Lincoln County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,316 deer in Lincoln County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 623 bucks and 693 does (WRD). That is 6.3 deer per square mile of land, and 72nd of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 8% below 2024-25 (1,438).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Lincoln CountyWRD WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,316 (623 bucks, 693 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 6.3, 11th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,338 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,561 in 2023-24 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 3 |
| Land area | 210.4 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 4 WMAs, 2,852 acres |
| Towns | Lincolnton |
How many deer are killed in Lincoln County each season?
WRD has reported Lincoln County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,338 a season; the most was 1,561 in 2023-24 and the fewest 1,189 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 11% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,316 | 623 | 693 | 6.3 | 1,775 |
| 2024-25 | 1,438 | 716 | 722 | 6.8 | 1,973 |
| 2023-24 | 1,561 | 708 | 853 | 7.4 | 1,897 |
| 2022-23 | 1,310 | 643 | 667 | 6.2 | 1,780 |
| 2021-22 | 1,317 | 663 | 654 | 6.3 | 1,794 |
| 2020-21 | 1,346 | 636 | 710 | 6.4 | 1,766 |
| 2019-20 | 1,251 | 589 | 662 | 5.9 | 1,774 |
| 2018-19 | 1,365 | 680 | 685 | 6.5 | 1,951 |
| 2017-18 | 1,289 | 650 | 639 | 6.1 | 1,830 |
| 2016-17 | 1,189 | 531 | 658 | 5.7 | 1,662 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 210.4 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 Lincoln County for 2025-26 are 80% of bucks and 70% of does.
When is deer season in Lincoln County in 2026-27?
On private land Lincoln 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 Lincoln County?
WRD's boundaries put 4 WMAs in Lincoln County:
| WMA | Acres in Lincoln County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Soap Creek WMA | 1,371 | 12 |
| Fishing Creek WMA | 1,152 | 18 |
| Clarks Hill WMA | 258 | 159 |
| Lower Broad River WMA | 71 | 23 |
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 Lincoln County compare with its neighbors?
Lincoln County touches 4 Georgia counties. Their 2025-26 harvest, and the change since 2016-17:
| County | Deer reported, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | 1,316 | 6.3 | 11% |
| Columbia County | 1,385 | 4.8 | 3% |
| Elbert County | 2,075 | 5.9 | 7% |
| McDuffie County | 1,508 | 5.9 | 43% |
| Wilkes County | 2,775 | 5.9 | 1% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Lincoln County, Georgia last season?
1,316 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Lincoln County in the 2025-26 season: 623 bucks and 693 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Lincoln County in?
Lincoln 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 Lincoln County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Soap Creek WMA (1,371 acres in the county), Fishing Creek WMA (1,152 acres in the county), Clarks Hill WMA (258 acres in the county) and Lower Broad River WMA (71 acres in the county) in Lincoln County.
Has the deer harvest in Lincoln County gone up or down?
From 1,189 in 2016-17 to 1,316 in 2025-26, 11% higher. The high in that span was 1,561 (2023-24) and the low 1,189 (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.
Georgia hunting Georgia deer harvest by county Columbia County Elbert County McDuffie County Wilkes County