Options for training hunting dogs in Georgia

20 Bird-dog training areas on WMAs in Georgia

117,000 Small-game hunters in Georgia, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The regular hunting seasons for quail and rabbits open statewide in Georgia on Nov. 16. Dogs play an important role in the pursuit of both of these game species.

Rabbit hunters rely on beagles for finding and running their quarry. Pointers, Brittanies and setters that find and point the birds are most popular with quail hunters.

A hunting dog was once a fixture in many households in the state. Canines are still popular with Georgians, but now even the sporting breeds are more likely to be found on the sofa rather than in the field.

One reason for the shift from working dogs to pets is the lack of places to train and hunt with those dogs. Changes in land use and lifestyles have made it less convenient to have hunting dogs.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has provided some relief from the problem in recent years. A number of the wildlife-management areas across the state now have special dog-training areas set aside.

Bird-dog training is allowed on the areas year-round during daylight hours. There are some date restrictions on most of the tracts.

Hunters are allowed to release pen-raised quail for these training sessions for pointing, flushing and retrieving dogs. The hunter must have proof of purchase for the quail used during the training.

The released birds may be harvested during training, using shotguns with No. 6 or smaller shot only.

Beagles may be used to run rabbits on specific dog-training areas during any open small-game season on those WMAs.

Berry College, J.L. Lester, Paulding Forest and Walton Public Dove Field WMAs have dog-training areas and are within an hour’s drive of I-285.

A list of dog-training areas and regulations applying to the tracts can be found in the current hunting regulations at georgiawildlife.com. Follow the links to Hunting and then to Hunting Regulations and Seasons.