Cherokee County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 2,506 deer in Cherokee County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 1,403 bucks and 1,103 does (WRD). That is 6 deer per square mile of land, and 10th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 6% below 2024-25 (2,675).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Cherokee CountyWRD WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 2,506 (1,403 bucks, 1,103 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 6, 12th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,062 deer a season |
| Highest season | 2,675 in 2024-25 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 1 |
| Land area | 421 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 WMAs, 5,716 acres |
| Bear zone | Northern (WRD) |
| Towns | Canton, Woodstock, Holly Springs, Ball Ground and Waleska |
How many deer are killed in Cherokee County each season?
WRD has reported Cherokee County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 2,062 a season; the most was 2,675 in 2024-25 and the fewest 1,385 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 81% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,506 | 1,403 | 1,103 | 6 | 3,339 |
| 2024-25 | 2,675 | 1,519 | 1,156 | 6.4 | 3,640 |
| 2023-24 | 2,301 | 1,279 | 1,022 | 5.5 | 2,743 |
| 2022-23 | 2,398 | 1,365 | 1,033 | 5.7 | 3,208 |
| 2021-22 | 2,050 | 1,213 | 837 | 4.9 | 2,679 |
| 2020-21 | 1,946 | 1,095 | 851 | 4.6 | 2,519 |
| 2019-20 | 1,909 | 1,084 | 825 | 4.5 | 2,696 |
| 2018-19 | 1,807 | 944 | 863 | 4.3 | 2,604 |
| 2017-18 | 1,643 | 915 | 728 | 3.9 | 2,313 |
| 2016-17 | 1,385 | 748 | 637 | 3.3 | 1,890 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 421 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 Cherokee County for 2025-26 are 80% of bucks and 70% of does.
When is deer season in Cherokee County in 2026-27?
On private land Cherokee 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 |
Cherokee County is one of the 29 extended archery counties, where archery season runs September 12, 2026 to January 31, 2027 (page 11).
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 Cherokee County?
WRD's boundaries put 2 WMAs in Cherokee County:
| WMA | Acres in Cherokee County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Allatoona WMA | 3,649 | 197 |
| McGraw Ford WMA | 2,067 | 38 |
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 Cherokee County compare with its neighbors?
Cherokee County touches 7 Georgia counties. Their 2025-26 harvest, and the change since 2016-17:
| County | Deer reported, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee County | 2,506 | 6 | 81% |
| Bartow County | 2,505 | 5.5 | 75% |
| Cobb County | 611 | 1.8 | 73% |
| Dawson County | 874 | 4.1 | 68% |
| Forsyth County | 1,205 | 5.4 | 38% |
| Fulton County | 1,405 | 2.7 | 18% |
| Gordon County | 2,894 | 8.1 | 94% |
| Pickens County | 1,068 | 4.6 | 107% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Cherokee County, Georgia last season?
2,506 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Cherokee County in the 2025-26 season: 1,403 bucks and 1,103 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Cherokee County in?
Cherokee 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 Cherokee County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Allatoona WMA (3,649 acres in the county) and McGraw Ford WMA (2,067 acres in the county) in Cherokee County.
Has the deer harvest in Cherokee County gone up or down?
From 1,385 in 2016-17 to 2,506 in 2025-26, 81% higher. The high in that span was 2,675 (2024-25) and the low 1,385 (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 Bartow County Cobb County Dawson County Forsyth County