DNR: Report turkeys on app
ATHENS — Georgia wildlife officials are aiming to track the numbers of turkeys taken by hunters with some high-tech help.
This weekend is the opening of turkey hunting season in Georgia.
There is a three-gobbler limit per hunter in Georgia during the season, which runs through May 15. The state Department of Natural Resources expects to keep up with the numbers of turkeys taken through its new harvest regulations.
When a hunter kills a turkey, he or she is required to record information with the DNR showing the date of kill and the county, The Athens Banner-Herald reported.
Hunters will be able to use their cellphones to record their kills at the scene by using an app put in place by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Athens newspaper reported.
“We’re trying to track the number of kills in Georgia,” said DNR Ranger Capt. Stan Elrod of the East Central Region Office in Thomson. “It’s a way of game management.”
Elrod saw this happen during the past deer season as hunters were also required to register their harvest of deer and bear.
“I checked some hunters coming out of the woods and they had already checked their deer in,” he told the newspaper. “They showed it to me. It’s a quick and easy system.”
If a hunter doesn’t have File, Doug Walker / RN-T
The season is now open for turkeys like these headed for the woods in Shannon.
a cell phone or phone service in the woods, they can register the kill within 72 hours over their computer or by calling a number provided on their hunting license. The DNR then gives them a confirmation number.
The harvest check is important for a couple of reasons, DNR wildlife biologist I.B. Parnell said.
“It gives us a real time check of when a harvest happens assuming that people are using it. When people are using it, we can know how many birds are harvested on a weekend of the season. We’d have no idea about that in the past,” Parnell said.
All turkey hunters must have valid licenses. Wildlife officials remind hunters who may venture onto private lands in pursuit of turkeys to get landowner permission beforehand.
Legal guns and archery equipment for turkey hunting are shotguns, any muzzle-loading firearm, longbow, crossbow or compound bow.
Georgia law requires you to make a return on all real estate and on all personal property (boats, motors, inventories, equipment, mobile homes, airplanes, etc.) All returns are made to the Floyd County Assessor’s Office in the Historic Courthouse at 4 Government Plaza, Suite 203, Rome, Ga. 30161-2803.
If you have made any changes to your property (new construction, additions, etc.) whether it is 100% completed or partially completed and have not previously reported to the Assessor’s Office, you must notify the Assessor’s Office by April 3, 2017.
RENEW FREEPORT EXEMPTION FROM JANUARY 1 THROUGH APRIL 3. Failure to properly apply for Freeport annually constitutes a waiver of the exemption. PROPERTY OWNERS THAT HAVE LAND DEDICATED TO AGRICULTURE USE OR TIMBER LAND MAY APPLY FOR CONSERVATION USE EXEMPTION OR PREFERENTIAL ASSESSMENT EXEMPTION FROM JANUARY 1 THROUGH APRIL 3.
Applications for Homestead exemptions may be made in the year of the property becoming the primary residence up to and including April 3 of the following year. A) Requirements: (1) own your home and reside in it on January 1 of the year in which you apply for the exemption. There are no age or income requirements. B) Amount of the exemption: Up to $2,000 of assessed value of the property for state and school purposes and up to $5,000 of the assessed value of the property for county purposes. If over 65, 100% on Homestead Residence and up to to 10 contiguous acres of land and $4,000 on balance of value for state purposes. C) Time for applying: January 1 until April 3 of year of application. D) Where to apply: Floyd County Assessor’s Office A) Requirements: (1) own your home and reside in it on January 1 of the year in which you apply for the exemption. (2) Owner must be at least 62 years old on January 1 of the year of application. (3) Federal adjusted income of both spouses and any other family member living in the residence (such as son, daughter, or other relative) cannot exceed $30,000, including social security and pensions. (4) GIVE UP ANY EXISTING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR STATE AND COUNTY TAXES BUT NOT SCHOOL TAXES. IN MANY INSTANCES THE GRANTING OF THIS EXEMPTION WILL INITIALLY AT LEAST INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF TAXES LEVIED ON THE PROPERTY. B) Amount of Exemption: The difference in assessed value of the base year (previous year assessment from the year of application is made) and current year assessment on the primary residence and no more than 5 contiguous acres. C) Time for applying: January 1 until April 3 of year of application. D) Where to apply: Floyd County Assessor’s Office.