DEER HUNTING SEASON (ARCHERY) BEGINS SEPTEMBER 13

   Archery hunting season opens on Sat., Sept. 13 and runs through Oct. 10, 2008 (statewide). Last year, almost 94,000 archery hunters harvested more than 34,000 deer.
   More than one million acres of public land on more than 90 state-operated wildlife management areas and other state land is open for hunting. Information about these WMAs and other public lands is available at www.gohuntgeorgia.com , including a searchable database of newly updated maps for each area.
   Various WMAs offer special hunts throughout the season, including primitive weapons hunts, ladies only hunts and adult/child hunts. For dates and locations of special hunts, check the 2008-2009 Georgia Hunting Seasons and Regulations guide available on the WRD Web site and at all WRD Offices and license agents.
  In addition to state-managed land, there is public National Forest land and private land available for hunting in Georgia. Hunters wishing to hunt on private property must get written landowner permission and have it with them while hunting.
  Georgia sportsmen and women must possess a primitive weapons license and a big game license to hunt during the archery season and primitive weapons seasons, unless they possess a lifetime, honorary or sportsman's license. A WMA license is required to hunt on a WMA.
  Hunters may take a season total of 12 deer. No more than 10 may be antlerless deer and no more than two may be antlered bucks (one of which must have at least four points - one inch or longer - on one side of the antlers).
  For more information on deer or other hunting seasons and deer hunting regulations, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com . 

GEORGIA HUNTERS NEED NEW DEER HARVEST RECORD PRIOR TO 2008-09 SEASON

  Deer hunters who purchased a big game license for the 2007-2008 season need a new deer harvest record prior to the 2008-2009 deer hunting season. Hunters under 16 years of age, landowners and honorary and lifetime license holders must also obtain a deer harvest record and complete deer harvest information. Hunters may obtain new deer harvest records free of charge from any license agent.
  "A deer harvest record is good for only a single hunting season because the bag limit is a seasonal limit," said John Bowers, Assistant Chief of WRD Game Management. "Once hunters get the 2008-2009 harvest record, they should discard old harvest records."
  Hunters must complete a deer harvest record before moving a deer from the site of a kill, except when participating in a Wildlife Management Area or National Wildlife Refuge hunt that requires hunters to check out their harvested deer. Hunters may not possess or use multiple big game licenses or deer harvest records and should keep harvest records with hunting licenses.
   "We appreciate the honesty, cooperation and support from each hunter in abiding by the game and fish laws. We encourage hunters to police themselves and use the anonymous TIP line (1-800-241-4113) to turn in those individuals who violate game and fish laws," said Bowers.
   For more information, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com , contact a WRD Game Management Office or call (770) 761-3044. 

MISUSE OF TREE STANDS CAN CREATE HAZARD FOR HUNTERS

   Tree stands are a favorite piece of equipment for hunters searching to remain undetected by game. They also are the leading cause of hunting incidents, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division. Fifty-two percent of the hunting incidents over the past ten years and forty-three percent of hunting-related fatalities were tree stand-related.
   "Hunters must be intimately familiar with how to put up, take down and properly climb into a tree stand," says WRD State Hunter Safety Coordinator Capt. James Bell. "We encourage ALL hunters to practice climbing into and out of their stand several times prior to the opening of the hunting season."
   There are many different types of tree stands, and each type requires the user to be familiar with their variations to ensure safety. Following are some tips:
    --When using a non-climbing portable or ladder stand, be sure to securely fasten the stand to the tree and install ladders or steps according to the manufacturer's directions.
   --Use a safety harness or vest to secure yourself to the tree -not to the tree stand. In the event that the tree stand breaks or collapses, the harness will keep you from falling to the ground. Hunters should have a plan on how to get down from the tree should the tree stand fail and leave them hanging from their harness. Make sure the harness is attached to the waist, allowing for 10 - 12 inches of slack between the tree and yourself. A full body harness is recommended and always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using.
  --Use an equipment haul line to pull your gun or bow into or out of the stand. Make sure that the firearms or bow is unloaded before pulling it up.
  --Stay awake. Be aware of medications that cause drowsiness and avoid taking them before hunting.
  --Never use alcohol or drugs before or while you hunt.
  --Always tell someone where you will be hunting and what time you expect to return.
    For more information on tree stand or other hunting-related safety, contact the nearest WRD Law Enforcement Office, go to www.georgiawildlife.com or call (770) 761-3010. ###

