The Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Resources Division is letting the public know about several recent changes intended to benefit outdoors enthusiasts in the Peach State.
First, the WRD's website (georgiawildlife.com) has been redesigned for easier accessibility and is now more friendly to mobile devices, according to a Georgia DNR release. It's also the best place to visit for in-depth information on the other changes, including to licenses.
In an effort to simplify, several licenses offered in the past have been eliminated, though some are included in a different license. Those no longer offered: Wildlife Management Area license, GORP, alligator hunting license, deer-dog license, H.I.P. license, and waterfowl conservation license.
Fees have also been increased for some licenses - the first time since that has happened since 1992 - to keep pace with other states in the Southeast and increase federal funding. However, according to the release, the WRD is touting added value for those licenses. One example is that a $15 annual hunting or fishing license provides access to WMAs or public fishing areas without additional fees, as in the past.
Additionally, a new youth sportsman's license has been introduced and the waterfowl and migratory bird stamp will replace the waterfowl conservation license and the H.I.P. license.
The WRD noted that printed copies of the 2017 fishing regulations or 2016-17 hunting regulations for Georgia will not reflect all of the changes.