Cherokee County deer harvest: Alabama estimates, 2019-20 to 2024-25
Hunters took an estimated 5,707 deer in Cherokee County in the 2024-25 season, by ADCNR's hunter harvest survey: 2,679 bucks, 3,028 does, over about 77,966 days of deer hunting. That is 10.3 deer per square mile of land. The county ranks 19th of Alabama's 67 counties by total and 5th by deer per square mile. Over 6 seasons the estimate has run from 1,530 (2022-23) to 5,707 (2024-25), 3,360 on average. The same survey puts the 2024-25 turkey harvest at 550.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: ADCNR's hunter harvest survey, 2019-20 to 2024-25. Seasons: ADCNR's 2026-27 deer and turkey pages.
Cherokee CountyADCNR WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer, 2024-25 (estimate) | 5,707: 2,679 bucks (1,533 to 3,825), 3,028 does (1,306 to 4,749) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 10.3, 5th of 67 |
| Deer hunting days, 2024-25 | 77,966 (40,832 to 115,100) |
| Turkeys, 2024-25 (estimate) | 550 (7 to 1,092) |
| Turkey zone | Zone 1 |
| Land area | 553.5 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 WMA with a page, 5,765 acres; 2,229 acres of national forest |
| Towns | Centre, Leesburg, Sand Rock, Cedar Bluff and Gaylesville |
How many deer are killed in Cherokee County each season?
| Season | Deer (estimate) | Bucks | Bucks, range | Does | Does, range | Fawns | Hunting days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 5,707 | 2,679 | 1,533 to 3,825 | 3,028 | 1,306 to 4,749 | 0 | 77,966 |
| 2023-24 | 3,830 | 1,286 | 444 to 2,127 | 2,348 | 891 to 3,805 | 196 | 55,376 |
| 2022-23 | 1,530 | 842 | 165 to 1,518 | 594 | 72 to 1,116 | 94 | 45,961 |
| 2021-22 | 3,411 | 1,203 | 382 to 2,023 | 2,208 | 359 to 4,058 | 0 | 62,471 |
| 2020-21 | 3,568 | 1,741 | 762 to 2,720 | 1,748 | 546 to 2,950 | 79 | 57,718 |
| 2019-20 | 2,114 | 1,321 | 399 to 2,243 | 721 | 99 to 1,343 | 72 | 32,700 |
Source: ADCNR Alabama Hunter Harvest 2024-2025 annual report and the reports for the five seasons before it (ADCNR hunter survey results). The range is the survey's own lower and upper bound; a lower bound below zero is shown as 0. Deer is bucks, does and fawns added together by FilledTag. Survey estimates for one county swing from year to year more than the harvest itself does, so read the six seasons together.
How many turkeys are killed in Cherokee County?
| Season | Turkeys (estimate) | Range | Turkey hunting days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 550 | 7 to 1,092 | 9,722 |
| 2023-24 | 533 | 0 to 1,098 | 8,619 |
| 2022-23 | 701 | 0 to 1,551 | 10,347 |
| 2021-22 | 258 | 0 to 561 | 16,119 |
| 2020-21 | 236 | 0 to 601 | 6,097 |
| 2019-20 | 841 | 191 to 1,490 | 10,540 |
Cherokee County is in turkey Zone 1: youth hunt March 13-14, disabled hunt March 19, spring season March 20 to May 3, 2027 (ADCNR turkey season 2026-2027).
What deer rules apply in Cherokee County?
Cherokee County is stalk hunting only for deer (no dogs), by ADCNR's rule. Zone dates are on the Alabama hunting page.
Source: ADCNR deer season 2026-2027.
Where is the public hunting land in Cherokee County?
| WMA | Acres in Cherokee County | First gun or primitive weapons deer hunt, 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Little River WMA | 5,765 | Nov. 21-22 |
2,229 acres of national forest lie in the county, measured on the federal maps.
Acres measured by FilledTag on ADCNR Wildlife Management Area boundaries, 2026-27, U.S. Forest Service land ownership and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries.
How does Cherokee County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Deer, 2024-25 | Bucks | Per square mile | Turkeys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee County | 5,707 | 2,679 | 10.3 | 550 |
| Calhoun County | 3,309 | 1,472 | 5.5 | 470 |
| Cleburne County | 2,064 | 767 | 3.7 | 452 |
| DeKalb County | 3,608 | 1,764 | 4.6 | 311 |
| Etowah County | 3,671 | 1,241 | 6.9 | 762 |
All survey estimates for 2024-25.
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Cherokee County, Alabama last season?
About 5,707 in the 2024-25 season, by ADCNR's hunter harvest survey: 2,679 bucks (between 1,533 and 3,825), 3,028 does (between 1,306 and 4,749). It is an estimate from a survey of licensed hunters, not a count.
How many turkeys are killed in Cherokee County?
ADCNR's survey estimates 550 turkeys in 2024-25 (between 7 and 1,092), from about 9,722 days of turkey hunting. Cherokee County is in turkey Zone 1: youth hunt March 13-14, disabled hunt March 19, spring season March 20 to May 3, 2027.
Is there public hunting land in Cherokee County?
Yes. ADCNR's map puts Little River WMA (5,765 acres in the county) in Cherokee County.
Can you hunt deer with dogs in Cherokee County?
Cherokee County is stalk hunting only for deer (no dogs), by ADCNR's rule.
Request your free Alabama hunt plan
The first 50 hunters in Alabama get one hunt plan free. Request yours now. We will email you when your plan is ready.
Use the map while you wait for your plan.
Where these numbers come from
- Deer and turkey harvest and hunting days: ADCNR Alabama Hunter Harvest 2024-2025 annual report and earlier reports (ADCNR hunter survey results).
- Seasons and rules: ADCNR deer season 2026-2027; ADCNR turkey season 2026-2027. Public land: ADCNR Wildlife Management Area boundaries, 2026-27. County land area: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries. Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer.
FilledTag is not part of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Numbers are copied from ADCNR and the Census Bureau or measured from public maps; nothing here is estimated by FilledTag.
Alabama hunting Alabama deer harvest by county Calhoun County Cleburne County DeKalb County Etowah County