Banks County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,731 deer in Banks County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 959 bucks and 772 does (WRD). That is 7.4 deer per square mile of land, and 41st of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 15% below 2024-25 (2,041).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Banks CountyWRD WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,731 (959 bucks, 772 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 7.4, 4th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,373 deer a season |
| Highest season | 2,041 in 2024-25 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 2 |
| Land area | 232.7 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 WMAs, 3,477 acres; 1,101 acres of national forest |
| Bear zone | Northern (WRD) |
| Towns | Homer, Maysville, Gillsville and Alto |
How many deer are killed in Banks County each season?
WRD has reported Banks County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,373 a season; the most was 2,041 in 2024-25 and the fewest 963 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 80% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,731 | 959 | 772 | 7.4 | 2,308 |
| 2024-25 | 2,041 | 1,147 | 894 | 8.8 | 2,779 |
| 2023-24 | 1,676 | 929 | 747 | 7.2 | 1,999 |
| 2022-23 | 1,396 | 829 | 567 | 6 | 1,858 |
| 2021-22 | 1,226 | 766 | 460 | 5.3 | 1,576 |
| 2020-21 | 1,429 | 795 | 634 | 6.1 | 1,852 |
| 2019-20 | 1,257 | 723 | 534 | 5.4 | 1,775 |
| 2018-19 | 985 | 641 | 344 | 4.2 | 1,392 |
| 2017-18 | 1,029 | 741 | 288 | 4.4 | 1,410 |
| 2016-17 | 963 | 601 | 362 | 4.1 | 1,285 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 232.7 square miles of land (Census). "Adjusted total" is WRD's own figure in the same layer, which allows for deer not reported through Game Check; the reporting rates WRD applies to Banks County for 2025-26 are 80% of bucks and 70% of does.
When is deer season in Banks County in 2026-27?
On private land Banks County is in WRD's Green zone. These are the zone's 2026-27 dates. WMAs in the county set their own dates, on their pages.
| Weapon | Dates | What may be taken |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sept. 12 to Oct. 9, 2026 | Either sex |
| Primitive weapons | Oct. 10 to 16, 2026 | Either sex |
| Firearms | Oct. 3 to 4, 2026 | Antlerless only |
| Firearms | Oct. 17, 2026 to Jan. 10, 2027 | Either sex |
Source: 2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations, pages 12 to 13; county zones: WRD county deer, bear and alligator zones.
Where is the public hunting land in Banks County?
WRD's boundaries put 2 WMAs in Banks County:
| WMA | Acres in Banks County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Wilson Shoals WMA | 2,902 | 50 |
| Lake Russell WMA | 575 | 11 |
1,101 acres of national forest lie in the county, measured on the federal maps. National forest land outside a WMA follows the national forest rules in the regulations (pages 56 to 57).
Acres measured by FilledTag on WRD WMA boundaries, U.S. Forest Service national forest ownership and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries.
How does Banks County compare with its neighbors?
Banks County touches 6 Georgia counties. Their 2025-26 harvest, and the change since 2016-17:
| County | Deer reported, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banks County | 1,731 | 7.4 | 80% |
| Franklin County | 2,035 | 7.8 | 92% |
| Habersham County | 1,338 | 4.8 | 38% |
| Hall County | 2,874 | 7.3 | 41% |
| Jackson County | 2,133 | 6.3 | 7% |
| Madison County | 2,078 | 7.4 | 14% |
| Stephens County | 646 | 3.6 | 57% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Banks County, Georgia last season?
1,731 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Banks County in the 2025-26 season: 959 bucks and 772 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Banks County in?
Banks County is in WRD's Green zone for private land in 2026-27. Firearms either-sex days in the zone: Oct. 17, 2026 to Jan. 10, 2027. Source: WRD regulations, pages 12 to 13.
Is there public hunting land in Banks County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Wilson Shoals WMA (2,902 acres in the county) and Lake Russell WMA (575 acres in the county) in Banks County. The county also holds 1,101 acres of national forest.
Has the deer harvest in Banks County gone up or down?
From 963 in 2016-17 to 1,731 in 2025-26, 80% higher. The high in that span was 2,041 (2024-25) and the low 963 (2016-17).
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Where these numbers come from
- Deer harvest, adjusted totals and reporting rates: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check); Georgia Game Check results.
- Deer zones and dates: 2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations, pages 12 to 13; WRD county deer, bear and alligator zones.
- Public land: WRD WMA boundaries; U.S. Forest Service national forest ownership; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries. 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 Georgia DNR. Numbers are copied from WRD and the Census Bureau or measured from public maps; nothing here is estimated by FilledTag.
Georgia hunting Georgia deer harvest by county Franklin County Habersham County Hall County Jackson County