Heard County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,662 deer in Heard County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 869 bucks and 793 does (WRD). That is 5.6 deer per square mile of land, and 43rd of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 3% below 2024-25 (1,712).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Heard CountyWRD WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,662 (869 bucks, 793 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 5.6, 20th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,432 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,712 in 2024-25 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 1 |
| Land area | 296 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 WMA, 5,478 acres |
| Towns | Ephesus, Centralhatchee and Franklin |
How many deer are killed in Heard County each season?
WRD has reported Heard County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,432 a season; the most was 1,712 in 2024-25 and the fewest 1,190 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 33% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,662 | 869 | 793 | 5.6 | 2,226 |
| 2024-25 | 1,712 | 897 | 815 | 5.8 | 2,342 |
| 2023-24 | 1,636 | 899 | 737 | 5.5 | 1,953 |
| 2022-23 | 1,351 | 762 | 589 | 4.6 | 1,809 |
| 2021-22 | 1,406 | 766 | 640 | 4.8 | 1,878 |
| 2020-21 | 1,592 | 889 | 703 | 5.4 | 2,060 |
| 2019-20 | 1,310 | 715 | 595 | 4.4 | 1,853 |
| 2018-19 | 1,190 | 653 | 537 | 4 | 1,708 |
| 2017-18 | 1,208 | 719 | 489 | 4.1 | 1,690 |
| 2016-17 | 1,253 | 694 | 559 | 4.2 | 1,703 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 296 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 Heard County for 2025-26 are 80% of bucks and 70% of does.
When is deer season in Heard County in 2026-27?
On private land Heard 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 Heard County?
WRD's boundaries put 1 WMA in Heard County:
| WMA | Acres in Heard County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| West Point WMA | 5,478 | 30 |
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 Heard County compare with its neighbors?
Heard 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heard County | 1,662 | 5.6 | 33% |
| Carroll County | 2,360 | 4.7 | 55% |
| Coweta County | 2,260 | 5.1 | 19% |
| Troup County | 1,523 | 3.7 | -3% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Heard County, Georgia last season?
1,662 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Heard County in the 2025-26 season: 869 bucks and 793 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Heard County in?
Heard 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 Heard County?
Yes. WRD's map puts West Point WMA (5,478 acres in the county) in Heard County.
Has the deer harvest in Heard County gone up or down?
From 1,253 in 2016-17 to 1,662 in 2025-26, 33% higher. The high in that span was 1,712 (2024-25) and the low 1,190 (2018-19).
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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 Carroll County Coweta County Troup County