Hancock County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 3,095 deer in Hancock County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 1,271 bucks and 1,824 does (WRD). That is 6.6 deer per square mile of land, and 4th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 12% below 2024-25 (3,527).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Hancock CountyWRD WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 3,095 (1,271 bucks, 1,824 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 6.6, 8th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 3,414 deer a season |
| Highest season | 3,693 in 2023-24 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 3 |
| Land area | 471.1 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 WMA, 3,001 acres |
| Towns | Sparta |
How many deer are killed in Hancock County each season?
WRD has reported Hancock County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 3,414 a season; the most was 3,693 in 2023-24 and the fewest 3,095 in 2025-26. 2025-26 was 6% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 3,095 | 1,271 | 1,824 | 6.6 | 4,211 |
| 2024-25 | 3,527 | 1,561 | 1,966 | 7.5 | 4,870 |
| 2023-24 | 3,693 | 1,670 | 2,023 | 7.8 | 4,490 |
| 2022-23 | 3,336 | 1,459 | 1,877 | 7.1 | 4,581 |
| 2021-22 | 3,578 | 1,636 | 1,942 | 7.6 | 4,977 |
| 2020-21 | 3,666 | 1,534 | 2,132 | 7.8 | 4,857 |
| 2019-20 | 3,423 | 1,392 | 2,031 | 7.3 | 4,870 |
| 2018-19 | 3,402 | 1,491 | 1,911 | 7.2 | 4,955 |
| 2017-18 | 3,116 | 1,370 | 1,746 | 6.6 | 4,464 |
| 2016-17 | 3,307 | 1,200 | 2,107 | 7 | 4,724 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 471.1 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 Hancock County for 2025-26 are 80% of bucks and 70% of does.
When is deer season in Hancock County in 2026-27?
On private land Hancock 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 |
In Hancock County an antlered buck must have at least 4 points of an inch or longer on one side, or a 15-inch outside spread (page 11).
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 Hancock County?
WRD's boundaries put 1 WMA in Hancock County:
| WMA | Acres in Hancock County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Oconee WMA | 3,001 | 153 |
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 Hancock County compare with its neighbors?
Hancock County touches 7 Georgia counties. Their 2025-26 harvest, and the change since 2016-17:
| County | Deer reported, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock County | 3,095 | 6.6 | -6% |
| Baldwin County | 1,065 | 4.1 | 0% |
| Glascock County | 759 | 5.3 | 30% |
| Greene County | 2,153 | 5.6 | -2% |
| Putnam County | 1,740 | 5 | -2% |
| Taliaferro County | 987 | 5.1 | 5% |
| Warren County | 2,034 | 7.2 | 28% |
| Washington County | 3,230 | 4.8 | 17% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Hancock County, Georgia last season?
3,095 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Hancock County in the 2025-26 season: 1,271 bucks and 1,824 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Hancock County in?
Hancock 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 Hancock County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Oconee WMA (3,001 acres in the county) in Hancock County.
Has the deer harvest in Hancock County gone up or down?
From 3,307 in 2016-17 to 3,095 in 2025-26, 6% lower. The high in that span was 3,693 (2023-24) and the low 3,095 (2025-26).
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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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