REQUIRED HUNTER ED COURSE AVAILABLE ONLINE

 Taking a hunter education class in Georgia is easier than ever, as hunters can access the course online at www.beasafehunter.org .
  "The hunter education course is available by Internet, which first became available four years ago, and is very popular, especially with young hunters and/or those whose schedules do not allow time to fit in the traditional classroom course," says Georgia DNR, Wildlife Resources Division Capt. James Bell.
  The online course satisfies eight of ten required hours. Hunters still must attend a two-hour (minimum) review / test course, after which passing students receive hunter education certificates.
   Completion of a hunter education course is required for any person born on or after January 1, 1961, who:
   --purchases a season hunting license in Georgia.
   --is at least 12 years old and hunts without adult supervision.
   --hunts big game (deer, turkey, bear) on a wildlife management area.
The only exceptions include any person who:
   --purchases a short-term hunting license (as opposed to a season license).
   --is on his or her own land, or that of his or her parents or legal guardians.
The hunter education course is also available by CD-Rom or in a traditional classroom setting. For more information, go to www.gohuntgeorgia.com or call 770-761-3010.

2008-2009 GEORGIA HUNTING REGULATIONS AVAILABLE
Hunting Regulations Now Online - Printed Copy Coming Next Month
Fall Alligator Hunting Season; Quota Applications Online

The 2008-2009 Georgia Hunting Seasons and Regulations Guide now is available online announces the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).  This guide provides information on season dates, bag limits, hunting licenses, wildlife management areas and much more and is available on the WRD website, www.gohuntgeorgia.com .  This important guide will be available soon at license agents beginning August 1, 2008.
  "The popular guide is designed to help hunters understand the laws and regulations for hunting in Georgia," says WRD Assistant Chief John Bowers.  "We encourage all hunters annually to review the popular guide and note any changes to their favorite hunting areas, seasons or activities."
  Members of the Board of Natural Resources set hunting regulations by acting on recommendations made by WRD's professional wildlife biologists and field personnel.  Georgias game and fish laws are set by the elected members of the General Assembly.
  Major changes for the upcoming season include:
  --Dove Season:  Based on input from dove hunters, the dove season has changed as follows - the October season will shift to one week later and provide full day hunting on opening day of the October season (as opposed to half-day hunting in past years).
 --License Changes: Beginning later this year, hunters will be able to take advantage of a new and improved licensing system, which provides options to purchase a license on-line, by phone and at select vendors. A service charge is associated with this new system.
  --License Revocation Policy: Beginning Sept. 1, 2008, individuals who egregiously or habitually violate Georgia's game and fish laws and regulations are subject to having their hunting and fishing privileges revoked or suspended.  Additionally, their ability to obtain a license may be suspended for up to two years and may also affect the privilege to hunt or fish in Wildlife Violator Compact member states.
  --New areas available for hunting:  Silver Lake WMA (Decatur County) and Oliver Bridge WMA (Bulloch County) will provide deer, turkey and small game hunting opportunities.  Additionally, two state parks -- F.D. Roosevelt State Park and Chattahoochee Bend State Park -- will offer hunting opportunities.
   For more information on Georgia hunting seasons and regulations, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com , contact a local WRD Game Management Office or call the WRD Hunter Services Office at (770) 761-3045. 

 APPLICATION PERIOD FOR 2008-2009 QUOTA HUNTS UNDER WAY

    Georgia's quota hunt application period opened June 1 and successful quota hunt applications will be selected solely from the online applicant pool (paper applications are no longer accepted).  Interested hunters must apply online through their personal accounts on the WRD Web site, www.gohuntgeorgia.com .
  "The quota hunt application period always is an exciting and busy time of year. It is our goal to make the application process as efficient and customer friendly as possible. Customers with a WRD online account can facilitate this effort by keeping their e-mail addresses current," says Wildlife Resources Division Assistant Chief of Game Management John Bowers. "By utilizing applicant e-mail addresses for quota hunt correspondence, including sending application status alerts and answering applicant questions, we have improved customer service and saved sportsmens dollars."
   To be eligible for quota hunt drawings applicants must ensure that they have a valid online account and must apply prior to midnight as follows: July 31 for alligator quota hunts; September 1 for deer quota hunts; September 1 for State Park quota hunts; October 15 for waterfowl quota hunts; and February 15, 2009 for turkey quota hunts.
  Hunters who have applied in years past or those who have recently completed a hunter education course or purchased a Georgia hunting license via the WRD Web site (www.gohuntgeorgia.com), may have pre-existing accounts with which to apply and must login to their accounts to begin the application process.
  Interested persons without pre-existing accounts should visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com and select "Quota Hunts," from the Home page under the "Permits & Services" menu to create a new account and submit applications online.
  Upon completion of the selection process, applicants will receive a status notification e-mail and also will be able to login to their accounts to view their updated status. In addition, complete lists of chosen participants will be available at www.gohuntgeorgia.com .
  For more information on hunting seasons or the quota hunt application process, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com, contact Hunter Services at (770) 761-3045 or call a WRD Game Management Office.

