Lumpkin County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,172 deer in Lumpkin County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 787 bucks and 385 does (WRD). That is 4.1 deer per square mile of land, and 80th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 10% below 2024-25 (1,308).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Lumpkin CountyWRD WMAsNational forestNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,172 (787 bucks, 385 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.1, 68th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,038 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,308 in 2024-25 |
| Private-land deer zone | Orange (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 2 |
| Land area | 282.9 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 WMAs, 20,447 acres; 58,239 acres of national forest |
| Bear zone | Northern (WRD) |
| Towns | Dahlonega |
How many deer are killed in Lumpkin County each season?
WRD has reported Lumpkin County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,038 a season; the most was 1,308 in 2024-25 and the fewest 847 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 38% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,172 | 787 | 385 | 4.1 | 1,536 |
| 2024-25 | 1,308 | 840 | 468 | 4.6 | 1,765 |
| 2023-24 | 1,122 | 686 | 436 | 4 | 1,323 |
| 2022-23 | 1,238 | 730 | 508 | 4.4 | 1,650 |
| 2021-22 | 917 | 638 | 279 | 3.2 | 1,138 |
| 2020-21 | 941 | 646 | 295 | 3.3 | 1,192 |
| 2019-20 | 861 | 607 | 254 | 3 | 1,209 |
| 2018-19 | 1,016 | 631 | 385 | 3.6 | 1,443 |
| 2017-18 | 953 | 649 | 304 | 3.4 | 1,315 |
| 2016-17 | 847 | 548 | 299 | 3 | 1,123 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 282.9 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 Lumpkin County for 2025-26 are 80% of bucks and 70% of does.
When is deer season in Lumpkin County in 2026-27?
On private land Lumpkin County is in WRD's Orange 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. 17 to Nov. 5, 2026 | Antlered bucks only |
| Firearms | Nov. 6 to 12, 2026 | Either sex |
| Firearms | Nov. 13 to 19, 2026 | Antlered bucks only |
| Firearms | Nov. 20 to 26, 2026 | Either sex |
| Firearms | Nov. 27 to Dec. 27, 2026 | Antlered bucks only |
| Firearms | Dec. 28, 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 Lumpkin County?
WRD's boundaries put 2 WMAs in Lumpkin County:
| WMA | Acres in Lumpkin County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Chestatee WMA | 20,225 | 6 |
| Blue Ridge WMA | 222 | 38 |
58,239 acres of national forest lie in the county, measured on the federal maps. National forest land outside a WMA follows the national forest rules in the regulations (pages 56 to 57).
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 Lumpkin County compare with its neighbors?
Lumpkin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lumpkin County | 1,172 | 4.1 | 38% |
| Dawson County | 874 | 4.1 | 68% |
| Fannin County | 1,740 | 4.5 | 168% |
| Hall County | 2,874 | 7.3 | 41% |
| Union County | 1,755 | 5.4 | 128% |
| White County | 1,092 | 4.5 | 53% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Lumpkin County, Georgia last season?
1,172 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Lumpkin County in the 2025-26 season: 787 bucks and 385 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Lumpkin County in?
Lumpkin County is in WRD's Orange zone for private land in 2026-27. Firearms either-sex days in the zone: Nov. 6 to 12, 2026, Nov. 20 to 26, 2026 and Dec. 28, 2026 to Jan. 10, 2027. Source: WRD regulations, pages 12 to 13.
Is there public hunting land in Lumpkin County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Chestatee WMA (20,225 acres in the county) and Blue Ridge WMA (222 acres in the county) in Lumpkin County. The county also holds 58,239 acres of national forest.
Has the deer harvest in Lumpkin County gone up or down?
From 847 in 2016-17 to 1,172 in 2025-26, 38% higher. The high in that span was 1,308 (2024-25) and the low 847 (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 Dawson County Fannin County Hall County Union County