State of GA Hunting License—3 Easy Steps to Get Yours in 2026
If you plan to hunt in Georgia, the state requires all residents and non-residents born on or after January 1, 1961, to complete a hunter education course.
Hunters in Georgia must understand the ethics of hunting and the essentials of keeping themselves (and others) safe in the field. These essentials include handling firearms and bows safely, tree stand safety, why hunters wear blaze orange, animal identification, and more.
So if you want to hunt in Georgia in 2026, keep reading to learn how to take the Georgia hunter safety course to get certified and get your State of GA hunting license in three easy steps!
How to Get Your Georgia Hunter Education Card in 2026
Remember: All residents and non-residents born on or after January 1, 1961, must complete a hunter education course approved by the GDNR before hunting.
The State of Georgia offers two options for taking the course and getting certified.
Option 1: Take an In-Person Course
The in-person classroom course is a free option for hunters who prefer to learn with hands-on and training instruction. Most classes run for a full day, and students must attend the full class to earn a hunter education certification.
Note that you must register online for a class at least three days prior to the class start date and time. Make sure to choose a date, time, and location that's convenient for you with plenty of time to complete the course before hunting season begins.
Option 2: Take an Online Course
An online course is the most convenient way to earn your hunter safety certification in Georgia! Choose an approved course (like ilearntohunt), then study and take the final exam from home on your own time.
After completing the online course, you can print your temporary hunter education card through your ilearntohunt student dashboard.
To print your permanent card:
- Visit the Go Outdoors Georgia website.
- Log in using your Georgia DNR Customer ID
- Print your hunter education certificate
How to Get Your State of GA Hunting License in 3 Easy Steps
With your ilearntohunt hunter education course complete, you're ready to get your hunting license!
Note: You'll only need to take and pass the hunter safety course one time. Your certification is good for life!
Here are three easy steps for getting your state of GA hunting license:
- Meet the GDNR Requirements for Hunter Education
Again, if you were born on or after January 1, 1971, you must meet the state's requirements for completing a state-approved hunter education course before purchasing your license.
ilearntohunt makes it easy to meet this requirement! Our course is approved by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR). - Choose and Purchase the License You Need
Make sure you buy the right license based on what you plan to hunt. Georgia offers resident, nonresident, senior sportsman, apprentice, combo fishing and hunting, and other options.
Then, purchase your license online, through the GoOutdoorsGeoriga website, by phone by calling 1-800-366-2661, or in-person through an approved license agent location (like many sporting goods stores, including Dick's Sporting Goods, Wal-Mart stores, and other designated locations in Georgia). - Carry Proof of Your License When Hunting
Always carry your hunting license with you in the field! You never know when a wildlife official could ask you for your hunter education card and hunting license while in the field.
If tags are required for a legal hunt (for deer, turkey, etc.), make sure you tag your harvest properly.
How to Take the Georgia Hunter Safety Course Online
The easiest (and fastest) way to get your Georgia hunter safety course certification is to start with the ilearntohunt online course!
The ilearntohunt course:
- Can be taken from anywhere you can connect to the internet using a tablet, phone, or computer.
- Saves your progress! Work at your own pace and start and stop as needed.
- Is a game-style format, making it fun and educational for anyone! There is no age requirement to take this course.
- Is approved by the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) and the GDNR.
- Includes a character-driven story with real-life scenarios and quizzes to help you learn the required material.
- Allows unlimited attempts to pass the final exam. You'll need to score at least 76% on the exam to pass.
- Can be completed in under 3 hours.
After completing the ilearntohunt course for Georgia, you'll print a temporary hunter education certificate, allowing you to hunt right away!
Why Hunter Safety Education is Important
Why take a hunter safety course—and why is it required?
The short answer is: it helps keep you alive, keeps others safe, and keeps hunting around for the long haul.
Hunter education isn’t just for first-timers. It’s for anyone who heads into the field with rifle, bow, or crossbow in hand. If you hunt, this stuff matters.