HUNTERS FUND CONSERVATION EFFORTS

 Hunters are among the most generous Americans when it comes to funding conservation and wildlife . . . and many don't even realize it.
 Whenever Georgia hunters purchase hunting licenses, firearms, ammunition or archery equipment they support the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program, the largest and most successful conservation program in the world.
  For more than sixty-five years hunters have contributed millions of dollars through this program and together with hunting license fees they have helped fund wildlife conservation in Georgia.? Over $2 billion has been contributed nationwide.
  "The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration program benefits game and nongame species, protects and restores habitat and helps improve wildlife management through research," says WRD Assistant Chief of Game Management Mark Whitney. "Through this program, America's hunters represent by far the most substantial source of funding for wildlife management in the United States."
 The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, also known as the Pittman-Robertson Act, was passed in 1937. Through lobbying efforts in Congress, hunters created this act as a way to help fund resource management of species commonly hunted. It allows the federal government to place a small manufacturers surcharge on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment that is collected by the government and distributed to state wildlife agencies to fund wildlife management programs. The amount of money each state agency annually receives is determined by the number of hunting licenses the state sells and the size of the state.
 WRD uses Wildlife Restoration funds for many types of programs, including:
--restoring habitat and improving wildlife populations,
--operating over one million acres of wildlife management areas that benefit a wide assortment of game and nongame wildlife and providing enjoyable wildlife-related recreational opportunities,
--providing information to landowners on how to manage their property for various species,
--conducting hunter education classes, 
--building and maintaining public shooting ranges.
  For more information on the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program, visit the USFWS website at http://www.fws.gov/southeast/federalaid/ . For more information on wildlife management practices in Georgia, visit the WRD website at www.gohuntgeorgia.com, contact the local WRD Game Management office or call (770) 918-6416.

MISUSE OF TREE STANDS CREATE HAZARDS FOR HUNTERS

 Tree stand hunting is a standard practice in Georgia because it helps get the hunter out of the line of sight of deer, helps cover scent (if the wind is right and/or the hunter takes precautions to mask his scent. More deer are taken by tree stand hunters than with any other method.
 The bad news is that tree stands take a lot of hunters during the season, too, and are the leading cause of hunting incidents according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD). 
  Fifty-two percent of the hunting incidents over the past ten years, and forty-one percent of hunting-related fatalities, were tree stand use related.ﾠ 
  "Hunters must be intimately familiar with how to put up, take down and properly climb into a tree stand," says WRD State Hunter Safety Coordinator Capt. James Bell.ﾠ "We encourage ALL hunters to practice climbing into and out of their stand several times prior to the opening of the hunting season." 
  There are many different types of tree stands, climbing and non-climbing portable stands, portable ladder stands, permanent stands and others.ﾠ Each type requires the user to be familiar with their variations to ensure safety.ﾠ People who use tree stands should thoroughly review the proper way to set up the stand and make sure that all parts are stable and in good working order.ﾠ Following are some tips:
--When using a non-climbing portable or ladder stand, be sure to securely fasten the stand to the tree and install ladders or steps according to the manufacturer's directions.
--Use a safety belt or harness to secure yourself to the tree - not to the tree stand.  In the event that the tree stand breaks or collapses, the harness will keep you from falling to the ground.  Hunters should have a plan on how to get down from the tree should the tree stand fail and leave them hanging from their harness.  Make sure the harness is attached to the waist, allowing for 10 - 12 inches of slack between the tree and yourself.  A full body harness is recommended over a simple harness or safety line.
--Use an equipment haul line to pull your gun or bow into or out of the stand.  Make sure that the firearms or bow is unloaded before pulling it up.
--Be careful not to fall asleep. Be aware of medications that cause drowsiness and avoid taking them before hunting.
--Never use alcohol or drugs before or while you hunt as it is against the law.
--Always tell someone where you will be hunting and what time you expect to return.
  For more information on tree stand or other hunting-related safety, contact the nearest WRD Law Enforcement Office, go to www.gohuntgeorgia.com or call (770) 761-3010.

