Gilmer County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,417 deer in Gilmer County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 951 bucks and 466 does (WRD). That is 3.3 deer per square mile of land, and 60th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 23% above 2024-25 (1,150).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Gilmer CountyWRD WMAsNational forestNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,417 (951 bucks, 466 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.3, 93rd of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 955 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,417 in 2025-26 |
| Private-land deer zone | Orange (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 1 |
| Land area | 426.2 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 5 WMAs, 40,220 acres; 55,780 acres of national forest |
| Bear zone | Northern (WRD) |
| Towns | Ellijay and East Ellijay |
How many deer are killed in Gilmer County each season?
WRD has reported Gilmer County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 955 a season; the most was 1,417 in 2025-26 and the fewest 665 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 113% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,417 | 951 | 466 | 3.3 | 1,731 |
| 2024-25 | 1,150 | 786 | 364 | 2.7 | 1,614 |
| 2023-24 | 1,136 | 774 | 362 | 2.7 | 1,696 |
| 2022-23 | 1,139 | 737 | 402 | 2.7 | 1,467 |
| 2021-22 | 977 | 699 | 278 | 2.3 | 1,361 |
| 2020-21 | 830 | 573 | 257 | 1.9 | 1,106 |
| 2019-20 | 788 | 537 | 251 | 1.8 | 1,176 |
| 2018-19 | 768 | 457 | 311 | 1.8 | 1,088 |
| 2017-18 | 681 | 453 | 228 | 1.6 | 1,032 |
| 2016-17 | 665 | 404 | 261 | 1.6 | 894 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 426.2 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 Gilmer County for 2025-26 are 79% of bucks and 88% of does.
When is deer season in Gilmer County in 2026-27?
On private land Gilmer 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 Gilmer County?
WRD's boundaries put 5 WMAs in Gilmer County:
| WMA | Acres in Gilmer County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Rich Mountain WMA | 22,463 | 39 |
| Cohutta WMA | 11,710 | 4 |
| Carters Lake WMA | 5,890 | 44 |
| Dawson Forest WMA | 88 | 33 |
| Blue Ridge WMA | 69 | 38 |
55,780 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 Gilmer County compare with its neighbors?
Gilmer 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilmer County | 1,417 | 3.3 | 113% |
| Dawson County | 874 | 4.1 | 68% |
| Fannin County | 1,740 | 4.5 | 168% |
| Gordon County | 2,894 | 8.1 | 94% |
| Murray County | 1,558 | 4.5 | 143% |
| Pickens County | 1,068 | 4.6 | 107% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Gilmer County, Georgia last season?
1,417 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Gilmer County in the 2025-26 season: 951 bucks and 466 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Gilmer County in?
Gilmer 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 Gilmer County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Rich Mountain WMA (22,463 acres in the county), Cohutta WMA (11,710 acres in the county), Carters Lake WMA (5,890 acres in the county) and Dawson Forest WMA (88 acres in the county) in Gilmer County. The county also holds 55,780 acres of national forest.
Has the deer harvest in Gilmer County gone up or down?
From 665 in 2016-17 to 1,417 in 2025-26, 113% higher. The high in that span was 1,417 (2025-26) and the low 665 (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.
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