FORT BENNING, Ga. – The 2026-2027 deer hunting season is officially underway at Fort Benning. With more than 155,000 acres of huntable land across two states, Fort Benning provides a habitat for white-tailed deer and other game animals, which authorized hunters may access through a permitting and licensing process.
"We're excited to welcome hunters for the 2026-2027 season," said James Parker, Fort Benning natural resources manager. "Hunting is a cherished tradition here, but it's also our most effective tool for sustainably managing the installation's diverse wildlife populations, from white-tailed deer to feral swine. Our goal is to ensure a safe, successful, and memorable experience for every authorized hunter on Fort Benning."
Because Fort Benning covers land areas in both Georgia and Alabama, hunters must carefully track separate state regulations and season dates. Georgia archers got the first shot at deer Sept. 12 when bow season opened, while firearms are permitted for use from Oct. 17 through Jan. 10. Across the state line, Alabama’s deer bow season is set to open Oct. 1, with firearms running Nov. 7 through Jan. 15.
Fort Benning hunting access is limited to authorized individuals.
Eligible hunters include: · U.S. Military Active Duty and Retired personnel · National Guardsmen and Reservists on active status · Veterans with a service-connected disability of 30% or greater · Medal of Honor recipients · Federal civilian employees working full-time or equivalent status on Fort Benning, and retired federal civilian employees who retired directly from the installation · Surviving spouses of military personnel who possess a valid dependent ID card · Foreign military personnel assigned to Fort Benning · Primary dependents of sponsors · Guests (Review https://moore.isportsman.net/Regulations.aspx for additional information regarding guests)
Five steps to get in the field
Prospective hunters must complete a five-step registration and permitting process:
1.Obtain Required State Licensing: Interested hunters must hold a valid hunting license. · Georgia Side: Active-duty military stationed at Fort Benning qualify for resident pricing on Georgia state licenses. Georgia also offers a one-time, free Veteran’s License (DD-214 required with application). Apply at https://gooutdoorsgeorgia.com/ · Alabama Side: Active-duty service members on official orders to Fort Benning may hunt the Alabama portion of the post without purchasing an Alabama state license. However, they must set up a Game Check H.E.L.P. account to report harvests. Regular state licenses can be purchased through https://www.outdooralabama.com/hunting. 2.Create an iSportsman Account: Detailed instructions onhttps://benning.isportsman.net/ creation are provided on the Fort Benning iSportsman website and can also be found https://benning.isportsman.net/. 3.Sign Liability Waiver: Complete and sign the digital liability waiver on the iSportsman account. 4.Complete Safety Briefing: Complete the Fort Benning Specific Hunting Safety Brief, located under the “My Safety Brief” tab on the iSportsman site. 5.Acquire Post Permits: After completing the briefing, select AVAILABLE PERMITS to purchase your installation hunting permit. A mandatory $15 iSportsman Access Permit fee is required for all account holders, including honorary permit holders.
"Safety and compliance are our absolute top priorities every season," Parker said. "We strongly urge all hunters to double-check their state licenses, confirm their registration on iSportsman, and complete the required safety briefings before heading into the field."
For comprehensive access instructions, vehicle pass requirements and permit details, visit the https://usg01.safelinks.protection.office365.us/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbenning.isportsman.net%2Ffiles%2FPermit%2520Instructions.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cwilliam.b.brugge.civ%40army.mil%7Ccc5c38f7d626490dab0708df0779e5cd%7Cfae6d70f954b481192b60530d6f84c43%7C0%7C0%7C639237892265936403%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=IJ1OwBHqPk2OnzoOqWc3%2Bex9mzIpJxyDoasWNNKBu2M%3D&reserved=0https://usg01.safelinks.protection.office365.us/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbenning.isportsman.net%2Ffiles%2FPermit%2520Instructions.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cwilliam.b.brugge.civ%40army.mil%7Ccc5c38f7d626490dab0708df0779e5cd%7Cfae6d70f954b481192b60530d6f84c43%7C0%7C0%7C639237892265936403%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=IJ1OwBHqPk2OnzoOqWc3%2Bex9mzIpJxyDoasWNNKBu2M%3D&reserved=0 Complete season dates, zone maps, and bag limits for all game species are available on https://moore.isportsman.net/Regulations.aspxhttps://moore.isportsman.net/Regulations.aspx