Legal shooting hours
30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset
Agency source agency
GEORGIA RUT AND SEASON DATA
When is the rut in Georgia?
Georgia has published rut timing at county precision. The source method is Peak deer movement window by county from deer-vehicle collision timing.. Examples: Appling: Nov 3 to Nov 9; Atkinson: Oct 20 to Oct 26; Bacon: Oct 27 to Nov 2. The table has 159 published units. Source: the agency publication linked on this page.
agency
Published rut units
COMPLETE: 159 of 159 Georgia counties from the Georgia DNR rut map PDF.
| Unit | Peak window | Method | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appling | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Atkinson | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Bacon | Oct 27 to Nov 2 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Baker | Nov 24 to Nov 30 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Baldwin | Oct 27 to Nov 2 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Banks | Nov 24 to Nov 30 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Barrow | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Bartow | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Ben Hill | Oct 13 to Oct 19 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Berrien | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Bibb | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Bleckley | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Brantley | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Brooks | Nov 17 to Nov 23 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Bryan | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Bulloch | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Burke | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Butts | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Calhoun | Nov 24 to Nov 30 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Camden | Oct 13 to Oct 19 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Candler | Oct 13 to Oct 19 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Carroll | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Catoosa | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Charlton | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Chatham | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Chattahoochee | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Chattooga | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Cherokee | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Clarke | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Clay | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Clayton | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Clinch | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Cobb | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Coffee | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Colquitt | Nov 17 to Nov 23 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Columbia | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Cook | Nov 17 to Nov 23 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Coweta | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Crawford | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Crisp | Nov 17 to Nov 23 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Dade | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Dawson | Nov 17 to Nov 23 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| DeKalb | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Decatur | Dec 8 to Dec 14 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Dodge | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Dooly | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Dougherty | Nov 24 to Nov 30 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Douglas | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Early | Dec 15 to Dec 21 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Echols | Oct 27 to Nov 2 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Effingham | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Elbert | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Emanuel | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Evans | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Fannin | Nov 17 to Nov 23 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Fayette | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Floyd | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Forsyth | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Franklin | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Fulton | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Gilmer | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Glascock | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Glynn | Oct 13 to Oct 19 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Gordon | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Grady | Dec 8 to Dec 14 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Greene | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Gwinnett | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Habersham | Nov 24 to Nov 30 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Hall | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Hancock | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Haralson | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Harris | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Hart | Oct 27 to Nov 2 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Heard | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Henry | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Houston | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Irwin | Nov 24 to Nov 30 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Jackson | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Jasper | Oct 27 to Nov 2 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Jeff Davis | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Jefferson | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Jenkins | Oct 13 to Oct 19 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Johnson | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Jones | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Lamar | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Lanier | Oct 27 to Nov 2 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Laurens | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Lee | Nov 17 to Nov 23 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Liberty | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Lincoln | Oct 27 to Nov 2 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Long | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Lowndes | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Lumpkin | Nov 24 to Nov 30 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Macon | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Madison | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Marion | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| McDuffie | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| McIntosh | Oct 13 to Oct 19 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Meriwether | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Miller | Dec 15 to Dec 21 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Mitchell | Nov 24 to Nov 30 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Monroe | Oct 27 to Nov 2 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Montgomery | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Morgan | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Murray | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Muscogee | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Newton | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Oconee | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Oglethorpe | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Paulding | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Peach | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Pickens | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Pierce | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Pike | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Polk | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Pulaski | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Putnam | Oct 27 to Nov 2 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Quitman | Dec 1 to Dec 7 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Rabun | Nov 24 to Nov 30 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Randolph | Nov 17 to Nov 23 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Richmond | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Rockdale | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Schley | Oct 27 to Nov 2 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Screven | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Seminole | Dec 22 to Dec 28 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Spalding | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Stephens | Nov 24 to Nov 30 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Stewart | Nov 17 to Nov 23 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Sumter | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Talbot | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Taliaferro | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Tattnall | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Taylor | Oct 27 to Nov 2 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Telfair | Oct 13 to Oct 19 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Terrell | Nov 24 to Nov 30 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Thomas | Nov 24 to Nov 30 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Tift | Nov 17 to Nov 23 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Toombs | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Towns | Nov 17 to Nov 23 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Treutlen | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Troup | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Turner | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Twiggs | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Union | Nov 17 to Nov 23 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Upson | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Walker | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Walton | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Ware | Oct 20 to Oct 26 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Warren | Oct 27 to Nov 2 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Washington | Oct 27 to Nov 2 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Wayne | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Webster | Nov 24 to Nov 30 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Wheeler | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| White | Nov 24 to Nov 30 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Whitfield | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Wilcox | Nov 10 to Nov 16 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Wilkes | Nov 3 to Nov 9 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Wilkinson | Oct 27 to Nov 2 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
| Worth | Nov 17 to Nov 23 | movement_dvc | Agency source | Published in source data |
Whitetail presence
White-tailed deer occur statewide in Georgia.
