Photo of the author with a buck he harvest on his own property.

For a hunter, there is little more rewarding than being able to harvest a deer, turkey or other game animal on your own property. That was a dream of mine for over 25 years before it finally become a reality in 2021. I was fortunate enough to purchase a 15-acre tract in Upson County, Georgia, and in my first season of hunting it, the good Lord blessed me with two nice bucks. 

But for new landowners, or landowners new to hunting, figuring out what licenses and permits they need to be able to hunt on their own land can be confusing. This article should clear up any confusion. If you still have questions after reading this, feel free to drop them in the comments, and I’ll do my best to answer them for you.

Do I Need a Hunting License to Hunt On My Own Land in Georgia?

Georgia residents with a Georgia driver’s license or official Georgia government ID card can hunt on their own property without a hunting license or big game permit (if hunting deer, turkey or bear). Resident landowners are also exempt from Georgia’s hunter education requirement, as long as they are strictly hunting on their own land.

Resident landowners DO need the free big game harvest log when hunting deer, turkey or bear, and a free Georgia migratory bird permit if hunting doves, ducks or geese. Duck and goose hunters would still need to purchase the federal duck stamp. 

It’s worth noting that any deer, turkey or bear killed by a landowner on their own property still must be checked in with the DNR through the Georgia Game Check system. That can be done online at gooutdoorsgeorgia.com or through the official Outdoors Georgia app. 

Resident landowners are also exempt from Georgia’s hunter education requirement, as long as they are strictly hunting on their own land.

If you are a nonresident who owns land in Georgia, then you ARE required to purchase a nonresident hunting license, as well as a nonresident big game license if hunting deer, turkey or bear, the free big game harvest log, and a Georgia migratory bird permit if hunting dove, ducks or geese. 

Do My Family Members Need a License to Hunt My Land in Georgia?

The answer to that question is a little more complicated. If they are a blood relative or you claim them as dependents AND they live in the same house as you, then they DO NOT need a hunting license, big game permit, or hunter education. They fall under the same requirements as the resident landowner. 

If you are a nonresident Georgia landowner, then your family members will need a nonresident hunting license and any other necessary permits just as you do. 

Author with a buck harvested on his 15-acre Georgia hunting property.
Author with a buck harvested on his 15-acre Georgia hunting property.

Can I hunt year-round on my own property in Georgia?

No. Landowners must still abide by Georgia’s hunting season dates and bag limits. All deer, turkey, and bear harvested by a landowner on their own property must still be checked in through the Georgia DNR’s Game Check system. 

There are situations where a landowner raising agricultural crops for profit can take deer out-of-season if they are causing damage to those crops, but they must first contact the Georgia DNR, have the damage inspected by a wildlife biologist, and be issued a permit to remove a specified number of deer.

How many acres do I need to legally hunt in Georgia?

Georgia law does not specify a minimum acreage to be able to hunt. Technically you could hunt on a 1/2-acre lot. However, wherever you hunt, you have to be able to do so in a safe manner. That means not shooting in the direction of roads or other houses. Some cities and counties may also have regulations regarding the discharge of firearms. So you’ll want to make sure you are aware of any local rules that may be in place before hunting on your property.

Final Thoughts

I hope this article clears up any questions you had on hunting on your own land in Georgia. If not, feel free to drop your unanswered questions in the comments section below. We may end up adding them to the article for others who may have that same question in mind. Be safe out there, and I hope you have a great hunting season!

Similar Posts

18 Comments

  1. Still don’t get the fact if I own land in Georgia but don’t live there why I would be required to purchase a license still.
    Stupid law right there!
    They get enough of non residents money during hunting season to atleast give non resident land owners a little break.

    1. I agree Jeff. I am a 22 yr USAF retiree that is on VA disability and a nonresident that owns land in Ga. I pay real estate taxes and spend lots of money at local farm stores. I hope the hunters vote and send the clueless money hungry, anti gun, Biden lovin democrats back to California. I think every veteran that owns land deserves to be able to purchase resident license.

  2. I’m just making sure I’m reading this correctly. I own my own property here in Georgia that I live on in my home so I do not need a hunting license to hunt on my own property but I do need a harvest report. Am I reading that correctly thank you in advance God

    1. Luis, that is correct. You just need the free harvest log if you’re hunting deer, turkey or bear. And if you harvest an animal, you’ll need to mark it on your harvest log and check it in.

      Good luck this season!

  3. So I live in a subdivision on an acre and have woods all behind my house. I have a license to hunt but can I bow hunt back there and be alright?

    1. Only so long as you hunt in a manner that could not be reasonable be considered to endanger your neighbors. In other words in most cases it would be very risky & not worth the possibility of an expensive legal battle.

    1. You can’t print one off from the website? I personally use the app myself, but I’d be shocked if there still isn’t a way to print off a hard copy of the harvest log. Some older folks don’t use apps.

  4. I am a property owner in GA and live in the state. I have a license and annually get by big game permit. I normally log my harvests on the app. I am wondering about immediate family members (blood related) that live with me (my wife). I understand that she would not need to get a license or permit to hunt my land, but what limits would she have for harvesting? Is it the same as the license holders (2 buck and 10 anterless), or is that limit held to what the property owner has in total?

    1. Trey, your wife would have a 2 buck, 10 doe limit just like any other Georgia hunter. She would need to get a free Big Game Harvest Log and check her deer in the same as if she were hunting on someone else’s land. She just doesn’t need a hunting or big game license.

  5. Brian, I have an elderly gentleman who has long fed the deer in our neighborhood. He took a gun out Monday around 8;30 ( just in time for school bus) and injured a deer in front of a school child in his yard. Is this legal? I’ve lived here 30 years and never seen this man do anything like this. The child was terrified and the neighborhood is upset

    1. Elizabeth, it sounds like your neighbor used very poor judgement, but as far as I know, he didn’t violate any of the state’s hunting laws. However, your city or county may have ordinances that regulate the discharge of a firearms in the area or within a certain distance of a home. You’d have to check with local authorities to see if that’s the case. I’m sorry you and the kids had to witness that behavior.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *