Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division

Wildlife Resources Division protects and preserves wildlife in Georgia

The Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, formerly known as the Game and Fish Commission, regulates hunting, fishing, and the operation of watercraft in Georgia, protects non-game and endangered wildlife, and maintains public education and law enforcement programs to ensure that Georgia's natural resources will be conserved for our present and future generations.

The Law Enforcement Section is responsible for protecting Georgia's wildlife populations by enforcing laws, rules and regulations pertaining to game and nongame animals, threatened and endangered plants and animals, exotic animals, boating safety, litter and waste control and other natural resource issues.

The law enforcement section also administers the state's hunter education and boating safety programs. Conservation Rangers investigate violations of wildlife laws, as well as hunting and boating incidents. They also conduct classes and programs to educate citizens about wildlife laws and safety practices.

How to Get a Hunting License
You can buy a hunting license in one of three ways:

  • From a License Dealer: Resident Georgia hunting licenses are available throughout the state from approximately 1,800 license dealers in many sporting goods stores, marinas, bait and tackle stores, hardware stores, etc. Most license dealers also sell non-resident licenses.

    All licenses may be purchased in person or by mail from the Department of Natural Resources, License Unit, 2189 Northlake Parkway, Suite 108, Bldg. 10, Tucker, Ga. 30084 or at Department Law Enforcement offices. Orders by mail must include the applicant's name, Social Security Number (SSN), address, date of birth, weight and height with the proper payment.

  • By Phone: Call 888-748-6887 (toll free) to purchase your hunting license by telephone. There is a $3.95 fee per transaction.

  • Purchase Online: You can click herebuy hunting licenses through this web site.

Georgia Hunting License Fees
License Type Residents Non-Residents
Alligator Hunting License $50.00 $50.00
Big Game (deer, turkey, bear) $9.00 $135.00
Dog Deer Hunting Permit (season) $100.00 $100.00
Dog Deer Hunting Permit (2-day) $25.00 $25.00
Hunting (regular) $10.00 $75.00
Hunting and Fishing Combination $17.00 NA
Hunting (1-day) $5.50 $12.00
Hunting (3-day) NA $30.00
Big Game (3-day) NA $50.00
Migratory Bird Hunting (H.I.P. Permit) free free
Primitive Weapons $8.00 $25.00
Shooting Preserve NA $12.00
Sportsman (covers all sport hunting and fishing
privileges except federal duck stamp & alligator license)		 $60.00 NA
Trapping $30.00 $295.00
Wildlife Management Area (WMA) $19.00 $73.00
Waterfowl Conservation $5.50 $5.50
     
Lifetime License Type Residents
Lifetime Licenses *
Under 2 years old $200.00
Ages 2-15 $350.00
Ages 16 and older $500.00
Ages 60 to 65 $95.00
Over 65 free
Under 16 years old non-resident grandchild of resident lifetime license holder $1,000.00

*Lifetime Licenses
Georgia lifetime licenses cover all sport hunting and fishing licenses, except for the Federal Duck Stamp and the free Federal Harvest Information Program Permit. Deer hunters also must pick up a Deer Harvest Record from a license dealer prior to hunting each year. Lifetime licenses are valid for the life of the person, even if they move out of Georgia. People who purchase a lifetime license will receive a colorful, plastic license card. Senior license holders (65 years and older) may purchase the plastic card for a $10 processing fee. You must be a Georgia resident for at least 12 months immediately preceding the application for the lifetime license and provide proof of residency in order to be eligible for this license.

Download PDF Georgia DNR Lifetime License Application (111Kb)

Fishing Licenses and Where to Buy Them
You can buy a fishing license in one of three ways:
  • License Dealers: Georgia fishing licenses are available throughout the state from more than 1,000 license dealers. License dealers can be found at major discount retailers, marinas, and sporting goods, bait and tackle, and hardware stores.

    Licenses can be purchased in person from the Department of Natural Resources, License Unit, 2189 Northlake Parkway, Suite 108, Bldg. 10, Tucker, Georgia 30084. 770-414-3333. 

  • By Phone: Call 888-748-6887 (toll free) to purchase your fishing license. There is a $3.95 fee per transaction.

  • Purchase Online: You can click here buy fishing licenses through this web site. Follow the instructions to set up an online user account or log into an existing account.

How long are licenses valid?
All recreational hunting and fishing licenses will be good for one full year (12 months) from the day that they are purchased rather than expiring on March 31 of each year. Commercial licenses (commercial fishing, Wild Animal dealer, wholesale or retail fish dealer, etc) will continue to expire on March 31 of each year however.  Since there is no longer a "license year" for recreational licenses, license buyers will now get more value - not to mention more opportunities to hunt and fish - for their annual license purchase price. For more information on license changes - call 770-414-3333. 

Georgia Fishing Licenses & Fees
Note: Click here for full information on residency requirements for license purchases and information on who is required to have a license.

