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Georgia updates air gun hunting rules and broadens bow-and-arrow catfish regulations
Original title: Game and fish; remove an exception for use of air guns to hunt wildlife
Last action · May 14, 2025: House Date Signed by GovernorSponsors: Johnny Chastain and 6 others
Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law
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What This Bill Does
Georgia law now legalizes the use of qualifying s for big game hunting during primitive weapon and firearm seasons through July 1, 2030, and permits bow-and-arrow fishing for any catfish species in state waters subject to specific equipment and distance rules.
Why it matters
Hunters and anglers face updated gear permissions and seasonal boundaries across Georgia, with regulations subject to legislative review by 2030 and statewide catfish bow-fishing rules replacing restricted Savannah River provisions.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Directly affected
hunters
Hunters gain authorized legal use of qualifying air guns for big game hunting through July 1, 2030, subject to periodic legislative review.
Directly affected
anglers
Anglers are permitted to take any catfish species by bow and arrow across state waters under uniform gear and distance requirements.
Key Facts
- Air guns of not less than 0.30 caliber using unignited compressed air or gas are legal weapons for hunting big game during primitive weapon hunts, primitive weapon seasons, and firearm seasons through July 1, 2030.
- The General Assembly is required to review the air gun hunting provisions at its 2030 regular session to determine whether to continue them.
- Taking any catfish species from state waters by means of bow and arrow is permitted under updated conditions.
- Anglers using a bow and arrow must carry a valid state resident or nonresident fishing license on their person.
Show all 8 facts
- Arrows used for bow fishing must be equipped with barbs or harpoon devices and be attached to the person or bow by a sufficient rope, line, or cord.
- Poisonous or exploding arrow heads remain strictly illegal for bow fishing.
- Discharging bow-and-arrow equipment into waters within 150 feet of anyone engaged in other recreation is prohibited.
- Bow-and-arrow fishing for catfish is legal at any time of day and at night with the use of a light.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use an air gun to hunt big game in Georgia?
Yes, s of at least 0.30 caliber using unignited compressed air or gas are legal for big game hunting during primitive weapon and firearm seasons until July 1, 2030.
What are the rules for bow fishing for catfish in state waters?
Anglers may take any catfish species using a bow and arrow statewide, provided they carry a valid fishing license, use barbed or harpooned arrows attached by a line, avoid poisonous or exploding tips, stay at least 150 feet away from other recreational users, and follow day or night fishing rules.
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
19 actions- Jul 1, 2025Georgia General AssemblyEffective Date
- May 14, 2025HouseEnrolledHouse Date Signed by Governor
- May 14, 2025GovernorEnrolledAct 268
- Apr 10, 2025HouseHouse Sent to Governor
- Apr 4, 2025HouseFloorHouse Agreed Senate Amend or Sub As Amended
- Apr 4, 2025SenateFloorSenate Agreed House Amend or Sub
Show 13 earlier actions
- Apr 2, 2025SenateSenate Taken from Table
- Apr 2, 2025SenateSenate Third Read
- Apr 2, 2025SenateFloorSenate Passed/Adopted As Amended
- Mar 31, 2025SenateSenate Tabled
- Mar 21, 2025SenateSenate Read Second Time
- Mar 20, 2025SenateCommitteeSenate Committee Favorably Reported
- Mar 10, 2025SenateIntroducedSenate Read and Referred
- Mar 6, 2025HouseHouse Third Readers
- Mar 6, 2025HouseFloorHouse Passed/Adopted By Substitute
- Feb 27, 2025HouseCommitteeHouse Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
- Feb 20, 2025HouseHouse Second Readers
- Feb 19, 2025HouseIntroducedHouse First Readers
- Feb 18, 2025HouseIntroducedHouse Hopper
Version history & redline
6 versions on fileComparing Floor Amendment AM 44 0230 → HB 491/AP*
removed addedOfficial text
removed: AM 44 0230
ADOPTED
Representative added: 25 HB 491/AP
House Bill 491 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By: Representatives Chastain of the 7th removed: offers added: , Rhodes of the removed: following amendment:
Amend Sen Floor Amendment added: 124 th , Howard of the 71 st , Mathis of
the 133rd , Ridley of the 6th , and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 1 added: of Chapter 3 and Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to removed: HB 491 (AM 60 0007) added: hunting and noncommercial fishing, respectively, so as to modify an exception for the use of air guns to hunt wildlife; to revise provisions concerning the taking of catfish by removed: striking lines 1 through 14.1
- added: bow and arrow; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: SECTION 1. Article 1 removed: -added: of Chapter 3 of Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to hunting, is amended in Code Section 27-3-4, relating to legal weapons for hunting wildlife generally, use of silencers and suppressors prohibited, and penalty for violations, by revising paragraph (9) of subsection (a) as follows: "(9) For purposes of this subsection, the term 'air gun' means any pistol, handgun, or shoulder-held device, each of not less than 0.30 caliber, or air bow that propels a projectile in the form of a slug, shot, or arrow equipped with a broadhead utilizing unignited compressed air or gas. Air guns are legal weapons for hunting big game only during primitive weapon hunts, primitive weapon seasons, and firearm seasons. This paragraph shall stand repealed effective July 1, 2025 2030, unless continued in effect by the General Assembly prior to that date. At its 2025 2030 regular session, the General Assembly shall review this paragraph to determine whether it should be continued in effect." SECTION 2. Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to noncommercial fishing, is amended in Code Section 27-4-34, relating to fishing with bow and arrow, by revising subsection (d) as follows: "(d) It shall be unlawful to take channel catfish and flathead any catfish anywhere in the Savannah River, including its tributaries and impoundments within the Savannah River Basin, species from the waters of this state by means of bow and arrow, except under the following conditions: (1) Each person using a bow and arrow shall have on his or her person a valid state resident or nonresident fishing license; (2) All arrows used pursuant to this subsection must be equipped with barbs or contain devices on the point to act as a harpoon for recovering fish and must be attached to the person or bow by a rope, line, or cord sufficient for recovering the arrow and channel catfish or flathead catfish; (3) Arrows with poisonous or exploding heads are illegal; (4) It shall be unlawful to discharge arrows into waters nearer than 150 feet to anyone engaged in any other means of recreation; and (5) The taking of channel catfish and flathead any catfish in the Savannah River, including its tributaries and impoundments within the Savannah River Basin, species from the waters of this state by bow and arrow shall be legal at any time of the day and at night by the use of a light." SECTION 3. All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
Redline computed from the official version text (record lane).View this version →
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
locationSavannah River Basin“Region previously specified for catfish bow and arrow restrictions.”Map →
OrganizationGeneral Assembly“Legislative body of Georgia responsible for passing and reviewing the act.”Map →
Sources
Open source document
www.legis.ga.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance50How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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