule repealed and a new Rule of same title adopted. Filed August 5, 1976; effective August 25, 1976.Amended: Rule repealed. Filed September 14, 1977; effective October 4, 1977.Adopted: New Rule entitled "Bear." F. Jun. 13, 2013; eff. July 3, 2013.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. May 26, 2015; eff. June 15, 2015.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. June 1, 2017; eff. June 21, 2017.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. June 4, 2019; eff. June 24, 2019.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. June 26, 2019; eff. July 16, 2019.Amended: F. June 7, 2021; eff. June 27, 2021.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. June 2, 2023; eff. June 22, 2023.