Youth and mobility-impaired hunters in Georgia will get an early start to turkey season during a special hunt set for March 21-22, 2026, on private lands. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division says the opportunity allows eligible hunters to harvest a gobbler before the statewide season officially opens.

The special weekend hunt is open only to youth under age 16 and hunters who are mobility impaired, including those confined to a wheelchair or affected by conditions such as hemiplegia, monoplegia, paraplegia, or single-leg amputation above the knee. Youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older, who may call for turkey but may not take or attempt to take a turkey.

The season bag limit is one gobbler per hunter per day, with a season total of two gobblers.

State officials remind hunters that all turkey hunters, including those under age 16, landowners, and honorary, lifetime, and sportsman license holders, must obtain a free harvest record each season. Before moving a harvested turkey, hunters must immediately record the date and county on the harvest record, and then complete the reporting process through Georgia Game Check within 24 hours.

Resident youth hunters under 16 do not need a license. Hunters age 16 and older, including adults accompanying youth hunters, must have a hunting license and big game license unless they are hunting on their own private land.

Georgia’s 2026 statewide turkey season opens March 28 on private land and April 4 on public land.