It seems that in order to visit certain areas of the State of GA you will need a pass starting January 1, 2012. It's called the Georgia Outdoor Recreation Pass (GORP). Isn't that special?
This is a link to the DNR areas requiring the pass: http://www.georgiawildlife.com/node/2813
According to the posted info, the passes go on sale November 1, 2012. BUT, you will need a pass starting January 1, 2011. Huh? Must be a typo?
"The GORP will be required on 32 affected properties in Georgia. Each area is managed for wildlife, habitat and outdoors activities, work that previously was funded mostly by revenue from hunting and fishing licenses. However, these same areas often were heavily used by secondary activities such as hiking, cycling, birding and more."
Check out the link for more info.

Ohhhh...I was about to turn into a large Irish chick and get all psycho about having to pay for ANOTHER pass, but really, even I can dig up $19 for a year pass.

Didn't they always require a pass? I remember having two different ones for Georgia at one time.

Edit added: I'm thinking of the NRAs.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: AtlantaGal,

The traditional users of the Wildlife Management Areas have been hunters and fisherman. Maybe now that they recognize that these areas are used for "non-traditional activities" too they'll open them up to geocaching as well. I wouldn't mind paying $19 if that's the case.

~erik~

A number of year ago, I learned that the Crawford-Pigeon WMA was visited by more cavers than hunters.
You see, the first and second deepest vertical drop in the Continental USA is located there. Cavers from all over the world come to do Ellison's Cave. Fantastic Pit is a 586 foot drop from The Attic. Been there done that, June 1989.

I also think that because the State of GA has decided to increase the fees for vanity plates, that a lot of people may not be renewing their Wildlife tags. I know that Ham radio tags have been changed to vanity plates and every ham I know that has a current ham tag is not going to renew it. I didn't!

I don't mind paying the pass fee. I pay for the annual Forest Pass every year.....and the annual GA State Park Pass. I have geocaches in all of these areas. Five on Pigeon Mtn alone.