Georgia’s 2026 turkey season is underway, and early outlooks suggest hunters could see improved opportunities in the woods this spring, according to Georgia Outdoor News.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is encouraging anglers to make the Georgia Fishing Forecasts their go-to source before visiting a lake or river. Wildlife Resources Division fisheries biologists and technicians update the forecasts each year for more than 30 reservoirs and 19 rivers across the state.
Officials say the forecasts offer anglers practical information including the best lures, technique tips, suggested fishing locations, and access to an interactive map for each water body. State fisheries leaders say checking the forecast for a specific lake or river can give anglers a better chance at a successful day on the water.
The forecasts cover popular Georgia lakes including Lanier, Allatoona, Hartwell, Oconee, Seminole, Sinclair, West Point, and many more. River forecasts are also available for major waterways including the Chattahoochee, Flint, Savannah, Altamaha, Ocmulgee, Oconee, and Satilla rivers.
Georgia DNR also reminds anglers that fishing license purchases help support fisheries research, hatchery operations, public fishing areas, and conservation work across the state.
Georgia’s 2026 spring turkey season opens today on private land, with public land hunting set to begin April 4. The season will run statewide through May 15.
A special youth and mobility-impaired hunt was held March 21 and 22 to kick off the season.
Hunters are allowed a total of two legal gobblers for the season, with a limit of one gobbler per day. Legal hunting hours run from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset.
Wildlife officials remind hunters that everyone— including those under 16, landowners, and lifetime license holders — must have a free Georgia turkey harvest record. All harvested birds must also be reported through Georgia Game Check within 24 hours.
Hunters age 16 and older are required to have a valid hunting license and big game license. Those hunting on Wildlife Management Areas must also have a WMA license.
State wildlife officials say this year’s season could be a strong one, with indications of an increased number of 2-year-old birds across Georgia.
Georgia hunters are preparing for the start of spring turkey season, with the statewide opener on private land set for Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Trout stocking trucks are getting ready to roll across North Georgia as state and federal wildlife officials prepare for another busy spring fishing season.
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 Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Wildlife Resources Division has received notification of a preliminary positive Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) test result for a deer in Atkinson County. (For reference, Atkinson County is roughly 260 miles from Chattooga County.)