HB491: HB491 Game and fish; remove an exception for use of air guns to hunt wildlife

25 HB 491/AP House Bill 491 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Chastain of the 7th, Rhodes of the 124th, Howard of the 71st, Mathis of the 133rd, Ridley of the 6th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 1 of Chapter 3 and Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 27 of the Official Code1 of Georgia Annotated, relating to hunting and noncommercial fishing, respectively, so as to2 modify an exception for the use of air guns to hunt wildlife; to revise provisions concerning3 the taking of catfish by bow and arrow; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting4 laws; and for other purposes.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6 SECTION 1.7 Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 27 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to8 hunting, is amended in Code Section 27-3-4, relating to legal weapons for hunting wildlife9 generally, use of silencers and suppressors prohibited, and penalty for violations, by revising10 paragraph (9) of subsection (a) as follows:11 "(9) For purposes of this subsection, the term 'air gun' means any pistol, handgun, or12 shoulder-held device, each of not less than 0.30 caliber, or ai r bow that propels a13 projectile in the form of a slug, shot, or arrow equipped with a broadhead utilizing14 unignited compressed air or gas. Air guns are legal weapons for hunting big game only15 during primitive weapon hunts, primitive weapon seasons, and fi rearm seasons. This16 H. B. 491 - 1 - 25 HB 491/AP paragraph shall stand repealed effective July 1, 2025 2030, unless continued in effect by17 the General Assembly prior to that date. At its 2025 2030 regular session, the General18 Assembly shall review this paragraph to determine whether it sh ould be continued in19 effect."20 SECTION 2.21 Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 27 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to22 noncommercial fishing, is amended in Code Section 27-4-34, relating to fishing with bow23 and arrow, by revising subsection (d) as follows:24 "(d) It shall be unlawful to take channel catfish and flathead any catfish anywhere in the25 Savannah River, including its tributaries and impoundments with in the Savannah River26 Basin, species from the waters of this state by means of bow and arrow, except under the27 following conditions:28 (1) Each person using a bow and arrow shall have on his or her person a valid state29 resident or nonresident fishing license;30 (2) All arrows used pursuant to this subsection must be equipped with barbs or contain31 devices on the point to act as a harpoon for recovering fish and must be attached to the32 person or bow by a rope, line, or cord sufficient for recoverin g the arrow and channel33 catfish or flathead catfish;34 (3) Arrows with poisonous or exploding heads are illegal;35 (4) It shall be unlawful to discharge arrows into waters neare r than 150 feet to anyone36 engaged in any other means of recreation; and37 (5) The taking of channel catfish and flathead a n y catfish in the Savannah River,38 including its tributaries and impoundments within the Savannah River Basin, species39 from the waters of this state by bow and arrow shall be legal at any time of the day and40 at night by the use of a light."41 H. B. 491 - 2 - 25 HB 491/AP SECTION 3.42 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.43 H. B. 491 - 3 -