Hart County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,970 deer in Hart County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 1,049 bucks and 921 does (WRD). That is 8.5 deer per square mile of land, and 30th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 7% below 2024-25 (2,111).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Hart CountyWRD WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,970 (1,049 bucks, 921 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 8.5, 1st of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,504 deer a season |
| Highest season | 2,111 in 2024-25 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 2 |
| Land area | 232.4 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 WMA, 986 acres |
| Bear zone | Northern (WRD) |
| Towns | Hartwell and Bowersville |
How many deer are killed in Hart County each season?
WRD has reported Hart County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,504 a season; the most was 2,111 in 2024-25 and the fewest 969 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 103% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,970 | 1,049 | 921 | 8.5 | 2,635 |
| 2024-25 | 2,111 | 1,089 | 1,022 | 9.1 | 2,890 |
| 2023-24 | 1,840 | 998 | 842 | 7.9 | 2,199 |
| 2022-23 | 1,552 | 862 | 690 | 6.7 | 2,082 |
| 2021-22 | 1,423 | 797 | 626 | 6.1 | 1,888 |
| 2020-21 | 1,456 | 792 | 664 | 6.3 | 1,888 |
| 2019-20 | 1,479 | 825 | 654 | 6.4 | 2,090 |
| 2018-19 | 1,177 | 740 | 437 | 5.1 | 1,669 |
| 2017-18 | 1,067 | 747 | 320 | 4.6 | 1,467 |
| 2016-17 | 969 | 635 | 334 | 4.2 | 1,282 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 232.4 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 Hart County for 2025-26 are 80% of bucks and 70% of does.
When is deer season in Hart County in 2026-27?
On private land Hart 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 Hart County?
WRD's boundaries put 1 WMA in Hart County:
| WMA | Acres in Hart County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Hart County WMA | 986 | 40 |
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 Hart County compare with its neighbors?
Hart County touches 3 Georgia counties. Their 2025-26 harvest, and the change since 2016-17:
| County | Deer reported, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hart County | 1,970 | 8.5 | 103% |
| Elbert County | 2,075 | 5.9 | 7% |
| Franklin County | 2,035 | 7.8 | 92% |
| Madison County | 2,078 | 7.4 | 14% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Hart County, Georgia last season?
1,970 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Hart County in the 2025-26 season: 1,049 bucks and 921 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Hart County in?
Hart 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 Hart County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Hart County WMA (986 acres in the county) in Hart County.
Has the deer harvest in Hart County gone up or down?
From 969 in 2016-17 to 1,970 in 2025-26, 103% higher. The high in that span was 2,111 (2024-25) and the low 969 (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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