ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Georgia’s statewide deer firearms season opens this weekend.

Wildlife officials are asking them to be on alert for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a fatal illness now confirmed in Georgia’s deer population.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said CWD has been detected in deer in Berrien, Lanier, and Lowndes counties. The neurological disease destroys a deer’s brain over time and can spread through saliva, soil and carcasses.

“With chronic wasting disease, it doesn’t tend to show up until 18 to 30 months afterwards,” said Dr. Jesse Maestas, a wildlife disease specialist with Georgia DNR. “Hunters may not see it right away, but it’s something we need to keep in mind.”

CWD has not been shown to infect people, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises against eating meat from deer that test positive.

Last season alone, hunters in Georgia harvested more than 240,000 deer. State officials said hunting helps keep the deer population healthy and provides a sustainable food source.

At the Cubihatcha Outdoor Education Center in Locust Grove, naturalist Todd Brackin said for many families, hunting is about passing down traditions.

“I’ve been lucky enough to take my own daughter to a couple of the youth hunts,” Brackin said. “It’s a chance to get her outside. She loves conservation.”

To slow the spread of CWD, Georgia has adopted a new statewide carcass disposal rule. Hunters must either double-bag remains for a landfill or leave them on the property where the deer was harvested.

“We encourage CWD testing for deer harvested in Berrien, Lanier, and Lowndes Counties to help manage CWD. Hunters can leave their deer head at a participating processor, taxidermist, or freezer site. Testing deer from all other counties isn’t necessary, but is available to all hunters statewide. CWD information, testing locations, test results, and more can be found at georgiawildlife.com,” said Charlie Killmaster with Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources.

Public hunting opportunities:

Georgia Wildlife Management Areas offer public access to nearly one million acres of hunting opportunity. Hunters should check the current hunting regulations for specific WMA dates and information.

Hunting need-to-know:

• Legal firearms: During the firearms season, hunters may use centerfire only, .22-cal. or larger, with expanding bullets as well as all weapons lawful for use during archery and primitive weapons seasons.
• Dates/harvest limit: State law allows hunters to harvest 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 or a minimum 15-inch outside antler spread). For most hunters in the state, the deer season ends on Jan. 11, 2026. For counties with extended firearms or archery season, review the Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations 2025-26 guidebook. Deer of either sex may be taken with archery equipment at any time on private land during the primitive weapons and firearms deer season.
• Licenses: Georgia deer hunters must have a hunting license, a big game license and a current deer harvest record. Licenses can be purchased online, by phone at (1-800) 366-2661, or at a license agent (list of agents available online).
• Report Harvest: All harvested deer must be reported through Georgia Game Check within 24 hours. Deer can be reported on the Outdoors GA app (which works regardless of cell service), at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com, or by calling 1-800-366-2661.

Not all changes this year are about disease. For the first time, hunters can wear fluorescent pink safety vests in addition to traditional blaze orange.

“I’ve never understood why people were so shy about putting on a pink shirt,” said Jeff Scott, a naturalist with the Henry County Water Authority. “It’s awesome.”

Deer season runs through Jan. 11 in most of the state.

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