Georgia DNR launched the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) in November 2019. Most southeastern states run a similar program. The idea is simple: keep statewide hunting rules simple, and give individual properties science-based flexibility when their data show they need it.
What DMAP gives you
Every enrolled property gets technical guidance from DNR’s deer team. At the paid levels you also get an assigned biologist, aging of every deer harvested, maps, site visits and, when it’s biologically justified, harvest flexibility beyond the standard rules.
In return, cooperators collect harvest data and run camera surveys. DNR supplies the gear for data collection.
The four levels
| Level | Cost | Key services | Harvest flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Free, no acreage minimum | General harvest and habitat recommendations, data analysis | None |
| 2 | $200 to start, then $100/yr | Assigned biologist, aging of every deer, site-specific harvest advice, boundary map, annual visit | Antlerless (250-acre minimum) |
| 3 | $400 to start, then $200/yr | Level 2 plus a written wildlife management plan, detailed map, help forming cooperatives | Buck-only days, season length, antler rules (500-acre minimum) |
| 4 | $1,000 to start, then $500/yr | Levels 2-3 plus a detailed habitat plan, detailed mapping, two or more visits a year | Site-specific buck rules (1,500-acre minimum) |
Small properties can team up
You don’t need 250 acres of your own. DMAP lets adjacent properties form a cooperative to meet the acreage minimums. Public, private and leased land all qualify, and a participant can be one person or a group.
For a subdivision, an HOA common area plus several neighboring lots, or a few family farms that share a fence line, a cooperative can be the difference between Level 1 advice and real antlerless flexibility.
Is DMAP right for you?
DMAP makes sense when:
- your property has more deer than the standard bag limits can address;
- you want a biologist’s plan rather than guesswork; or
- you’re willing to record harvests and run a camera survey each year.
Start with Level 1 if you’re unsure. It’s free and has no acreage minimum.
How to enroll
Visit georgiawildlife.com/dmap. The DMAP Supervisor is Kevin Rose, Assistant State Deer Biologist, at 706-318-0823 or kevin.rose@dnr.ga.gov.
We’re happy to help landowners we work with collect the harvest data DMAP requires.
Source: Georgia DNR, Deer Management Assistance Program
Too many deer on your property?
Our deer removal service is free for Georgia landowners, and the venison is donated to Georgia Hunters for the Hungry. Call 404.312.0368 or request a free assessment.