Clay County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,047 deer in Clay County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 488 bucks and 559 does (WRD). That is 5.4 deer per square mile of land, and 94th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 7% below 2024-25 (1,127).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Clay CountyWRD WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,047 (488 bucks, 559 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 5.4, 24th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,025 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,235 in 2023-24 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 5 |
| Land area | 195.4 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 WMA, 768 acres |
| Towns | Fort Gaines and Bluffton |
How many deer are killed in Clay County each season?
WRD has reported Clay County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,025 a season; the most was 1,235 in 2023-24 and the fewest 814 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 7% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,047 | 488 | 559 | 5.4 | 1,574 |
| 2024-25 | 1,127 | 541 | 586 | 5.8 | 1,656 |
| 2023-24 | 1,235 | 509 | 726 | 6.3 | 1,751 |
| 2022-23 | 989 | 450 | 539 | 5.1 | 1,489 |
| 2021-22 | 880 | 418 | 462 | 4.5 | 1,307 |
| 2020-21 | 956 | 456 | 500 | 4.9 | 1,327 |
| 2019-20 | 952 | 419 | 533 | 4.9 | 1,409 |
| 2018-19 | 814 | 356 | 458 | 4.2 | 1,341 |
| 2017-18 | 1,120 | 489 | 631 | 5.7 | 1,785 |
| 2016-17 | 1,127 | 477 | 650 | 5.8 | 1,519 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 195.4 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 Clay County for 2025-26 are 77% of bucks and 60% of does.
When is deer season in Clay County in 2026-27?
On private land Clay 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 Clay County?
WRD's boundaries put 1 WMA in Clay County:
| WMA | Acres in Clay County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Walter F. George WMA | 768 | 13 |
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 Clay County compare with its neighbors?
Clay County touches 4 Georgia counties. Their 2025-26 harvest, and the change since 2016-17:
| County | Deer reported, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | 1,047 | 5.4 | -7% |
| Calhoun County | 1,347 | 4.8 | 4% |
| Early County | 1,967 | 3.8 | 41% |
| Quitman County | 718 | 4.7 | 3% |
| Randolph County | 1,984 | 4.6 | -1% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Clay County, Georgia last season?
1,047 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Clay County in the 2025-26 season: 488 bucks and 559 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Clay County in?
Clay 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 Clay County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Lake Walter F. George WMA (768 acres in the county) in Clay County.
Has the deer harvest in Clay County gone up or down?
From 1,127 in 2016-17 to 1,047 in 2025-26, 7% lower. The high in that span was 1,235 (2023-24) and the low 814 (2018-19).
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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 Calhoun County Early County Quitman County Randolph County