Georgia’s week-long primitive weapons deer hunting season begins Saturday, one of the more popular seasons each year.

During the 2011 primitive weapons season, more than 50,000 deer hunters
harvested more than 14,000 deer using a primitive weapon. This
harvest rate has increased slightly over the past few seasons, although
the number of hunters taking part in the season has remained relatively
stable.

“The primitive weapons deer season provides hunters an opportunity to
hunt with traditional or inline black powder firearms, or to continue
hunting with archery gear,” said John W. Bowers, assistant chief of
Game Management. “It is a chance to get in the woods with a
different type of firearm prior to the opening of the more traditional
modern firearms deer season.”

More than 1 million acres of public hunting land is available to
hunters in Georgia, including more than 100 state-operated wildlife
management areas. Many of these areas offer special hunts throughout
the season, including primitive weapons hunts. Dates and locations for
these hunts are available in the 2012-13 Georgia Hunting Seasons and
Regulations guide. An online copy of the Regulations guidebook and WMA
maps can be found at www.gohuntgeorgia.com/hunting.

Hunters may kill up to 10 antlerless deer and no more than two
antlered deer (one of the two antlered deer must have a minimum of four
points, one inch or longer, on one side of the antlers). During
primitive weapons season, hunters may use archery equipment,
muzzleloading shotguns (20 gauge or larger) and muzzleloading firearms
(44-caliber or larger) to pursue whitetails.

All hunters, including archers, must wear at least 500 square inches of
daylight fluorescent orange above the waist during primitive weapons
season. Scopes and other optical sighting devices are legal for
muzzleloading firearms and archery equipment.

To pursue deer in Georgia, hunters must have a valid hunting license,
big game license and a current deer harvest record. If hunting on a
wildlife management area, a WMA license also is required. To purchase a
license, visit www.georgiawildlife.com/licenses-permits-passes.

Sportsmen and women provide more than $30 million each year to fund
wildlife conservation in the state through license fees and self-imposed
excise taxes collected on the purchase of firearms, ammunition, archery
equipment and fishing equipment.

Young hunters have added bonus

Being young has its advantages!
During the statewide primitive weapons deer season, October 13-19, 2012,
children under 16 years of age may hunt deer with any legal deer
firearm.  Additionally, youth under 16 years of age may hunt deer with
any legal deer firearm during any wildlife management area primitive
weapons hunts.

“This special firearms opportunity is a fantastic time to get a kid
involved in hunting,” Bowers said. “It is one of many unique opportunities we promote to
encourage the next generation to experience the hunting tradition and
learn much about themselves.”

Hunters under age 16 do not need a hunting license. However, a deer
harvest record is required. A deer harvest record is free and can be
found at www.georgiawildlife.com/licenses-permits-passes. Adults
accompanying youth must have all appropriate licenses and use seasonally
appropriate hunting equipment.

For more information on deer hunting seasons and regulations, visit
www.gohuntgeorgia.com/hunting/regulations.