---
title: O.C.G.A. § 27-3-62. Open seasons.
collection: code
id: 27-3-62
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 27-3-62 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-3-62
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-3-62.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-3-62/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t27-t30-(v22)-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=3d92bb7f_0#page=72
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-3.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-3-61.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-3-63.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: GAME AND FISH / WILDLIFE GENERALLY / TRAPPING, TRAPPERS, AND FUR DEALERS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 27-3-62. Open seasons.

(a) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Code section, it shall be unlawful to trap any wildlife in this state between March 1 and November 19.

(b) It shall be unlawful to trap any wildlife during the period between November 20 and February 29, except as otherwise provided in this Code section and except that it shall not be unlawful to trap a fur-bearing animal during that period or a portion thereof if that period or portion thereof is designated by the board as an open trapping season for such fur-bearing animal.

(c) In accordance with subsection (b) of this Code section and as may be appropriate in accordance with sound wildlife management principles, the board is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations establishing open seasons for the trapping of fur-bearing animals on a state-wide, regional, or local basis.

(d) Notwithstanding subsection (a) or (b) of this Code section, it shall be lawful to trap on private land not operated by the department beaver, raccoons, opossum, rats, and mice at any time during the year. It shall also be lawful for any person to set steel traps within 200 yards of the residence or dwelling of any such person for the protection of livestock, ratites, poultry, or other fowl or domestic animals from any predatory bird or animal.

(e) Any person who violates any provision of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

## History

Code 1933, § 45-601, enacted by Ga. L. 1977, p. 396, § 1; Ga. L. 1977, p. 1270, § 3; Ga. L. 1979, p. 800, § 4; Ga. L. 1980, p. 323, § 1; Ga. L. 1995, p. 244, § 31; Ga. L. 2015, p. 107, § 1/HB 160; Ga. L. 2022, p. 743, § 2/HB 1147.

## Amendments

The 2022 amendment, effective May 10, 2022, substituted “trap on private land not operated by the department beaver, raccoons, opossum, rats, and mice” for “trap beaver, rats, and mice” in the first sentence in subsection (d).