2015-2017 Proposed Hunting Regulations: Public Hearings Scheduled

C.Killmaster

Georgia Deer Biologist
2015-2017 Proposed Hunting Regulations: Public Hearings Scheduled
SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (3/27/2015)
Hunters and other interested citizens are encouraged to review proposed changes to hunting regulations for the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 seasons and make plans to attend a scheduled public hearing.

“The purpose of hunting regulations is to manage renewable wildlife resources consistent with the scientific principles of wildlife management while meeting public objectives for wise use of these resources,” said Tina Brunjes, Operations Manager with the Game Management Section. “At this point in the process, we are interested in public comments specific to the proposed changes under consideration.”

The public notice and synopsis of proposed rule changes are available on the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division webpage at www.gohuntgeorgia.com/Hunting/ProposedRegulations .

Some of the proposed changes include uniform statewide deer season, expand hunting opportunity for alligators and bears, modify either-sex days to manage white-tailed deer, and regulate hunting and other activities on wildlife management areas and other state lands.

Three public hearings are scheduled to provide the public an opportunity to share comments on the proposed hunting regulation changes. All meetings will begin at 7 p.m.

April 14, 2015

Cornerstone Christian Church

236 Etowah River Road

Dawsonville, GA

April 15, 2015

Middle Georgia State College

Mathematics Building Auditorium

100 College Station Drive

Macon, GA

April 16, 2015

Coffee County Courthouse

101 South Peterson Avenue

Douglas, GA

Any participant at a meeting may present data, make a statement or comment, or offer a viewpoint or argument, either orally or in writing. Statements should be concise to permit everyone an opportunity to speak. Participants must register upon arrival and notify the registering official of their intent to give a statement. Those unable to attend a meeting may submit input either electronically or in written statement form. Input must be received by close of business (4:30 p.m.) on April 24, 2015.

Written statements should be mailed to: GA DNR/Wildlife Resources Division/Game Management Section; Attn: Tina Brunjes; 2070 U.S. Highway 278, S.E.; Social Circle, Georgia 30025.
Statements may be electronically submitted at: www.georgiawildlife.com/hunting/regulations/SubmitComments
These meeting sites are accessible to people with physical disabilities. To request sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids, contact Tina Brunjes at (770) 918-6404 no later than 4:30 p.m. on April 8, 2015.

For more information or to view the proposed regulation changes, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com/Hunting/ProposedRegulations .
 

308 WIN

Senior Member
Love the reduction and timing of doe days in piedmont. Would like a few more weeks of buck only, but it's a heck of a lot better than it was. Thanks for posting!
 

BornToHuntAndFish

Senior Member
2014-15-Hunting-Regulations.jpg




http://www.georgiawildlife.org/node/3842

2015-2017 Proposed Hunting Regulations: Public Hearings Scheduled


SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (3/27/2015)

Hunters and other interested citizens are encouraged to review proposed changes to hunting regulations for the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 seasons and make plans to attend a scheduled public hearing.

“The purpose of hunting regulations is to manage renewable wildlife resources consistent with the scientific principles of wildlife management while meeting public objectives for wise use of these resources,” said Tina Brunjes, Operations Manager with the Game Management Section. “At this point in the process, we are interested in public comments specific to the proposed changes under consideration.”

The public notice and synopsis of proposed rule changes are available on the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division webpage at:

www.gohuntgeorgia.com/Hunting/ProposedRegulations


Some of the proposed changes include uniform statewide deer season, expand hunting opportunity for alligators and bears, modify either-sex days to manage white-tailed deer, and regulate hunting and other activities on wildlife management areas and other state lands.

Three public hearings are scheduled to provide the public an opportunity to share comments on the proposed hunting regulation changes. All meetings will begin at 7 p.m.



April 14, 2015

Cornerstone Christian Church

236 Etowah River Road

Dawsonville, GA



April 15, 2015

Middle Georgia State College

Mathematics Building Auditorium

100 College Station Drive

Macon, GA



April 16, 2015

Coffee County Courthouse

101 South Peterson Avenue

Douglas, GA



Any participant at a meeting may present data, make a statement or comment, or offer a viewpoint or argument, either orally or in writing. Statements should be concise to permit everyone an opportunity to speak. Participants must register upon arrival and notify the registering official of their intent to give a statement. Those unable to attend a meeting may submit input either electronically or in written statement form. Input must be received by close of business (4:30 p.m.) on April 24, 2015.

