Ben Hill County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 771 deer in Ben Hill County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 373 bucks and 398 does (WRD). That is 3.1 deer per square mile of land, and 117th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 11% above 2024-25 (694).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Ben Hill CountyWRD WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 771 (373 bucks, 398 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.1, 99th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 732 deer a season |
| Highest season | 984 in 2017-18 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 4 |
| Land area | 250.1 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | No WRD WMA |
| Towns | Fitzgerald |
How many deer are killed in Ben Hill County each season?
WRD has reported Ben Hill County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 732 a season; the most was 984 in 2017-18 and the fewest 616 in 2021-22. 2025-26 was level with 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 771 | 373 | 398 | 3.1 | 1,154 |
| 2024-25 | 694 | 360 | 334 | 2.8 | 1,011 |
| 2023-24 | 726 | 367 | 359 | 2.9 | 1,015 |
| 2022-23 | 657 | 320 | 337 | 2.6 | 986 |
| 2021-22 | 616 | 311 | 305 | 2.5 | 905 |
| 2020-21 | 709 | 346 | 363 | 2.8 | 983 |
| 2019-20 | 676 | 333 | 343 | 2.7 | 994 |
| 2018-19 | 717 | 345 | 372 | 2.9 | 1,170 |
| 2017-18 | 984 | 434 | 550 | 3.9 | 1,567 |
| 2016-17 | 771 | 357 | 414 | 3.1 | 1,032 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 250.1 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 Ben Hill County for 2025-26 are 77% of bucks and 60% of does.
When is deer season in Ben Hill County in 2026-27?
On private land Ben Hill County is in WRD's Green zone. These are the zone's 2026-27 dates.
| 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 Ben Hill County?
No WRD WMA boundary falls in Ben Hill County. The closest WMAs with a page here: Horse Creek WMA (about 19 miles), Alapaha River WMA (about 20 miles) and Flat Tub WMA (about 20 miles).
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 Ben Hill County compare with its neighbors?
Ben Hill County touches 5 Georgia counties. Their 2025-26 harvest, and the change since 2016-17:
| County | Deer reported, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Hill County | 771 | 3.1 | 0% |
| Coffee County | 1,428 | 2.4 | -22% |
| Irwin County | 1,123 | 3.2 | -16% |
| Telfair County | 1,384 | 3.2 | 32% |
| Turner County | 793 | 2.8 | -8% |
| Wilcox County | 1,009 | 2.7 | 4% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Ben Hill County, Georgia last season?
771 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Ben Hill County in the 2025-26 season: 373 bucks and 398 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Ben Hill County in?
Ben Hill 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 Ben Hill County?
No WRD WMA boundary falls in Ben Hill County. The closest WMAs with a page here: Horse Creek WMA (about 19 miles), Alapaha River WMA (about 20 miles) and Flat Tub WMA (about 20 miles).
Has the deer harvest in Ben Hill County gone up or down?
From 771 in 2016-17 to 771 in 2025-26, no change. The high in that span was 984 (2017-18) and the low 616 (2021-22).
Get a Georgia hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Georgia are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Georgia included.
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 Coffee County Irwin County Telfair County Turner County