SOCIAL CIRCLE — More than 2,500 hunters fortunate enough to have gotten a gobbler during the 2016 turkey hunting season have become familiar with the requirement to log their bird on their harvest record and report that effort (within 72 hours) to Georgia Game Check, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division.

“It is exciting that hunters can see the results of the turkey season as it happens,” said Tina Johannsen, Program Operations Manager with game management of the Wildlife Resources Division. “So far, it appears that the majority of the birds taken have been mature gobblers and, as expected, most hunters used a modern firearm.”

Georgia Game Check harvest results can be viewed on the WRD website at ga mecheckresults.olspassport.com/TurkeyByCounty.aspx .
Access to a free harvest record is available online through the Wildlife Resources Division license system (www.georgiawildlife.com) or through a license vendor or by phone (1-800-366-2661). Alternately, hunters who have cell service can use the new Outdoors GA app (available free from the Apple or Google Play store) or go online to report their harvest and complete the harvest record and Georgia Game Check requirement at one time.

If you are uncertain of cell service availability, it is recommended to have a backup paper harvest record.
All turkey hunters, including those younger than 16, landowners, honorary, lifetime and sportsman license holders, must obtain a free harvest record each season. Before moving a harvested turkey, hunters are required to immediately enter the date and county on the harvest record and, within 72 hours, must complete the reporting process through Georgia Game Check.

For more information on the harvest record or the Georgia Game Check System and how to enter your success, visit www.georgiawildlife.com/HarvestRecordGeorgiaGameCheck.