Rule 391-4-2-.60 - General Regulations on Wildlife Management Areas(1) It is unlawful for any person to place bait or any wildlife food on a Wildlife Management Area (WMA).(2) It is unlawful for any person to consume or use alcoholic beverages on any WMA except in houses or at campsites on these areas; provided, however, that this provision does not apply to national forest lands.(3) The use of paintballs, paintball guns and related activities is prohibited on WMAs except on WMAs located on national forest lands.(4) Dogs entering WMAs must be kept on a leash or otherwise confined except when hunting or while training dogs during designated seasons and on designated areas. Dog owners are responsible for their dogs and any damage the dogs may do to wildlife not being legally hunted.(5) Except for Public Fishing Areas, fishing on WMAs is allowed in accordance with statewide seasons and limits, unless otherwise indicated or posted at the WMA check station.(6) U.S. Forest Service regulations shall apply on all WMAs located on National Forest lands.(7) It is unlawful for any person to unreasonably disturb or annoy others through abrasive, insulting or threatening words or actions, or physically harm or threaten any other person, or disobey any lawful order of a law enforcement official or act in a manner resulting in a breach of the peace.(8) Camping, pre-season scouting, hiking, picnicking, horse riding, canoeing, and other recreational uses are allowed year-round unless otherwise indicated or posted at the WMA check station or at a specific recreation site. The department may close specific sites as needed for management purposes by posting at the site.(9) It is unlawful for any unauthorized person to close or restrict access to roads, trails or other access features using motor vehicles, signage, or other methods. Roads, trails and other access features may be closed at the discretion of the department.(10) It is unlawful to shoot from a motor vehicle except that disabled hunters on a designated handicapped access road or hunters who have been issued a department Special Use Permit as specified in said permit may shoot from a vehicle provided such vehicle is stationary and not under power.(11) It shall be unlawful for any person to possess a loaded firearm in designated camping areas except as provided in O.C.G.A. § 16-11-126.(12) O.C.G.A. § 27-3-1.1prohibits loaded long guns being carried in a motor vehicle on WMAs except for provisions stated in (10) above. Handguns may be loaded only as provided in O.C.G.A. § 16-11-126. A firearm shall be considered loaded if a shell is in the chamber or magazine except that muzzle-loading firearms are considered loaded only if a cap is on the nipple or powder is present on the frizzen pan. Crossbows must be un-cocked while being transported in a vehicle on a WMA.(13) Suppressed firearms may be used for hunting on WMAs.(14) Buckshot may be used to hunt deer and bear when hunting seasons for those species are open on a WMA, unless otherwise specified in 391-4-2-.70, and during such seasons, feral hogs and coyotes may be taken incidentally.(15) The use of centerfire rifles to hunt at night is prohibited on WMAs, state parks, voluntary public access areas, and federal lands unless otherwise specified in 391-4-2-.73.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-4-2-.60
O.C.G.A. §§ 12-3-9, 27-1-4, 27-3-4.
Original Rule entitled "Turkey" was filed on March 14, 1975; effective April 3, 1975.Amended: Rule repealed. Filed December 9, 1975; effective December 29, 1975.Amended: Rule entitled "Shooting Hours" adopted. Filed October 26, 1976; effective November 15, 1976.Amended: Rule repealed and a new Rule of same title adopted. Filed September 16, 1977; effective August 26, 1977; the date of adoption, in accordance with Ga. L. 1977, pp. 396, 455.Amended: Rule repealed. Filed September 6, 1978; effective September 26, 1978.Amended: Rule entitled "Shooting Hours" adopted. Filed November 2, 1978; effective September 29, 1978, as specified by Certification of said Rule in accordance with Ga. Code Sec. 45-513(d) .Amended: Filed October 14, 1988; effective November 3, 1988.Amended: F. Sept. 12, 1989; eff. Oct. 2, 1989.Repealed: New Rule, same Title, adopted. F. Jun. 6, 1992; eff. Jun. 25, 1992.Repealed: New Rule entitled "General Regulations on Wildlife Management Areas" adopted. F. Jun. 13, 2013; eff. July 3, 2013.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. June 1, 2017; eff. June 21, 2017.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. June 4, 2019; eff. June 24, 2019.Amended: F. June 7, 2021; eff. June 27, 2021.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. June 2, 2023; eff. June 22, 2023.