---
title: O.C.G.A. § 44-1-8. Property rights in animals; factors establishing property in wild animals.
collection: code
id: 44-1-8
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 44-1-8 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/44-1-8
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/44-1-8.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/44-1-8/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t44-ch1-7-(v31)-2010-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=35dd922f_0#page=20
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/44-1.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/44-1-7.md
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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: PROPERTY / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 44-1-8. Property rights in animals; factors establishing property in wild animals.

(a) Property rights may exist in all animals, birds, and fish. To constitute property in those which are wild by nature as distinguished from domestic animals, they must be in the actual possession, custody, or control of the party claiming a property interest. Possession, custody, or control of wild animals may be obtained by taming or domesticating them, by confining them within restricted limits, or by killing or capturing them.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Code section, no property right shall be created in wildlife as defined by Code Section 27-1-2.

## History

Orig. Code 1863, § 2220; Code 1868, § 2214; Code 1873, § 2240; Code 1882, § 2240; Civil Code 1895, § 3073; Civil Code 1910, § 3649; Code 1933, § 85-1703.

## Cross References

State ownership of wildlife located in state, § 27-1-3.