Sportsman's License (includes these licenses: Fishing, Trout, Wildlife Management Area, Hunting, Big game, Primitive weapons, and Waterfowl Conservation licenses and H.I.P permit. It does not include the Federal duck stamp):

  • Resident - $60.00
  • Non-resident - not available
Regular Fishing License:
  • Resident - $9.00
  • Non-resident - $24.00 (season) $7.00 (7 day)
One-day Fishing License:
  • Resident - $3.50
  • Non-resident - $3.50
Trout:
  • Resident - $5.00
  • Non-resident - $13.00
Combination Fishing & Hunting:
  • Resident - $17.00
  • Non-resident - not available
Wildlife Management Area (WMA):
  • Resident - $19.00
  • Non-resident - $73.00
Lifetime Licenses
Never buy a fishing or hunting license again! For a one time price, Georgians can enjoy a lifetime of our state's great fishing and hunting. Lifetime licenses cover all sport fishing and hunting, except for the Federal Duck Stamp and the free Federal Harvest Information Program Permit. Deer hunters also must pick up a Deer Harvest Record from a license dealer prior to hunting each year. Lifetime licenses are valid for the life of the person, even if they move out of Georgia. People who purchase a lifetime license will receive a colorful, plastic license card. Senior (65+) honorary lifetime license holders may purchase the plastic card for a $10 processing fee. You must be a Georgia resident for at least 12 months immediately prior to applying and provide proof of residency in order to be eligible. Lifetime licenses for Georgia resident hunters and anglers cost:
  • $200 for infants under age 2
  • $350 for youth between the ages of 2 - 15
  • $500 for adults age 16 and older
  • $95 Senior Discount Lifetime License
  • Free Honorary Lifetime License for senior citizens over age 65
The Senior Discount Lifetime License is ideal for someone at age 60 who is an avid hunter and angler, as it will give them five years of hunting and fishing for only $95.  To compare, an annual sportsman's license, which provides all the same privileges but must be purchased every year, is $60. The total cost for 5 years of purchasing this license would be $300. When compared to the cost of the new $95 license there is a potential savings of $205!

Lifetime License for Non-resident grandchildren:

  • $1,000 for age 15 and under (see details below)

Details on Non-resident Lifetime License:  This license is only available to grandchildren (age 15 or under) of current resident lifetime license holders (including Senior Discount Lifetime Licenses). The cost of this license is $1,000 and will be good for the life of the child, regardless of the child's future residence.

Download PDF Georgia DNR Lifetime License Application (111Kb)

Download PDF Complete Information on All Lifetime Licenses (111Kb)

Lost Your License?
Some good reasons to buy a fishing license
Your purchase of a fishing license helps support the following Fisheries Section programs. If you want to support fisheries management and conservation of Georgia's aquatic resources, buy a fishing license today!
  • Management: Fish populations are monitored and managed in over 500,000 acres of reservoirs and small lakes, 12,000 miles of streams and rivers, and over 4,000 miles of trout streams.

  • Hatcheries: six warmwater hatcheries produce largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish, striped bass, hybrid striped-white bass, and other species to stock into reservoirs, rivers, and ponds; three trout hatcheries stock over 1 million trout into trout streams.

  • Public Fishing Areas: over 2,000 acres of water on nine PFAs provide quality fishing for bass, bream, crappie, and catfish. PFAs are "perfect family areas" for family recreation. License sales help build new PFAs!

  • Pond Management: guidance is provided to pond owners through consultation and on site visits.

  • Boat Ramps: 150 boat ramps are maintained statewide. New ramps are built each year to provide better access for all boaters.

  • Aquatic Education: over 30,000 kids and their parents fish at over 500 Kids Fishing Events each year. Many are kids that have not experienced good fishing. Over 1,200 educators are trained and provided teaching materials each year to teach youth about Georgia's aquatic resources.

  • Publications: Reservoir and Rivers Fishing Prospects, Small Lakes Open to Public Fishing, Georgia Fish ID book, Pond Management books, Trout Streams of Georgia map, Fishing Regulations book, River maps, and many others are printed and mailed to thousands each year.

  • Fish Kills and Pollution: because of Fisheries staff investigations the culprit is often brought to justice and fined.

How to Register Your Boat in Georgia
You can obtain boat registration applications from any Wildlife Resources Division office or from most boat dealers, hardware stores, sporting goods stores or marinas. There is a temporary certificate on the registration form. The temporary certificate allows you to operate your boat until you receive your permanent certificate and decal by mail.

Registration Fees For Three-Year Boat Registration
If your boat is... Then your fee is
Less than 16 ft. (Class A) $15.00
16 ft. to less than 26 ft. (Class 1) $36.00
26 ft. to less than 40 ft. (Class 2) $90.00
40 ft. or longer (Class 3) $150.00
Additional Fees
Type Fee
Transfer Only $3.00
Duplicate $1.00
Marine Toilet $5.00

Register or Renew Your Boat by Mail
Mail your completed application or renewal form with a check or money order for the required fee to:

Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Boat Registration Office
P. O. Box 105310
Atlanta, Georgia 30348-5310

Renew Boat Registrations by Phone
You can also renew boat registrations by phone by calling
888-748-6887 toll free. There is a $3.95 fee per transaction.

Register or Renew Your Boat Online
You can click here to register or renew your boat through this web site.

For more information, see the boating regulations or call the Boat Registration Office at 770-414-3337.
CLICK HERE
For Contact Information