Effingham County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,095 deer in Effingham County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 501 bucks and 594 does (WRD). That is 2.3 deer per square mile of land, and 90th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 7% above 2024-25 (1,028).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Effingham CountyWRD WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,095 (501 bucks, 594 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 2.3, 131st of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,166 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,340 in 2023-24 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 4 |
| Land area | 478.8 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | No WRD WMA; 9,534 acres of national wildlife refuge |
| Towns | Rincon, Springfield and Guyton |
How many deer are killed in Effingham County each season?
WRD has reported Effingham County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,166 a season; the most was 1,340 in 2023-24 and the fewest 975 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 12% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,095 | 501 | 594 | 2.3 | 1,930 |
| 2024-25 | 1,028 | 464 | 564 | 2.1 | 1,901 |
| 2023-24 | 1,340 | 617 | 723 | 2.8 | 2,274 |
| 2022-23 | 1,096 | 523 | 573 | 2.3 | 1,877 |
| 2021-22 | 1,229 | 541 | 688 | 2.6 | 2,149 |
| 2020-21 | 1,303 | 552 | 751 | 2.7 | 2,347 |
| 2019-20 | 1,022 | 447 | 575 | 2.1 | 1,743 |
| 2018-19 | 1,246 | 507 | 739 | 2.6 | 2,644 |
| 2017-18 | 1,328 | 557 | 771 | 2.8 | 2,935 |
| 2016-17 | 975 | 428 | 547 | 2 | 1,706 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 478.8 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 Effingham County for 2025-26 are 68% of bucks and 50% of does.
When is deer season in Effingham County in 2026-27?
On private land Effingham 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 Effingham County?
No WRD WMA boundary falls in Effingham County. The closest WMAs with a page here: Oliver Bridge WMA (about 17 miles), Canoochee Sandhills WMA (about 25 miles) and Tuckahoe WMA (about 35 miles).
9,534 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 Effingham County compare with its neighbors?
Effingham County touches 4 Georgia counties. Their 2025-26 harvest, and the change since 2016-17:
| County | Deer reported, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effingham County | 1,095 | 2.3 | 12% |
| Bryan County | 711 | 1.6 | 21% |
| Bulloch County | 1,484 | 2.2 | 4% |
| Chatham County | 241 | 0.6 | -18% |
| Screven County | 1,788 | 2.8 | 16% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Effingham County, Georgia last season?
1,095 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Effingham County in the 2025-26 season: 501 bucks and 594 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Effingham County in?
Effingham 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 Effingham County?
No WRD WMA boundary falls in Effingham County. The closest WMAs with a page here: Oliver Bridge WMA (about 17 miles), Canoochee Sandhills WMA (about 25 miles) and Tuckahoe WMA (about 35 miles).
Has the deer harvest in Effingham County gone up or down?
From 975 in 2016-17 to 1,095 in 2025-26, 12% higher. The high in that span was 1,340 (2023-24) and the low 975 (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 Bryan County Bulloch County Chatham County Screven County