Columbia County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,385 deer in Columbia County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 687 bucks and 698 does (WRD). That is 4.8 deer per square mile of land, and 63rd of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 7% below 2024-25 (1,488).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Columbia CountyWRD WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,385 (687 bucks, 698 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.8, 42nd of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,554 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,767 in 2021-22 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 3 |
| Land area | 290.2 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 WMA, 940 acres |
| Towns | Harlem and Grovetown |
How many deer are killed in Columbia County each season?
WRD has reported Columbia County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,554 a season; the most was 1,767 in 2021-22 and the fewest 1,342 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 3% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,385 | 687 | 698 | 4.8 | 1,862 |
| 2024-25 | 1,488 | 724 | 764 | 5.1 | 2,044 |
| 2023-24 | 1,738 | 851 | 887 | 6 | 2,098 |
| 2022-23 | 1,669 | 834 | 835 | 5.8 | 2,264 |
| 2021-22 | 1,767 | 885 | 882 | 6.1 | 2,409 |
| 2020-21 | 1,611 | 808 | 803 | 5.6 | 2,107 |
| 2019-20 | 1,536 | 759 | 777 | 5.3 | 2,177 |
| 2018-19 | 1,590 | 783 | 807 | 5.5 | 2,301 |
| 2017-18 | 1,416 | 726 | 690 | 4.9 | 2,007 |
| 2016-17 | 1,342 | 622 | 720 | 4.6 | 1,868 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 290.2 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 Columbia County for 2025-26 are 80% of bucks and 70% of does.
When is deer season in Columbia County in 2026-27?
On private land Columbia 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 |
Columbia 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 Columbia County?
WRD's boundaries put 1 WMA in Columbia County:
| WMA | Acres in Columbia County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Keg Creek WMA | 940 | 9 |
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 Columbia County compare with its neighbors?
Columbia County touches 3 Georgia counties. Their 2025-26 harvest, and the change since 2016-17:
| County | Deer reported, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia County | 1,385 | 4.8 | 3% |
| Lincoln County | 1,316 | 6.3 | 11% |
| McDuffie County | 1,508 | 5.9 | 43% |
| Richmond County | 651 | 2 | -13% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Columbia County, Georgia last season?
1,385 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Columbia County in the 2025-26 season: 687 bucks and 698 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Columbia County in?
Columbia 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 Columbia County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Keg Creek WMA (940 acres in the county) in Columbia County.
Has the deer harvest in Columbia County gone up or down?
From 1,342 in 2016-17 to 1,385 in 2025-26, 3% higher. The high in that span was 1,767 (2021-22) and the low 1,342 (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 Lincoln County McDuffie County Richmond County