HUNTER EDUCATION COURSE NOW AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET
www.beasafehunter.org

  Taking a hunter education class in Georgia is easier than ever. Hunters can access an approved hunter education course on the Internet, www.beasafehunter.org, use a hunter education CD-Rom or take the traditional classroom course, , according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).
  The Internet and CD-Rom courses satisfy eight of the ten required hours to complete the course. Hunters then must attend a two-hour (minimum) review / test course and if all requirements are met successfully, students receive their hunter education certificate before leaving the classroom.
  "The hunter education course available by Internet, which first became available last year, is very popular, especially with young hunters and/or those whose schedules do not allow time to fit in the traditional classroom course," says WRD Hunter Education Coordinator Capt. James Bell.   Completion of a hunter education course is required for any person born on or after January 1, 1961, who:
--purchases a season hunting license in Georgia.
--is at least 12 years old and hunts with a weapon without adult supervisionﾠ (adult supervision means 18 years of age or older with a minor being in sight or hearing distance of that person).
--hunts big game (deer, turkey, bear) on a wildlife management area (including any hunter age 12 or older).
 The only exceptions include:
--a person purchasing a short-term hunting license (as opposed to a season license) is no longer required to show proof of having taken an approved hunter education course regardless of the person's state of residence.
--any person hunting on his or her own land, or that of his or her parents or legal guardians.
  Those interested in the Internet course should go to www.beasafehunter.org . After completing all lessons and the review test, students should print out and sign the "Hunter Education Final Report and Affidavit." If under age 18, a parent or guardian must sign the affidavit. Students should then go to the WRD website at www.georgiawildlife.com, click on hunting, then hunter education to find a review course. Students also can call 1-800-864-7275 to register for a review course. However, there is a service fee associated with this phone service. Hunters must bring the signed, completed "Final Report and Affidavit" to the review course or they will not be allowed to take the final test. For more information on the new Internet hunter education course or other options, go to www.gohuntgeorgia.com or call 770-761-3010.

GEORGIA'S WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS

 Most of the hunting in Georgia is done on private land. Groups form hunting clubs and more or less have their own preserves which they protect and try to improve through management methods passed on by the Department of Natural Resources and private organizations such as Quality Deer Management and Buckmasters.
 Public land is available, though. The state has bought or leased more than 1 million acres statewide and the land, Wildlife Management Areas, is carefully worked to support a comfortable, if not maximum, wildlife population.
 Some of these WMAs are a relatively short distance from Atlanta. Some are acreage leased from timber companies but others encompass some interesting natural areas and they're accessible year-round, for free, to the non-hunting public except during hunting seasons.
 Here are a few:

Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center Wildlife Management Area

If you can visit only one WMA, the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center, east of Atlanta off I-20, is the one to go to. Named after the late Charles Elliott, famed writer for Outdoor Life, first Director of Georgia's Wildlife Resources Division (Game & Fish Department then) and extraordinary outdoorsman, the WMA covers over 6400 acres, including 29 ponds and a five-acre granite outcrop. The WMA's primary goal is wildlife education and programs offered for students, teachers, and the public. The Outreach program brings programs to schools to teach about wildlife topics using live animals. On-site programs for students are conducted at the Brooke Ager Discovery Room. The Discovery Room focuses on grades 4-6 and can accommodate 60 students. Teachers receive training through Project WILD and other educator workshops. A variety of programs are also offered at the Charlie Elliott Visitor's Center for the general public.
Phone Number: 770-784-3059

Allatoona Wildlife Management Area (9,300 acres)
On Lake Allatoona, this WMA offers a close-in place to hunt deer, turkey and small game. In the off-season, you can also enjoy fishing, camping, bird watching and a quiet walk in the woods. Boat ramps give access to the lake and there are picnic areas, too.
Location: 5 mi. east of Cartersville
Phone Number: 706-295-6041

Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area (25,000 acres)
A straight shot up GA 400 to Dawsonville and turn left near the Outlet Mall. Not many even realize it's there despite its proximity to Atlanta. In season you can hunt deer, bear, turkey, dove, waterfowl and small game. During the off-season it's a perfect place to spend a day fishing, hiking, bird watching and horseback riding.
Location: 6 mi. west of Dawsonville
Phone Number: 770-535-5700

Wilson Shoals Wildlife Management Area (2,800 acres)
It's not the largest of WMAs but there is good hunting for deer, turkey, doves and small game. It also has a shooting range where hunters can zero their rifles, pattern their shotguns or just plink. Other activities available are bird watching, horseback riding, fishing and camping.
Location: 14 mi. northeast of Gainesville
Phone Number: 770-535-5700

Rum Creek Wildlife Management Area (6,000 acres)
 A prime waterfowl area is a big draw, although there is good hunting for deer, turkey, dove and small game as well. Available in the off-season for bird watching, canoeing, fishing and field trials.
Location: 7 mi. east of Forsyth
Phone Number: 912-825-6354

Paulding Forest Wildlife Management Area (26,200 acres)
 Outstanding for deer, turkey and small game, and special because no ATVs are allowed at any time. Great for quiet strolls in the woods during the off-season as well as fishing and bird watching.