Lanier County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 288 deer in Lanier County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 167 bucks and 121 does (WRD). That is 1.5 deer per square mile of land, and 156th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 26% above 2024-25 (228).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Lanier CountyWRD WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 288 (167 bucks, 121 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 1.5, 143rd of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 333 deer a season |
| Highest season | 415 in 2020-21 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 6 |
| Land area | 196.5 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 WMA, 5,271 acres; 2,981 acres of national wildlife refuge |
| Bear zone | Southern (WRD) |
| Towns | Lakeland |
How many deer are killed in Lanier County each season?
WRD has reported Lanier County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 333 a season; the most was 415 in 2020-21 and the fewest 228 in 2024-25. 2025-26 was 29% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 288 | 167 | 121 | 1.5 | 488 |
| 2024-25 | 228 | 126 | 102 | 1.2 | 410 |
| 2023-24 | 324 | 159 | 165 | 1.6 | 551 |
| 2022-23 | 351 | 164 | 187 | 1.8 | 602 |
| 2021-22 | 341 | 160 | 181 | 1.7 | 592 |
| 2020-21 | 415 | 201 | 214 | 2.1 | 743 |
| 2019-20 | 317 | 138 | 179 | 1.6 | 541 |
| 2018-19 | 310 | 130 | 180 | 1.6 | 655 |
| 2017-18 | 356 | 168 | 188 | 1.8 | 797 |
| 2016-17 | 403 | 177 | 226 | 2.1 | 705 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 196.5 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 Lanier County for 2025-26 are 68% of bucks and 50% of does.
When is deer season in Lanier County in 2026-27?
On private land Lanier 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 Lanier County?
WRD's boundaries put 1 WMA in Lanier County:
| WMA | Acres in Lanier County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Bay WMA | 5,271 | 35 |
2,981 acres of national wildlife refuge lie in the county, measured on the federal maps.
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 Lanier County compare with its neighbors?
Lanier 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lanier County | 288 | 1.5 | -29% |
| Atkinson County | 636 | 1.9 | -22% |
| Berrien County | 1,286 | 2.8 | 4% |
| Clinch County | 884 | 1.1 | 59% |
| Echols County | 501 | 1.2 | 81% |
| Lowndes County | 1,220 | 2.5 | 9% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Lanier County, Georgia last season?
288 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Lanier County in the 2025-26 season: 167 bucks and 121 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Lanier County in?
Lanier 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 Lanier County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Grand Bay WMA (5,271 acres in the county) in Lanier County.
Has the deer harvest in Lanier County gone up or down?
From 403 in 2016-17 to 288 in 2025-26, 29% lower. The high in that span was 415 (2020-21) and the low 228 (2024-25).
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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 Atkinson County Berrien County Clinch County Echols County