Dawson County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 874 deer in Dawson County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 560 bucks and 314 does (WRD). That is 4.1 deer per square mile of land, and 105th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 7% below 2024-25 (936).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Dawson CountyWRD WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 874 (560 bucks, 314 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.1, 66th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 713 deer a season |
| Highest season | 936 in 2024-25 |
| Private-land deer zone | Orange (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 2 |
| Land area | 210.8 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 WMAs, 27,889 acres; 6,890 acres of national forest |
| Bear zone | Northern (WRD) |
| Towns | Dawsonville |
How many deer are killed in Dawson County each season?
WRD has reported Dawson County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 713 a season; the most was 936 in 2024-25 and the fewest 519 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 68% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 874 | 560 | 314 | 4.1 | 1,151 |
| 2024-25 | 936 | 540 | 396 | 4.4 | 1,272 |
| 2023-24 | 829 | 496 | 333 | 3.9 | 980 |
| 2022-23 | 780 | 476 | 304 | 3.7 | 1,035 |
| 2021-22 | 639 | 422 | 217 | 3 | 807 |
| 2020-21 | 637 | 413 | 224 | 3 | 812 |
| 2019-20 | 595 | 398 | 197 | 2.8 | 837 |
| 2018-19 | 693 | 427 | 266 | 3.3 | 983 |
| 2017-18 | 628 | 410 | 218 | 3 | 870 |
| 2016-17 | 519 | 337 | 182 | 2.5 | 688 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 210.8 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 Dawson County for 2025-26 are 80% of bucks and 70% of does.
When is deer season in Dawson County in 2026-27?
On private land Dawson County is in WRD's Orange 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. 17 to Nov. 5, 2026 | Antlered bucks only |
| Firearms | Nov. 6 to 12, 2026 | Either sex |
| Firearms | Nov. 13 to 19, 2026 | Antlered bucks only |
| Firearms | Nov. 20 to 26, 2026 | Either sex |
| Firearms | Nov. 27 to Dec. 27, 2026 | Antlered bucks only |
| Firearms | Dec. 28, 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 Dawson County?
WRD's boundaries put 2 WMAs in Dawson County:
| WMA | Acres in Dawson County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Dawson Forest WMA | 25,832 | 33 |
| Cochrans Creek WMA | 2,057 | 1 |
6,890 acres of national forest lie in the county, measured on the federal maps. National forest land outside a WMA follows the national forest rules in the regulations (pages 56 to 57).
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 Dawson County compare with its neighbors?
Dawson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dawson County | 874 | 4.1 | 68% |
| Cherokee County | 2,506 | 6 | 81% |
| Fannin County | 1,740 | 4.5 | 168% |
| Forsyth County | 1,205 | 5.4 | 38% |
| Gilmer County | 1,417 | 3.3 | 113% |
| Hall County | 2,874 | 7.3 | 41% |
| Lumpkin County | 1,172 | 4.1 | 38% |
| Pickens County | 1,068 | 4.6 | 107% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Dawson County, Georgia last season?
874 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Dawson County in the 2025-26 season: 560 bucks and 314 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Dawson County in?
Dawson County is in WRD's Orange zone for private land in 2026-27. Firearms either-sex days in the zone: Nov. 6 to 12, 2026, Nov. 20 to 26, 2026 and Dec. 28, 2026 to Jan. 10, 2027. Source: WRD regulations, pages 12 to 13.
Is there public hunting land in Dawson County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Dawson Forest WMA (25,832 acres in the county) and Cochrans Creek WMA (2,057 acres in the county) in Dawson County. The county also holds 6,890 acres of national forest.
Has the deer harvest in Dawson County gone up or down?
From 519 in 2016-17 to 874 in 2025-26, 68% higher. The high in that span was 936 (2024-25) and the low 519 (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 Cherokee County Fannin County Forsyth County Gilmer County