Dougherty County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 674 deer in Dougherty County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 351 bucks and 323 does (WRD). That is 2.1 deer per square mile of land, and 130th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 14% above 2024-25 (591).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Dougherty CountyWRD WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 674 (351 bucks, 323 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 2.1, 135th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 624 deer a season |
| Highest season | 948 in 2016-17 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 5 |
| Land area | 328.6 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 WMAs, 9,870 acres |
| Towns | Albany |
How many deer are killed in Dougherty County each season?
WRD has reported Dougherty County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 624 a season; the most was 948 in 2016-17 and the fewest 476 in 2021-22. 2025-26 was 29% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 674 | 351 | 323 | 2.1 | 1,000 |
| 2024-25 | 591 | 334 | 257 | 1.8 | 851 |
| 2023-24 | 564 | 301 | 263 | 1.7 | 785 |
| 2022-23 | 556 | 323 | 233 | 1.7 | 827 |
| 2021-22 | 476 | 250 | 226 | 1.4 | 694 |
| 2020-21 | 563 | 313 | 250 | 1.7 | 770 |
| 2019-20 | 515 | 257 | 258 | 1.6 | 757 |
| 2018-19 | 559 | 287 | 272 | 1.7 | 886 |
| 2017-18 | 792 | 393 | 399 | 2.4 | 1,253 |
| 2016-17 | 948 | 469 | 479 | 2.9 | 1,263 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 328.6 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 Dougherty County for 2025-26 are 77% of bucks and 60% of does.
When is deer season in Dougherty County in 2026-27?
On private land Dougherty 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 Dougherty County?
WRD's boundaries put 2 WMAs in Dougherty County:
| WMA | Acres in Dougherty County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Chickasawhatchee WMA | 9,572 | 168 |
| Albany Nursery WMA | 298 | 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 Dougherty County compare with its neighbors?
Dougherty County touches 6 Georgia counties. Their 2025-26 harvest, and the change since 2016-17:
| County | Deer reported, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dougherty County | 674 | 2.1 | -29% |
| Baker County | 1,041 | 3 | -11% |
| Calhoun County | 1,347 | 4.8 | 4% |
| Lee County | 1,105 | 3.1 | -52% |
| Mitchell County | 1,257 | 2.5 | 42% |
| Terrell County | 1,555 | 4.6 | -2% |
| Worth County | 1,981 | 3.5 | -5% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Dougherty County, Georgia last season?
674 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Dougherty County in the 2025-26 season: 351 bucks and 323 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Dougherty County in?
Dougherty 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 Dougherty County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Chickasawhatchee WMA (9,572 acres in the county) and Albany Nursery WMA (298 acres in the county) in Dougherty County.
Has the deer harvest in Dougherty County gone up or down?
From 948 in 2016-17 to 674 in 2025-26, 29% lower. The high in that span was 948 (2016-17) and the low 476 (2021-22).
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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 Baker County Calhoun County Lee County Mitchell County