Georgia Trapping Regulations

Season

The trapping season for furbearers is Dec. 1 – Feb. 28. There is no closed season for the trapping of beaver or coyote in this state.

Furbearer Species

O.C.G.A. § 27-1-2 (31) “Fur-bearing animals” means the following animals: mink, otter, raccoon, fox, opossum, muskrat, skunk, bobcat, and weasel.

Bobcat and Otter Tagging

All bobcats and otters trapped in Georgia and exported out of Georgia must be tagged with a Federal Export Tag. The tag must be attached by State personnel no later than (10) days after the close of the trapping season.

Licenses

A trapping license is required for trapping and selling fur, hides and pelts. License application (must be completed and then mailed or brought to License Office at 2065 US Hwy. 278, SE, Social Circle, GA 30025).

Wildlife

No wildlife except those specified as furbearers may be trapped at any time within this state, except as may be provided in state law.

Rights-of-Way

It is unlawful to trap any wildlife upon the right-of-way of any public road or highway of this state.

Inspection of Traps

It is unlawful to fail to inspect traps at least once each 24-hour period and remove any animals caught in the traps.

Stamping of Traps

It is unlawful to trap wildlife except with traps which are at all times legibly stamped, etched, or tagged with the owner’s name or owner’s permanent trapper’s identification number provided by the department.

Choke Sticks

It is unlawful to fail to carry a choke stick or similar device while tending traps and to use that device to release domestic animals.

.22 Cal. Rimfires

It is unlawful to fail to carry a weapon of .22 cal. rimfire while tending traps and to use that weapon to dispatch any furbearing animal to be taken.

Permission

It is unlawful to trap any wildlife upon the lands or in the waters of any other person except with written consent of the owner, which must be on the person setting or using the traps.

Body Gripping Traps

Body gripping traps in excess of 9.5 inches square may be used only in water or within 10 feet of water. No. 2 Traps It is unlawful to set on land any trap with a jaw opening any larger than 5.75 inches.

Snares

Snares may be used for trapping beaver provided that snares are set in water or on land within ten (10) feet of water, including swamps, marshes, and tidal areas. All snares must be marked with the trapper’s name or identification number.

Freshwater Game Fish Daily Limits

It is unlawful to take in one day or to possess at any one time, except at a residence or commercial storage facility, more than the daily creel limit for each species.  It is unlawful to possess more than a total of 50 individuals of all the game fish listed in this section, except channel and flathead catfish.

Once the daily creel limit for a particular species is taken, it is unlawful to continue to fish for that species.

Exception:  Daily limits differ on certain waters shared by Georgia and South Carolina (see Agreements with Bordering States).

See special creel limits on Public Fishing Areas.

• Bass…..10 Largemouth, Redeye (Coosa), Shoal, Smallmouth, Spotted, and/or Suwanee bass
• Bream (see exception)…..50 Flier, Spotted sunfish (stumpknockers), Rockbass (goggleye), Shadow bass, Redbreast, Redear, Bluegill, and/or Warmouth
• Catfish…..No Limit Channel and/or Flathead
• Crappie…..30 Black and/or White
• Pickerel…..15 Chain, Grass and/or Redfin
• Sauger…..8
• Shad…..8 American and/or Hickory
• Striped bass, White bass and/or Hybrid striped-white bass (see note & exceptions)…..15 (only two can be 22 inches or longer)
• Trout (see exception)…..8 Brook, Rainbow, and/or Brown trout
• Walleye (see exception)…..8