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GeorgiaHB 9462025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Game and fish; authorize hunting and trapping of feral hogs under certain circumstances

Sponsored By: Chas Cannon (Republican), Rob Clifton (Republican), Clint Crowe (Republican), Trey Kelley (Republican), Trey Rhodes (Republican), Jason Ridley (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Game, Fish & ParksNatural Resources and the EnvironmentGeneral Bill

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

More hunting tools for feral hogs

You can hunt feral hogs from motor vehicles on private property without a wildlife control permit; Code Section 27-3-24 still applies. You can also use drones to locate feral hogs, while following all drone laws and rules. Violating the vehicle, boat, or aircraft hunting rules remains a misdemeanor, with a minimum $250 fine. Courts can also order up to 12 months in jail. The fine cannot be suspended, stayed, or replaced with probation, but courts can allow installments for great economic hardship.

Feral hog permits lose special allowances

Georgia removes special feral hog allowances from its wildlife control permit law, including night hunting with lights and vehicle hunting. It also removes the license exemption for Georgia residents hunting on property leased by the permit holder or family. The special five-year permit term and renewal rule are removed. The department now sets permit methods, species, numbers, time limits, locations, and other conditions to protect wildlife populations and public safety. The separate private-property vehicle hunting exception and license-free trapping rule still apply.

License-free hog trapping requires immediate killing

In Georgia, you can trap feral hogs without a hunting or trapping license. You must kill each hog upon capture to use this exemption.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Chas Cannon

    Republican • House

  • Rob Clifton

    Republican • House

  • Clint Crowe

    Republican • House

  • Trey Kelley

    Republican • House

  • Trey Rhodes

    Republican • House

  • Jason Ridley

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Lee Anderson

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 209 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/20/2026

PASSAGE

Yes: 46 • No: 0 • Other: 2

House vote • 2/3/2026

PASSAGE

Yes: 163 • No: 1 • Other: 7

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective Date

    7/1/2026

  2. House Date Signed by Governor

    5/11/2026House

  3. Act 479

    5/11/2026

  4. House Sent to Governor

    4/6/2026House

  5. Senate Third Read

    3/20/2026Senate

  6. Senate Passed/Adopted

    3/20/2026Senate

  7. Senate Read Second Time

    3/19/2026Senate

  8. Senate Committee Favorably Reported

    3/18/2026Senate

  9. Senate Read and Referred

    2/4/2026Senate

  10. House Third Readers

    2/3/2026House

  11. House Passed/Adopted

    2/3/2026House

  12. House Committee Favorably Reported

    1/29/2026House

  13. House Second Readers

    1/14/2026House

  14. House First Readers

    1/13/2026House

  15. House Hopper

    1/12/2026House

Bill Text

  • HB 946/AP* (v3)

    PDF

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