Fannin County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,740 deer in Fannin County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 1,191 bucks and 549 does (WRD). That is 4.5 deer per square mile of land, and 39th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 22% above 2024-25 (1,422).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Fannin CountyWRD WMAsNational forestNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,740 (1,191 bucks, 549 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.5, 54th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,110 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,740 in 2025-26 |
| Private-land deer zone | Cyan (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 2 |
| Land area | 387.1 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 4 WMAs, 65,942 acres; 105,619 acres of national forest |
| Bear zone | Northern (WRD) |
| Towns | Blue Ridge, McCaysville and Morganton |
How many deer are killed in Fannin County each season?
WRD has reported Fannin County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,110 a season; the most was 1,740 in 2025-26 and the fewest 649 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 168% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,740 | 1,191 | 549 | 4.5 | 2,128 |
| 2024-25 | 1,422 | 1,003 | 419 | 3.7 | 1,987 |
| 2023-24 | 1,253 | 870 | 383 | 3.2 | 1,862 |
| 2022-23 | 1,346 | 879 | 467 | 3.5 | 1,734 |
| 2021-22 | 1,066 | 783 | 283 | 2.8 | 1,475 |
| 2020-21 | 919 | 680 | 239 | 2.4 | 1,215 |
| 2019-20 | 983 | 692 | 291 | 2.5 | 1,468 |
| 2018-19 | 945 | 602 | 343 | 2.4 | 1,335 |
| 2017-18 | 772 | 555 | 217 | 2 | 1,146 |
| 2016-17 | 649 | 427 | 222 | 1.7 | 844 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 387.1 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 Fannin County for 2025-26 are 79% of bucks and 88% of does.
When is deer season in Fannin County in 2026-27?
On private land Fannin County is in WRD's Cyan 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 Dec. 31, 2026 | Antlered bucks only |
| Firearms | Jan. 1, 2027 | Either sex |
| Firearms | Jan. 2 to 10, 2027 | Antlered bucks only |
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 Fannin County?
WRD's boundaries put 4 WMAs in Fannin County:
| WMA | Acres in Fannin County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Cohutta WMA | 38,094 | 4 |
| Blue Ridge WMA | 20,232 | 38 |
| Coopers Creek WMA | 7,249 | 9 |
| Rich Mountain WMA | 367 | 39 |
105,619 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 Fannin County compare with its neighbors?
Fannin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fannin County | 1,740 | 4.5 | 168% |
| Dawson County | 874 | 4.1 | 68% |
| Gilmer County | 1,417 | 3.3 | 113% |
| Lumpkin County | 1,172 | 4.1 | 38% |
| Murray County | 1,558 | 4.5 | 143% |
| Union County | 1,755 | 5.4 | 128% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Fannin County, Georgia last season?
1,740 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Fannin County in the 2025-26 season: 1,191 bucks and 549 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Fannin County in?
Fannin County is in WRD's Cyan zone for private land in 2026-27. Firearms either-sex days in the zone: Nov. 6 to 12, 2026 and Jan. 1, 2027. Source: WRD regulations, pages 12 to 13.
Is there public hunting land in Fannin County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Cohutta WMA (38,094 acres in the county), Blue Ridge WMA (20,232 acres in the county), Coopers Creek WMA (7,249 acres in the county) and Rich Mountain WMA (367 acres in the county) in Fannin County. The county also holds 105,619 acres of national forest.
Has the deer harvest in Fannin County gone up or down?
From 649 in 2016-17 to 1,740 in 2025-26, 168% higher. The high in that span was 1,740 (2025-26) and the low 649 (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 Dawson County Gilmer County Lumpkin County Murray County