Irwin County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,123 deer in Irwin County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 478 bucks and 645 does (WRD). That is 3.2 deer per square mile of land, and 84th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 13% above 2024-25 (998).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Irwin CountyWRD WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,123 (478 bucks, 645 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.2, 96th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,089 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,427 in 2017-18 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 4 |
| Land area | 354.4 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 WMA, 6,886 acres |
| Towns | Ocilla |
How many deer are killed in Irwin County each season?
WRD has reported Irwin County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,089 a season; the most was 1,427 in 2017-18 and the fewest 865 in 2021-22. 2025-26 was 16% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,123 | 478 | 645 | 3.2 | 1,705 |
| 2024-25 | 998 | 426 | 572 | 2.8 | 1,485 |
| 2023-24 | 1,051 | 468 | 583 | 3 | 1,483 |
| 2022-23 | 969 | 445 | 524 | 2.7 | 1,459 |
| 2021-22 | 865 | 387 | 478 | 2.4 | 1,297 |
| 2020-21 | 1,026 | 478 | 548 | 2.9 | 1,429 |
| 2019-20 | 1,120 | 499 | 621 | 3.2 | 1,656 |
| 2018-19 | 979 | 424 | 555 | 2.8 | 1,613 |
| 2017-18 | 1,427 | 602 | 825 | 4 | 2,278 |
| 2016-17 | 1,330 | 582 | 748 | 3.8 | 1,788 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 354.4 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 Irwin County for 2025-26 are 77% of bucks and 60% of does.
When is deer season in Irwin County in 2026-27?
On private land Irwin 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 Irwin County?
WRD's boundaries put 1 WMA in Irwin County:
| WMA | Acres in Irwin County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Alapaha River WMA | 6,886 | 96 |
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 Irwin County compare with its neighbors?
Irwin County touches 5 Georgia counties. Their 2025-26 harvest, and the change since 2016-17:
| County | Deer reported, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irwin County | 1,123 | 3.2 | -16% |
| Ben Hill County | 771 | 3.1 | 0% |
| Berrien County | 1,286 | 2.8 | 4% |
| Coffee County | 1,428 | 2.4 | -22% |
| Tift County | 744 | 2.9 | 28% |
| Turner County | 793 | 2.8 | -8% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Irwin County, Georgia last season?
1,123 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Irwin County in the 2025-26 season: 478 bucks and 645 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Irwin County in?
Irwin 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 Irwin County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Alapaha River WMA (6,886 acres in the county) in Irwin County.
Has the deer harvest in Irwin County gone up or down?
From 1,330 in 2016-17 to 1,123 in 2025-26, 16% lower. The high in that span was 1,427 (2017-18) and the low 865 (2021-22).
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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 Ben Hill County Berrien County Coffee County Tift County