Presence source agency
2026-27 deer seasons
| Season | Zone or scope | Dates | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | statewide private land | Sep 12, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026 | Agency guide |
| Extended archery | extended_archery | Sep 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027 | Agency guide |
| Primitive weapons | statewide, excluding archery-only counties | Oct 10, 2026 to Oct 16, 2026 | Agency guide |
| Youth firearms | statewide youth opportunity during primitive weapons season | Oct 10, 2026 to Oct 16, 2026 | Agency guide |
| Firearms | yellow | Oct 17, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027 | Agency guide |
| Firearms | cyan | Oct 17, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027 | Agency guide |
| Firearms | orange | Oct 17, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027 | Agency guide |
| Firearms | green | Oct 17, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027 | Agency guide |
| Firearms | magenta | Oct 17, 2026 to Jan 15, 2027 | Agency guide |
| Firearms | gray | Not published in this data | Agency guide |
Legal light, bag limits, and calls
Bag limits
Season total: 12; Antlerless maximum: 10; Antlered maximum: 2. One of the two antlered deer must have at least 4 points, 1 inch or longer, on one side, or a minimum 15-inch outside spread. Hancock, Harris, Meriwether, Montgomery, Randolph, Talbot and Troup require the 4-point or 15-inch standard; Dooly and Macon require a 15-inch outside spread.
Bag-limit source agency
Electronic deer calls
Using electronically amplified sounds or recorded calls to hunt game is unlawful, except for listed species such as bobcats, crows and foxes. It is not legal for deer. O.C.G.A. 27-3-12
Call-rule source law
Phase calendar for the 2026 season
This calendar is an inference from the published movement anchor Nov 3. It is not a county-by-county observation.
| Phase | Window | What the model says |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-rut | Before to Oct 14, 2026 | Not defined in the reports; default label for days before seeking. |
| Seeking | Oct 15, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026 | Bucks begin searching for does; rising daily movement. |
| Chasing | Oct 26, 2026 to Nov 2, 2026 | Overlaps seeking and the start of breeding in the reported calendar. |
| Peak breeding / tending | Nov 3, 2026 to Nov 16, 2026 | Highest buck daily distance and daylight share; routes set by doe groups; tending bouts ~24-48 h. GPS work finds no population-wide 'lockdown' phase (agency: https://deerassociation.com/lockdown-phase-myth/). Map movement week likely spans late seeking, chasing and early breeding. |
| Post-rut | Nov 17, 2026 to Nov 30, 2026 | Movement eases back toward dawn/dusk; bucks return to food; mature bucks cruise for the last estrous does (Hellickson rattling: mature bucks responded most in post-rut). |
| Second rut | Dec 1, 2026 to Dec 14, 2026 | Unbred does recycle ~28 days after first estrus (agency: https://deerassociation.com/triggers-whitetail-rut/); doe fawns may cycle later. Days 35-41 are the 'second-rut tail'. A hypothesis for cameras to confirm, not local data. |
| Late season | Dec 15, 2026 to season close | Food-driven; mature bucks reach open food at or after sunset unless it is cold; sit food on cold-front afternoons. |
Evidence label: inference. Expect local variation.
Official guide links
Questions about Georgia
When is the rut in Georgia?
Georgia has published rut timing at county precision. The source method is Peak deer movement window by county from deer-vehicle collision timing.. Examples: Appling: Nov 3 to Nov 9; Atkinson: Oct 20 to Oct 26; Bacon: Oct 27 to Nov 2. The table has 159 published units. Source: the agency publication linked on this page.
What are the 2026-27 deer seasons in Georgia?
The table above lists the season rows present in Hockline's local data. Verify rows marked for agency confirmation.
Are electronic deer calls legal in Georgia?
Using electronically amplified sounds or recorded calls to hunt game is unlawful, except for listed species such as bobcats, crows and foxes. It is not legal for deer.