SOCIAL CIRCLE —  Firearms deer-hunting season is underway until Jan. 10 statewide.

Georgia hunters have access to more than 1 million acres of public hunting land across the state, including more than 100 state-operated wildlife-management areas. In addition to traditional hunts, a number of special hunts are offered, including ladies-only and adult/child hunts.

Dates and locations for these hunts, as well as WMA maps, can be found in the 2015-16 Georgia Hunting Seasons and Regulations Guide at www.gohuntgeorgia.com/hunting/regulations.

Hunters are allowed a harvest of up to 10 antlerless deer and no more than two antlered deer (with one of the two antlered deer having a minimum of four points, 1 inch or longer, on one side of the antlers).  While these are the maximum limits, harvest of female deer should be appropriate for the property hunted.  Information on establishing deer-harvest guidelines can be found at www.eregulations.com/georgia/hunting/general-hunting-information.
Licenses can be purchased online at www.gohuntgeorgia.com/licenses-permits-passes, by phone at 1-800-366-2661 or at a licensed agent (list of agents available online).   

All deer hunters must wear at least 500 square inches of fluorescent orange above the waist to legally hunt during firearms season except on archery-only areas.

A preview of what to expect during deer season is at www.youtube.com/georgiawildlife and click on “Georgia Deer Season 2015-2016.”
Georgia’s new deer-rut map can be found at www.georgiawildlife.com/rut-map. For more information, go to www.georgiawildlife.com/hunting.