SOCIAL CIRCLE — Firearms deer hunters can take to the woods beginning Saturday and continue through Jan. 14 statewide.

"Georgia is one of the greatest deer hunting states in the country," said Charlie Killmaster, state deer biologist for the DNR Wildlife Resources Division.

During firearms deer season last year, almost 320,000 hunters harvested 260,765 deer in the state.

Either-sex day map: Hunters can check out the interactive map created to see the opportunities available for the counties they hunt. If you hunt on national forest land, either-sex days may be different than on private land. More info at georgiawildlife.com/hunting/deer-opportunities.

Georgia game check: All deer hunters must report their harvest using Georgia game check. Deer can be reported on the Outdoors GA app (which now works whether you have cell service or not), at gooutdoorsgeorgia.com, or by calling 1-800-366-2661.

Georgia hunters have access to more than one million acres of public hunting land across the state, including over 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 2017-2018 Georgia Hunting Seasons and Regulations Guide at georgiawildlife.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, one inch or longer, on one side of the antlers).

Deer hunters must have a valid hunting license, a big game license and a current deer harvest record. Licenses can be bought online at georgiawildlife.com/licenses-permits-passes, by phone at 1-800-366-2661 or at a license agent (list of agents available online).

For more information on deer hunting seasons, regulations, licenses and WMA maps, visit georgiawildlife.com/hunting/regulations.