I'm heading up to GA to hunt with my dad as a guest on his lease later this week. I haven't been up there in a few years, and have gotten my CWL since the last time. I understand that for concealed carry, Georgia accepts Florida's license through reciprocity. However, past experience with hunting in Georgia makes me wonder about carrying concealed while hunting.
The game wardens that patrol the area where my dad's lease is located have told them it is illegal to have a loaded firearm when in or on a vehicle and hunting. We have been told we must fully unload our rifles before riding on ATVs or golf carts around the property, as well as in trucks, tractors, etc. It used to be you couldn't carry the weapons with one in the chamber, but supposedly they changed the law to say no loaded weapons.
If this is true (all the forum lawyers feel free to quote any laws/statutes), and I wished to CC while hunting, could I CC a loaded pistol but still have to unload my rifle while in/on a vehicle?
I understand that you can CC while hunting, but should have an unloaded rifle before walking into or out of the woods. I understood this to mean your rifle should only be loaded while in the stand...now for guys who are stalk hunting??? that seems to be a grey area to me
CC is just that. It's not your hunting weapon. If you intend to use your CC weapon as a hunting weapon it needs to be carried in the open in the field as a hunting weapon, not a CC weapon. The same laws apply for long guns, handguns for hunting and motor vehicles and all must be unloaded when riding or driving while hunting in GA. CC laws are just that, CC. If stopped and asked by the game warden while riding/driving to present licenses and unloaded hunting guns, I would comply and provide my CC permit if I was also carrying concealed. They likely would appreciate your honesty of knowing you are also carrying concealed legally. CC is for personal protection not hunting.
