Section 27-2-21. Field and retriever trials; permits; hunting licenses

   (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to conduct a field or retriever trial without first obtaining a permit, at no cost, from the department. In trials conducted with such a permit, the species of wildlife specified on the permit may be set or pursued by dogs, but such wildlife may not be taken except during the open season for such species of wildlife. The person conducting such a field trial shall require all participants therein to register.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to participate in a field or retriever trial unless a permit for such trial has been issued by the department and unless the person is registered as a participant in the trial.

(c) All persons participating in a field or retriever trial will be required to have an appropriate resident hunting license or nonresident hunting/fishing license unless the field or retriever trial is recognized by a nationally registered field trialing organization or unless the field or retriever trial is conducted by a local field trialing organization based in the State of Georgia which is recognized by the department as being qualified to conduct such trial.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code section, properly marked pen raised mallard ducks and properly marked pen raised quail may be killed by any person registered as a participant in a permitted field trial.

Code 1933, § 45-327, enacted by Ga. L. 1978, p. 816, § 37; Ga. L. 1984, p. 537, § 2; Ga. L. 1988, p. 842, § 4; Ga. L. 1989, p. 231, § 1; Ga. L. 2009, p. 787, § 7/HB 326.