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Commercial Farmer Information
How to apply for a deer control permit to mitigate agricultural damage
Under most circumstances, deer harvest during legal hunting seasons should adequately manage deer populations. However, in some instances, special permits may be issued to commercial farmers to allow the removal of conflict deer outside of the open hunting season. These permits are typically only issued to growers having a minimum of 3 acres of commercial crops; permits are not issued for personal gardens. Crop damage permits and permit renewals to remove a specific number and type of deer are obtained through an application process at gooutdoorsgeorgia.com.
A field assessment of damage may be required for new permits.
First-time Applications
First-time applicants must record field locations, provide the total number of acres under cultivation, list the affected crops, and provide a description of the damage.
Once a permit is approved, the farmer must provide a copy of the permit to each person they intend to assist with deer control and instruct the person to register as an assistant at gooutdoorsgeorgia.com.
(New for 2025) Farmers are no longer required to provide assistant names and identification when applying for a Deer Crop Damage Permit, they may use anyone having a valid Assistant Registration for Deer Crop Damage.
Assistants
(New for 2025) Anyone assisting a farmer with deer control under a permit must complete an Assistant Registration for Deer Crop Damage annually. You must have a copy of the permit and enter the permit number when completing the registration.
Assistant Registrations must be renewed annually, but do not authorize deer harvest without a valid Deer Crop Damage Permit from a farmer.
Permit Renewals
After the first-time field registration and application, farmers may renew permits in subsequent years by applying for a Deer Crop Damage Permit at gooutdoorsgeorgia.com.
Farmers may also renew permits in the same growing season if damage continues after killing the permitted number of deer by applying for a Deer Crop Damage Permit at gooutdoorsgeorgia.com.
Fields may be added, edited, or removed at any time in your account by selecting the Field Registration under Application History.
