Habersham County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,338 deer in Habersham County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 871 bucks and 467 does (WRD). That is 4.8 deer per square mile of land, and 69th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 5% above 2024-25 (1,279).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Habersham CountyWRD WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,338 (871 bucks, 467 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.8, 43rd of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,069 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,338 in 2025-26 |
| Private-land deer zone | Orange (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 2 |
| Land area | 276.9 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 WMAs, 6,983 acres; 38,985 acres of national forest |
| Bear zone | Northern (WRD) |
| Towns | Tallulah Falls, Baldwin, Cornelia, Clarkesville and Mount Airy |
How many deer are killed in Habersham County each season?
WRD has reported Habersham County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,069 a season; the most was 1,338 in 2025-26 and the fewest 861 in 2019-20. 2025-26 was 38% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,338 | 871 | 467 | 4.8 | 1,759 |
| 2024-25 | 1,279 | 833 | 446 | 4.6 | 1,724 |
| 2023-24 | 1,301 | 840 | 461 | 4.7 | 1,524 |
| 2022-23 | 1,058 | 767 | 291 | 3.8 | 1,371 |
| 2021-22 | 963 | 690 | 273 | 3.5 | 1,183 |
| 2020-21 | 929 | 647 | 282 | 3.4 | 1,174 |
| 2019-20 | 861 | 619 | 242 | 3.1 | 1,208 |
| 2018-19 | 1,015 | 643 | 372 | 3.7 | 1,438 |
| 2017-18 | 975 | 686 | 289 | 3.5 | 1,340 |
| 2016-17 | 972 | 635 | 337 | 3.5 | 1,286 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 276.9 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 Habersham County for 2025-26 are 80% of bucks and 70% of does.
When is deer season in Habersham County in 2026-27?
On private land Habersham 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 Habersham County?
WRD's boundaries put 2 WMAs in Habersham County:
| WMA | Acres in Habersham County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Russell WMA | 6,133 | 11 |
| Tallulah Gorge WMA | 850 |
38,985 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 Habersham County compare with its neighbors?
Habersham County touches 6 Georgia counties. Their 2025-26 harvest, and the change since 2016-17:
| County | Deer reported, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Habersham County | 1,338 | 4.8 | 38% |
| Banks County | 1,731 | 7.4 | 80% |
| Hall County | 2,874 | 7.3 | 41% |
| Rabun County | 371 | 1 | 72% |
| Stephens County | 646 | 3.6 | 57% |
| Towns County | 505 | 3 | 142% |
| White County | 1,092 | 4.5 | 53% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Habersham County, Georgia last season?
1,338 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Habersham County in the 2025-26 season: 871 bucks and 467 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Habersham County in?
Habersham 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 Habersham County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Lake Russell WMA (6,133 acres in the county) and Tallulah Gorge WMA (850 acres in the county) in Habersham County. The county also holds 38,985 acres of national forest.
Has the deer harvest in Habersham County gone up or down?
From 972 in 2016-17 to 1,338 in 2025-26, 38% higher. The high in that span was 1,338 (2025-26) and the low 861 (2019-20).
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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 Banks County Hall County Rabun County Stephens County