- Written statements should be mailed to: GA DNR/Wildlife Resources Division/Game Management Section; Attn: Tina Brunjes; 2070 U.S. Highway 278, S.E.; Social Circle, Georgia 30025.

- Statements may be electronically submitted at:

www.georgiawildlife.com/hunting/regulations/SubmitComments


These meeting sites are accessible to people with physical disabilities. To request sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids, contact Tina Brunjes at (770) 918-6404 no later than 4:30 p.m. on April 8, 2015.

For more information or to view the proposed regulation changes, visit:

www.gohuntgeorgia.com/Hunting/ProposedRegulations



wildlifeLogo2.gif

Direct link for proposed regulations:

http://www.gohuntgeorgia.com/sites/...A Hunting Regs ProposedChanges2015-17 (2).pdf

SUBJECT: NOTICE AND SYNOPSIS OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING

March 27, 2015

Appreciate the meeting news update.

:clap:



http://www.gohuntgeorgia.com/Hunting/ProposedRegulations

PROPOSED HUNTING REGULATIONS CHANGES: 2015-2017

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to authority contained in the Game and Fish Code (Official Code of Georgia Annotated, Secs. 12-3-9, 27-1-4, 27-1-12, 27-3-3, 27-3-15, 27-3-17, 27-3-22, and 27-3-40), the Board of Natural Resources proposes to amend Department of Natural Resources rules governing the hunting of game animals and game birds for the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 seasons. The proposed rules (copy attached hereto), when adopted, will amend applicable rules of Chapter 391-4-2, relating to hunting regulations.

The purpose of hunting regulations is to manage Georgia’s game birds and game animals according to sound principles of wildlife management and to meet public objectives for use of these renewable natural resources.

Changes to the existing rules reflect the need to adopt hunting regulations for the next two years, reflect statutory changes, establish a uniform statewide deer season, expand hunting opportunity for alligators and bears, modify either-sex days to manage white-tailed deer, and regulate hunting and other activities on wildlife management areas (WMAs) and other state lands.

- Click HERE for the full "Notice and Synopsis of Proposed Rule-Making"

- Public Hearings are Scheduled: Click HERE for Dates/Locations

- Can't Attend a Hearing? Submit Public Comment (before close of business April 24, 2015) HERE

- 2015-2016 Hunting Regulations will be available July 2015 (online and at license vendors)

- 2014-2015 Hunting Regulations Found HERE



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HOGDOG76

Senior Member
Change season to 3rd Saturday in August through 1st Sunday in October.
Quotas are: Zone 1=65; Zone 2=140; Zone 3=60; Zone 4=85; Zone 5=70; Zone 6=100; Zone 7=130; Zone 8=120; and Zone 9=80.
None
The season is from 1st Saturday in August through 1st Sunday in October.
Increase quotas in Zones 2, 5, 7 & 8; decrease quota in Zone 6; Total quota increases from 850 to 1,000.
Add a new zone (1A) for LWFG. Establishes a minimum size on LWFG.
Expands season from 29 days to 50 days by opening earlier.

Might want to proofread these before they publish them.
 

GA DAWG

Senior Member
Where it says small game season adjusted on some wma. Example Dawson Forest. What they gonna be adjusted to. I cant tell.
 

huntfishwork

Senior Member
I was wondering about the alligator season dates too. It seems to read backwards. Is the proposed change to open it the first Saturday in August?
 

HOGDOG76

Senior Member
"Biological data suggests the need to increase the minimum size to 96 inches to conserve breeding females and enhance reproductive capacity"

So in this half a zone they need to reach 8 foot to reproduce but in rest of the state four foot is sufficient:crazy:
 

GTHunter007

Senior Member
For those of us that hunt the Northern Zone Piedmont not in the specified specialty areas...I like the new doe dates. A shift lower in doe harvest in the total harvest numbers is coming from this IMO. I really really like it. It is essentially the same amount of doe days as we have now, but the beginning of the season (while most hunters are in the woods) is off limits and then while hunters are out there chasing a big buck...this is their first opportunity to take a doe. LOVE IT! Gotta decide what matters most first 2 weeks of November...deer meat or antlers. :bounce:

