Georgia veterans, active-duty military personnel and young hunters will have an opportunity to get an early start on waterfowl hunting season this coming weekend.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has announced that Saturday and Sunday, November 14 and 15, will be designated as special waterfowl hunting days for eligible veterans, active-duty military personnel and youth ages 15 and younger.

The special hunting dates come one week before Georgia’s regular duck hunting season opens on Saturday, November 21.

According to the DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division, eligible hunters may pursue certain migratory birds, including ducks, Canada geese and mergansers, during the two-day special season.

Young hunters must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years old. The accompanying adult cannot hunt unless that person also qualifies as a veteran or active-duty military member.

Georgia’s regular duck hunting season will be divided into two segments. The first runs November 21 through November 29, while the second begins December 12 and continues through January 31, 2027.

State wildlife officials say the January 31 closing date allows hunters to take advantage of additional late-season hunting opportunities.

Waterfowl hunters must comply with applicable licensing requirements, including Georgia hunting and migratory bird licenses and the federal duck stamp requirement for hunters age 16 and older. Daily bag limits and other regulations also apply.

The DNR encourages hunters to review current regulations before heading into the field, particularly because hunting dates and bag limits can vary by species.

Hunters can find the complete 2026–2027 migratory bird hunting regulations at GeorgiaWildlife.com/migratory-bird-info.

Hunting licenses and federal duck stamps are available through GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com.