Clayton County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 125 deer in Clayton County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 61 bucks and 64 does (WRD). That is 0.9 deer per square mile of land, and 159th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 26% below 2024-25 (170).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Clayton CountyWRD WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 125 (61 bucks, 64 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 0.9, 155th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 161 deer a season |
| Highest season | 184 in 2020-21 |
| Private-land deer zone | Gray (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 1 |
| Land area | 141.7 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | No WRD WMA |
| Towns | Forest Park, Riverdale, Morrow, Jonesboro and Lovejoy |
How many deer are killed in Clayton County each season?
WRD has reported Clayton County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 161 a season; the most was 184 in 2020-21 and the fewest 125 in 2025-26. 2025-26 was 20% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 125 | 61 | 64 | 0.9 | 168 |
| 2024-25 | 170 | 87 | 83 | 1.2 | 233 |
| 2023-24 | 181 | 88 | 93 | 1.3 | 219 |
| 2022-23 | 167 | 71 | 96 | 1.2 | 230 |
| 2021-22 | 180 | 86 | 94 | 1.3 | 248 |
| 2020-21 | 184 | 93 | 91 | 1.3 | 241 |
| 2019-20 | 143 | 60 | 83 | 1 | 203 |
| 2018-19 | 152 | 78 | 74 | 1.1 | 219 |
| 2017-18 | 153 | 77 | 76 | 1.1 | 217 |
| 2016-17 | 157 | 64 | 93 | 1.1 | 222 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 141.7 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 Clayton County for 2025-26 are 80% of bucks and 70% of does.
When is deer season in Clayton County in 2026-27?
On private land Clayton County is in WRD's Gray zone. These are the zone's 2026-27 dates.
| Weapon | Dates | What may be taken |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sept. 12, 2026 to Jan. 31, 2027 | Either sex |
Firearms deer hunting is not allowed in Clayton County: it is archery only (page 16). Clayton 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 Clayton County?
No WRD WMA boundary falls in Clayton County. The closest WMAs with a page here: Joe Kurz WMA (about 28 miles), Gaither WMA (about 32 miles) and Clybel WMA (about 35 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 Clayton County compare with its neighbors?
Clayton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton County | 125 | 0.9 | -20% |
| DeKalb County | 201 | 0.8 | 42% |
| Fayette County | 836 | 4.3 | 23% |
| Fulton County | 1,405 | 2.7 | 18% |
| Henry County | 686 | 2.2 | -40% |
| Spalding County | 789 | 4 | 13% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Clayton County, Georgia last season?
125 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Clayton County in the 2025-26 season: 61 bucks and 64 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Clayton County in?
Clayton County is in WRD's Gray zone for private land in 2026-27. The zone is archery only, September 12, 2026 to January 31, 2027. Source: WRD regulations, pages 12 to 13.
Is there public hunting land in Clayton County?
No WRD WMA boundary falls in Clayton County. The closest WMAs with a page here: Joe Kurz WMA (about 28 miles), Gaither WMA (about 32 miles) and Clybel WMA (about 35 miles).
Has the deer harvest in Clayton County gone up or down?
From 157 in 2016-17 to 125 in 2025-26, 20% lower. The high in that span was 184 (2020-21) and the low 125 (2025-26).
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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 DeKalb County Fayette County Fulton County Henry County