Baldwin, Barrow,
Bartow, Butts, Catoosa,
Carroll, Chattooga,
Cherokee, Coweta,
Crawford, Dade,
Elbert, Floyd, Gordon,
Green, Jackson, Jasper,
Jones, Hall, Haralson,
Heard, Lamar, Lincoln,
Madison, McDuffie,
Monroe, Morgan,
Newton, Oconee,
Oglethorpe, Paulding,
Pike, Polk, Putnam,
Spalding, Taliaferro,
Upson, Walker,
Walton, Warren,
Wilkes,

Eithersex
Oct. 31-Nov. 15
2015 and Nov. 23
2015 - Jan. 1 2016,
& Nov. 5-13 2016
and Nov. 21 2016 -
Jan. 1 2017
 

Johnny Reb

Senior Member
Thanks for posting. I skimmed thru the emailed update.

Curious why you guys are waiting until the 2016-2017 season to implement the call in Harvest reporting system. I am guessing you need time to work out the admin side of it.
 

C.Killmaster

Georgia Deer Biologist
"Biological data suggests the need to increase the minimum size to 96 inches to conserve breeding females and enhance reproductive capacity"

So in this half a zone they need to reach 8 foot to reproduce but in rest of the state four foot is sufficient:crazy:

It's about increasing the number of breeding size females, it's not saying that females must reach 96 inches to breed on LWFG but only 48 inches elsewhere. Most other zones can handle some harvest of alligators that haven't reached breeding size.
 

C.Killmaster

Georgia Deer Biologist
Thanks for posting. I skimmed thru the emailed update.

Curious why you guys are waiting until the 2016-2017 season to implement the call in Harvest reporting system. I am guessing you need time to work out the admin side of it.

The system won't be quite ready this fall, so it will start with turkeys in 2016. This is probably best since the volume of harvest reporting will be much lower with turkeys and allow us to work out the bugs more easily before deer season.
 

specialk

Senior Member
After the last meeting in April, when might we know when the new regs. will become official? Thanks!!
 
Proposed regs close CNF 1 week early to deer hunting east of I75. Proposed closing date is Dec 26. Not sure how I feel about that. Just FYI.
 

Gut_Pile

Senior Member
For those of us that hunt the Northern Zone Piedmont not in the specified specialty areas...I like the new doe dates. A shift lower in doe harvest in the total harvest numbers is coming from this IMO. I really really like it. It is essentially the same amount of doe days as we have now, but the beginning of the season (while most hunters are in the woods) is off limits and then while hunters are out there chasing a big buck...this is their first opportunity to take a doe. LOVE IT! Gotta decide what matters most first 2 weeks of November...deer meat or antlers. :bounce:

Baldwin, Barrow,
Bartow, Butts, Catoosa,
Carroll, Chattooga,
Cherokee, Coweta,
Crawford, Dade,
Elbert, Floyd, Gordon,
Green, Jackson, Jasper,
Jones, Hall, Haralson,
Heard, Lamar, Lincoln,
Madison, McDuffie,
Monroe, Morgan,
Newton, Oconee,
Oglethorpe, Paulding,
Pike, Polk, Putnam,
Spalding, Taliaferro,
Upson, Walker,
Walton, Warren,
Wilkes,

Eithersex
Oct. 31-Nov. 15
2015 and Nov. 23
2015 - Jan. 1 2016,
& Nov. 5-13 2016
and Nov. 21 2016 -
Jan. 1 2017

So would this mean you couldn't shoot a doe until October 31st?

Not even during bow season?
 

GTHunter007

Senior Member
So would this mean you couldn't shoot a doe until October 31st?

Not even during bow season?

I believe this is rifle season dates. Bow and muzzle loader should be the same.


I do have a question for Charlie...can a bow still be utilized to kill does during those closed rifle season dates? I didn't read everything word for word and this doesn't stand out to me.
 

HOGDOG76

Senior Member
It's about increasing the number of breeding size females, it's not saying that females must reach 96 inches to breed on LWFG but only 48 inches elsewhere. Most other zones can handle some harvest of alligators that haven't reached breeding size.

Your data states zone 6 is the one with the only declining population so why is it not then under the 96" rule. It looks more like to me yall are trying to get in line with the Alabama SE 8 foot minimum but trying to push it thru as a biological concern.
 
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