A state hunting license is required for turkey season. Short-term licenses, with limited privileges, full privilege licenses and lifetime licenses are available. Georgia residents, who are veterans, active duty military, seniors and people with disabilities are eligible for a discount.

According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources: 

• Basic hunting privileges cover hunting small game, participating in an Alligator Harvest Permit holder’s alligator hunt, deer-dog hunting, and accessing the state properties on this list. You must meet hunter education requirements to get a license with hunting privileges, except for short-term licenses.

• Annual Licenses cover the 365 days after date of purchase and may be stacked to create a license of any year duration.

• Short Term Licenses (one-day and additional days) cover 1 day (which may be a future date), and additional (consecutive) days may be added at reduced rate per-day, as long as the license has not expired. Up to 10 additional consecutive days may be added, for 11 consecutive days total. 

• Trapping or other commercial licenses are not included in any hunting or fishing license.

• Transaction fees apply for all licenses.

• Most hunting licenses are for people ages 16-64. There are licenses available for seniors 65 and up. There is also a youth license for those 15 and under which requires the completion of the hunter education course.

• A Big Game license is required to hunt turkey, deer and bear.

A free harvest record is required to hunt turkey. Turkey hunters of all ages are required to have a free harvest record, even if they have a full-privilege license or if they are not required to have a hunting license. The Harvest Record is only valid for a single season. Hunters must obtain a new Harvest Record each season, and record their kill on the paper or electronic version before moving the carcass. All turkey harvest must be reported within 72 hours through Georgia Game Check.

How to Report Your Turkey:

Cell Phone Handy?

If you have a cell phone, enter the harvest date and county on the Harvest Record through the GA Outdoors App, online at www.gooutdoorsgeorgia.com, or by calling 1-800-366-2661 before moving the turkey from the site of the kill.

You can report your harvest through the GA Outdoors App when your phone has no service. Enter your harvest date and county on the Harvest Record through the App. When you get to a location with service, access the App and sync to receive your confirmation number.

No Phone? No Problem!

Log It - Enter the harvest date and county on your paper Harvest Record before moving the turkey from the site of the kill.

Report It - Within 72 hours of the kill, report your harvest by going online to gooutdoorsgeorgia.com or calling 1-800-366-2661.

Record It - Copy the confirmation number received onto your paper Harvest Record.

Turkey season dates and quotas:

Turkey season is open state-wide from March 23 until May 15. The quota is three gobblers per season.