In 2006, the State of Georgia added the right to hunt and fish into its constitution, permanently cementing that right for Georgians to practice every year. Despite the recognition of hunting and fishing as rights, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) still requires all hunters and anglers to get a new license (or licenses, depending on what is being hunted or fished for) every year.
Georgia’s population has grown from 9 million people to almost 11 million, a 20% growth, from 2006 to 2022. In that time, the number of hunters in Georgia has more than doubled from 314,000 to 769,000. Hunting licenses issued by the Georgia DNR rose from 990,000 in 2006 to 1,566,000 in 2022, a 58% increase.
Anglers, on the other hand, grew by 62% from 667,198 to 1,083,120 over that 16-year period, while distributed fishing licenses rose 96% from 836,334 to 1,636,006 during that time.
The 2007 inconsistency between anglers and fishing licenses in the graph reflects the fact that a “Sportsman’s license,” a type of hunting license, also functions as a fishing license but it is not counted among fishing licenses in the GADNR’s tally.
Despite increases in the popularity of vegan and vegetarian diets, and high tensions over gun control policies, hunting and fishing have only grown in popularity for Georgians and others who want to hunt across the peach state.
Hunting, as South Carolina hunter Eli Manke said, is an essential part of many family traditions and also beneficial for the environment.
“If people didn’t hunt deer, then other animals would come in to hunt them,” Manke said. “Those animals are ones you don’t want around people and pets.”
One of the most common targets for hunters in Georgia, and the prey you actually have to get a license for, are Deer, which you can shoot 12 of: 10 does and two bucks. In neighboring states with the right to hunt and fish that can change. In South Carolina, a hunter can only kill 3 does and 2 bucks.
“For lower-income people out in the sticks in South Carolina — and a lot of other states — hunting deer is a cheaper way to be able to get meat for a whole year than it is to go to the store and buy it every week,” Manke said.
Georgia has a variety of licenses, which all have unique purposes for controlling the hunting of specific species across Georgia’s beautiful and diverse landscapes and game species. In addition to deer, Georgia allows hunters to go after turkey, gator, and bear, as long as you tote along the appropriate license.
Other restrictions can apply depending on where you hunt and what you hunt with. While many people own large enough property in Macon-Bibb county to hunt, no rifles can be used within city limits, keeping much land only accessible to bow and crossbow hunters.
Some people debate the appropriate weapon to hunt with, and many hunters use a variety throughout the seasons and areas.
“Shooting a deer with a bullet or an arrow is the most humane death I can give that animal,” Henry Peed, a Macon resident and bow hunter said. “If a deer isn’t killed by a hunter, I’m not saying go kill every deer you see, the only way that deer will die is disease, starvation or predation, if you count getting hit by a car as predation.”
Peed has lived in middle Georgia his whole life, and he has been hunting deer in the state for 12 years with his family. He says he prefers to bow hunt, since it requires him to be more patient, careful and make better choices.
“Hunting with a rifle is more about how far you comfortably shoot, which for me is about 200 yards,” Peed said. “But like if there’s deer in a field and they’re working their way toward me I’m wait for them to get close because I’m going to make 100% sure that I can put an ethical shot on that deer with a bow before I shoot.”
As more hunters and fishers come to and live in Georgia, which is already in the top five states for distributing licenses and tags, it is important that they understand and respect the rules and guidelines for maintaining the wild land and wildlife in Georgia.
Ever since hunting and fishing were codified into Georgia’s constitution in 2006, the number of hunters and anglers in the state has steadily increased after congruent spikes in 2007. With the expectation that this right will only attract more hunters and fishers to the area, Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources is doing its best to create well-regulated systems to handle the new increased wave of hunting and fishing applicants every year.
With new people coming to the state, the trophy-versus-meat debate can often be on the front burner for many hunters.
“I’ve never been a Trophy Hunter, but then again, I’ve never really hunted many places that had big deer around every corner,” Peed said. “To us, it was more about meat, you know, knowing where your food comes from is a very special thing that not many have the privilege of seeing and to do it all themselves.”
Normal hunting licenses still only allow 2 bucks, with some areas and times of year only allowing “significant” bucks, which have four or more points on their antlers.
While a singular hunter or angler can obtain multiple licenses, Database Administrator for the License and Boat Registration Unit of the Georgia DNR Jeffrey Ozburn said that the totals include both Georgia residents and others that come from out of state to hunt in Georgia.
While the overall interest in hunting in the US is dropping, Georgia is doing the opposite, and if the state continues to support conservative political changes, like Kemp’s “constitutional carry” law, those numbers will likely continue to increase.
