Dade County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 942 deer in Dade County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 527 bucks and 415 does (WRD). That is 5.4 deer per square mile of land, and 100th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 15% below 2024-25 (1,107).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Dade CountyWRD WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 942 (527 bucks, 415 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 5.4, 25th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 841 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,107 in 2024-25 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 1 |
| Land area | 174.1 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | No WRD WMA |
| Bear zone | Northern (WRD) |
| Towns | Trenton |
How many deer are killed in Dade County each season?
WRD has reported Dade County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 841 a season; the most was 1,107 in 2024-25 and the fewest 477 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 97% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 942 | 527 | 415 | 5.4 | 1,256 |
| 2024-25 | 1,107 | 621 | 486 | 6.4 | 1,353 |
| 2023-24 | 978 | 548 | 430 | 5.6 | 1,181 |
| 2022-23 | 1,058 | 581 | 477 | 6.1 | 1,514 |
| 2021-22 | 853 | 476 | 377 | 4.9 | 1,250 |
| 2020-21 | 846 | 470 | 376 | 4.9 | 1,134 |
| 2019-20 | 952 | 460 | 492 | 5.5 | 1,198 |
| 2018-19 | 677 | 379 | 298 | 3.9 | 1,046 |
| 2017-18 | 520 | 314 | 206 | 3 | 790 |
| 2016-17 | 477 | 266 | 211 | 2.7 | 709 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 174.1 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 Dade County for 2025-26 are 78% of bucks and 72% of does.
When is deer season in Dade County in 2026-27?
On private land Dade 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 Dade County?
No WRD WMA boundary falls in Dade County. The closest WMAs with a page here: Zahnd WMA (about 10 miles), Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA (about 12 miles) and Otting Tract WMA (about 18 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 Dade County compare with its neighbors?
Dade County touches 1 Georgia counties. Their 2025-26 harvest, and the change since 2016-17:
| County | Deer reported, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dade County | 942 | 5.4 | 97% |
| Walker County | 2,098 | 4.7 | 82% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Dade County, Georgia last season?
942 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Dade County in the 2025-26 season: 527 bucks and 415 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Dade County in?
Dade 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 Dade County?
No WRD WMA boundary falls in Dade County. The closest WMAs with a page here: Zahnd WMA (about 10 miles), Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA (about 12 miles) and Otting Tract WMA (about 18 miles).
Has the deer harvest in Dade County gone up or down?
From 477 in 2016-17 to 942 in 2025-26, 97% higher. The high in that span was 1,107 (2024-25) and the low 477 (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.
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