Early County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,967 deer in Early County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 857 bucks and 1,110 does (WRD). That is 3.8 deer per square mile of land, and 31st of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 5% below 2024-25 (2,077).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Early CountyWRD WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,967 (857 bucks, 1,110 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.8, 76th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,612 deer a season |
| Highest season | 2,077 in 2024-25 |
| Private-land deer zone | Magenta (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 5 |
| Land area | 512.6 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | No WRD WMA; 158 acres of national wildlife refuge |
| Towns | Blakely, Damascus and Jakin |
How many deer are killed in Early County each season?
WRD has reported Early County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,612 a season; the most was 2,077 in 2024-25 and the fewest 1,083 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 41% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,967 | 857 | 1,110 | 3.8 | 2,980 |
| 2024-25 | 2,077 | 960 | 1,117 | 4.1 | 3,065 |
| 2023-24 | 2,058 | 1,005 | 1,053 | 4 | 2,884 |
| 2022-23 | 1,691 | 854 | 837 | 3.3 | 2,534 |
| 2021-22 | 1,458 | 685 | 773 | 2.8 | 2,169 |
| 2020-21 | 1,588 | 761 | 827 | 3.1 | 2,204 |
| 2019-20 | 1,330 | 672 | 658 | 2.6 | 1,948 |
| 2018-19 | 1,083 | 541 | 542 | 2.1 | 1,759 |
| 2017-18 | 1,479 | 720 | 759 | 2.9 | 2,342 |
| 2016-17 | 1,393 | 664 | 729 | 2.7 | 1,861 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 512.6 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 Early County for 2025-26 are 77% of bucks and 60% of does.
When is deer season in Early County in 2026-27?
On private land Early County is in WRD's Magenta zone. These are the zone's 2026-27 dates.
| Weapon | Dates | What may be taken |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sept. 12 to 27, 2026 | Antlered bucks only |
| Archery | Sept. 28 to Oct. 9, 2026 | Either sex |
| Archery | Jan. 16 to 31, 2027 | 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. 15, 2027 | Either sex |
Early 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 Early County?
No WRD WMA boundary falls in Early County. The closest WMAs with a page here: Mayhaw WMA (about 8 miles), Elmodel WMA (about 23 miles) and Lake Seminole WMA (about 26 miles).
158 acres of national wildlife refuge lie in the county, measured on the federal maps.
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 Early County compare with its neighbors?
Early 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early County | 1,967 | 3.8 | 41% |
| Baker County | 1,041 | 3 | -11% |
| Calhoun County | 1,347 | 4.8 | 4% |
| Clay County | 1,047 | 5.4 | -7% |
| Miller County | 788 | 2.8 | 51% |
| Seminole County | 307 | 1.3 | 10% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Early County, Georgia last season?
1,967 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Early County in the 2025-26 season: 857 bucks and 1,110 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Early County in?
Early County is in WRD's Magenta zone for private land in 2026-27. Firearms either-sex days in the zone: Oct. 17, 2026 to Jan. 15, 2027. Source: WRD regulations, pages 12 to 13.
Is there public hunting land in Early County?
No WRD WMA boundary falls in Early County. The closest WMAs with a page here: Mayhaw WMA (about 8 miles), Elmodel WMA (about 23 miles) and Lake Seminole WMA (about 26 miles).
Has the deer harvest in Early County gone up or down?
From 1,393 in 2016-17 to 1,967 in 2025-26, 41% higher. The high in that span was 2,077 (2024-25) and the low 1,083 (2018-19).
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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 Clay County Miller County