25 LC 44 3109S
House Bill 491 (COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)
By: Representatives Chastain of the 7
th
, Rhodes of the 124
th
, Howard of the 71
st
, Mathis of
the 133
rd
, Ridley of the 6
th
, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 1 of Chapter 3 and Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 27 of the Official Code
1
of Georgia Annotated, relating to hunting and noncommercial fishing, respectively, so as to2
modify an exception for the use of air guns to hunt wildlife; to revise provisions concerning3
the taking of catfish by bow and arrow; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting4
laws; and for other purposes.5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6
SECTION 1.7
Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to8
hunting, is amended in Code Section 27-3-4, relating to legal weapons for hunting wildlife9
generally, use of silencers and suppressors prohibited, and penalty for violations, by revising10
paragraph (9) of subsection (a) as follows:11
"(9) For purposes of this subsection, the term 'air gun' means any pistol, handgun, or12
shoulder-held device, each of not less than 0.30 caliber, or air bow that propels a13
projectile in the form of a slug, shot, or arrow equipped with a broadhead utilizing14
unignited compressed air or gas. Air guns are legal weapons for hunting big game only15
during primitive weapon hunts, primitive weapon seasons, and firearm seasons. This16
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paragraph shall stand repealed effective July 1, 2025 2030, unless continued in effect by17
the General Assembly prior to that date. At its 2025 2030 regular session, the General18
Assembly shall review this paragraph to determine whether it should be continued in19
effect."20
SECTION 2.21
Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to22
noncommercial fishing, is amended in Code Section 27-4-34, relating to fishing with bow23
and arrow, by revising subsection (d) as follows:24
"(d) It shall be unlawful to take channel catfish and flathead any catfish anywhere in the25
Savannah River, including its tributaries and impoundments within the Savannah River26
Basin, species from the waters of this state by means of bow and arrow, except under the27
following conditions:28
(1) Each person using a bow and arrow shall have on his or her person a valid state29
resident or nonresident fishing license;30
(2) All arrows used pursuant to this subsection must be equipped with barbs or contain31
devices on the point to act as a harpoon for recovering fish and must be attached to the32
person or bow by a rope, line, or cord sufficient for recovering the arrow and channel33
catfish or flathead catfish;34
(3) Arrows with poisonous or exploding heads are illegal;35
(4) It shall be unlawful to discharge arrows into waters nearer than 150 feet to anyone36
engaged in any other means of recreation; and37
(5) The taking of channel catfish and flathead any catfish in the Savannah River,38
including its tributaries and impoundments within the Savannah River Basin, species39
from the waters of this state by bow and arrow shall be legal at any time of the day and40
at night by the use of a light."41
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SECTION 3.
42
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.43
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