Gordon County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 2,894 deer in Gordon County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 1,468 bucks and 1,426 does (WRD). That is 8.1 deer per square mile of land, and 7th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 6% below 2024-25 (3,076).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Gordon CountyWRD WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 2,894 (1,468 bucks, 1,426 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 8.1, 2nd of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,154 deer a season |
| Highest season | 3,076 in 2024-25 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 1 |
| Land area | 356.5 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 WMAs, 8,622 acres; 8,564 acres of national forest |
| Bear zone | Northern (WRD) |
| Towns | Calhoun, Resaca, Fairmount and Plainville |
How many deer are killed in Gordon County each season?
WRD has reported Gordon County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 2,154 a season; the most was 3,076 in 2024-25 and the fewest 1,491 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 94% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,894 | 1,468 | 1,426 | 8.1 | 3,876 |
| 2024-25 | 3,076 | 1,682 | 1,394 | 8.6 | 3,760 |
| 2023-24 | 2,535 | 1,374 | 1,161 | 7.1 | 3,072 |
| 2022-23 | 2,288 | 1,320 | 968 | 6.4 | 3,256 |
| 2021-22 | 1,961 | 1,149 | 812 | 5.5 | 2,853 |
| 2020-21 | 2,009 | 1,087 | 922 | 5.6 | 2,694 |
| 2019-20 | 2,023 | 1,035 | 988 | 5.7 | 2,540 |
| 2018-19 | 1,645 | 899 | 746 | 4.6 | 2,545 |
| 2017-18 | 1,617 | 963 | 654 | 4.5 | 2,463 |
| 2016-17 | 1,491 | 825 | 666 | 4.2 | 2,218 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 356.5 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 Gordon County for 2025-26 are 78% of bucks and 72% of does.
When is deer season in Gordon County in 2026-27?
On private land Gordon 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 Gordon County?
WRD's boundaries put 2 WMAs in Gordon County:
| WMA | Acres in Gordon County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Johns Mountain WMA | 8,503 | 19 |
| Carters Lake WMA | 119 | 44 |
8,564 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 Gordon County compare with its neighbors?
Gordon County touches 8 Georgia counties. Their 2025-26 harvest, and the change since 2016-17:
| County | Deer reported, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon County | 2,894 | 8.1 | 94% |
| Bartow County | 2,505 | 5.5 | 75% |
| Cherokee County | 2,506 | 6 | 81% |
| Floyd County | 2,953 | 5.8 | 57% |
| Gilmer County | 1,417 | 3.3 | 113% |
| Murray County | 1,558 | 4.5 | 143% |
| Pickens County | 1,068 | 4.6 | 107% |
| Walker County | 2,098 | 4.7 | 82% |
| Whitfield County | 1,425 | 4.9 | 97% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Gordon County, Georgia last season?
2,894 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Gordon County in the 2025-26 season: 1,468 bucks and 1,426 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Gordon County in?
Gordon 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 Gordon County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Johns Mountain WMA (8,503 acres in the county) and Carters Lake WMA (119 acres in the county) in Gordon County. The county also holds 8,564 acres of national forest.
Has the deer harvest in Gordon County gone up or down?
From 1,491 in 2016-17 to 2,894 in 2025-26, 94% higher. The high in that span was 3,076 (2024-25) and the low 1,491 (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 Bartow County Cherokee County Floyd County Gilmer County