When every hunter in Georgia completes an approved hunter education course, we’re all on the same page. We know how to handle our weapons safely, keep an eye on what’s beyond our target, respect private and public land, and look out for one another. That shared responsibility protects our access, our reputation, and the future of hunting itself.
Hunter education matters because it:
- Reduces accidents and injuries.
Good habits save lives! Proper firearm handling, safe shooting practices, and situational awareness in the field dramatically cut down on accidents. Everyone gets home safe, and that’s the goal. - Builds skilled, confident hunters.
It’s more than safety rules. You’ll learn navigation, basic first aid, survival skills, and how to use your gear correctly. You’ll also learn how to hunt alongside others with respect for fellow hunters, landowners, and the ground you’re walking on. - Promotes ethical, responsible hunting.
Doing it right isn’t optional. Hunter education reinforces fair chase, respect for wildlife, and following the law so game populations stay healthy and hunting traditions stay strong. - Keeps you legal.
In Georgia and most other states, a certified hunter education course is required before you can buy a hunting license. Knowing the rules keeps you out of trouble and keeps everyone playing by the same standards.
Hunter safety courses protect hunters, support conservation, and pass down the skills and values that make hunting what it is. Whether you’re just starting out or getting back into the field, hunter education sets you up for a lifetime of safe, successful hunts.
Why is it Important to Take a State-Specific Hunter Education Course?
Many states accept hunter safety certifications from other states. That’s called reciprocity. It’s convenient—but convenience can leave gaps.
Every state hunts by its own rules. Regulations, seasons, land access, and safety considerations can change a lot from one place to the next, and those details matter when you’re trying to hunt legally and stay safe in the field. What works where you've hunted in another area doesn’t always line up with how things are done here.
Before you assume an out-of-state course has you covered, make sure you’re truly prepared to hunt in Georgia. The ilearntohunt Georgia hunter education course gives you the state-specific knowledge you need to do it right.
It only takes a few hours—and it’s time well spent for safe, legal, and successful hunts.
Why Choose ilearntohunt?
When you choose our course for your Georgia hunter education certification (and to get your state of GA hunting license), you learn everything required by the state in a fun, interactive, online format.
Choosing ilearntohunt means:
- GDNR-Approved Hunter Safety Education: Our interactive course satisfies the online component of your hunter education requirements established by IHEA-USA and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
- You Learn from Real-Life Situations: You'll choose a character as you start the course, then make choices in different scenarios to earn awards and move through levels by applying what you’ve learned!
- Realistic Role-Playing Simulations: Earn achievement badges as you master emergency preparation, trip planning, and safety operations.
- No Minimum Time Requirements: You can complete our interactive courses faster than other "traditional" online courses because there are no timers throughout the course!
- Better Information Retention: Instruction that engages the brain using both words and images has been shown to significantly increase student retention and comprehension.
Work through all the levels, and you've met the online course requirement for your hunter education certificate in Georgia!
Get Your State of GA Hunting License with Hunter Education!
Make sure you're ready for hunting season in Georgia! Take the ilearntohunt Georgia hunter safety course to get certified. You can't get your State of GA hunting license without it!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We have answers to the top questions about the Georgia hunter safety course!
Q: Can you take a hunter safety course online in Georgia?
A: Yes, you can take a hunter safety course online in Georgia! The most convenient way to take the course is through GDNR-approved providers like ilearntohunt.
Q: Can you get a hunting license in Georgia without taking the safety course?
A: No, you must have proof of hunter education to buy a Georgia hunting license.
Q: How much is the hunter safety course in Georgia?
A: If you take the online, game-style hunter safety course for Georgia through ilearntohunt, the cost is $49.95.
Q: How long does the Georgia Hunter Safety course take?
A: The online Georgia hunter education course through ilearntohunt typically takes three hours or less to complete.
Q: When should I sign up for the Georgia Hunter Safety course before hunting season?
A: We recommend registering and completing the course several weeks before your planned hunt so you have time to receive your certification and avoid last-minute issues.
