Major changes

for the upcoming season include:

Either sex

hunting opportunities for deer have expanded in much of the state.

Bear season

the northern zone bear firearms season has been changed to the first 37

days of firearms deer season. In addition, Banks and Stephens Counties

will be open for bear hunting.

Furbearer

seasons bobcat, fox, opossum and raccoon hunting seasons have been extended

from February 15 to the last day of February.

New hunting

opportunities new hunting opportunities have been provided on Big Dukes

Pond Natural Area near Millen, Dixon Bay Tract near Sylvania, Mead Farm

near Waynesboro and Evans County, McDuffie County and Paradise Public

Fishing Areas.

Quail season

and zone the quail zone line has been removed resulting in one statewide

quail season (Nov. 15-Feb. 29).

Those needing

to take a hunter education course prior to the upcoming hunting season

are required to pre-register for a course, either by phone or on-line.

Hunters can call the Central Reservations System at 770-389-7275 inside

the metro-Atlanta area or (800) 864-7275 outside the metro-Atlanta area

to register by phone. A service charge applies to registration through

CRS. Alternately, hunters can go to www.gohuntgeorgia.com to search and

register for a hunter education course at no charge. Web users also can

purchase hunting licenses and obtain free hunter education certificate

replacement cards.

For more information

on the 2003-2004 Georgia Hunting Seasons and Regulations Guide, contact

the local WRD Game Management Office or the WRD Hunter Services Office

at 770-761-3044. For more information on hunter education courses, contact

the WRD Hunter Education Office at 770-784-3068.