Murray County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,558 deer in Murray County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 930 bucks and 628 does (WRD). That is 4.5 deer per square mile of land, and 45th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 12% below 2024-25 (1,768).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Murray CountyWRD WMAsNational forestNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,558 (930 bucks, 628 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.5, 56th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,160 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,768 in 2024-25 |
| Private-land deer zone | Orange (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 1 |
| Land area | 344.5 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 4 WMAs, 48,685 acres; 51,857 acres of national forest |
| Bear zone | Northern (WRD) |
| Towns | Chatsworth and Eton |
How many deer are killed in Murray County each season?
WRD has reported Murray County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,160 a season; the most was 1,768 in 2024-25 and the fewest 641 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 143% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,558 | 930 | 628 | 4.5 | 2,071 |
| 2024-25 | 1,768 | 1,034 | 734 | 5.1 | 2,160 |
| 2023-24 | 1,498 | 861 | 637 | 4.3 | 1,804 |
| 2022-23 | 1,184 | 777 | 407 | 3.4 | 1,657 |
| 2021-22 | 1,245 | 718 | 527 | 3.6 | 1,816 |
| 2020-21 | 1,249 | 767 | 482 | 3.6 | 1,668 |
| 2019-20 | 1,030 | 670 | 360 | 3 | 1,279 |
| 2018-19 | 776 | 450 | 326 | 2.3 | 1,196 |
| 2017-18 | 649 | 417 | 232 | 1.9 | 975 |
| 2016-17 | 641 | 365 | 276 | 1.9 | 952 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 344.5 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 Murray County for 2025-26 are 78% of bucks and 72% of does.
When is deer season in Murray County in 2026-27?
On private land Murray 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 Murray County?
WRD's boundaries put 4 WMAs in Murray County:
| WMA | Acres in Murray County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Cohutta WMA | 42,758 | 4 |
| Carters Lake WMA | 2,815 | 44 |
| Coosawattee WMA | 2,714 | 110 |
| Conasauga River WMA | 398 | 18 |
51,857 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 Murray County compare with its neighbors?
Murray 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murray County | 1,558 | 4.5 | 143% |
| Fannin County | 1,740 | 4.5 | 168% |
| Gilmer County | 1,417 | 3.3 | 113% |
| Gordon County | 2,894 | 8.1 | 94% |
| Whitfield County | 1,425 | 4.9 | 97% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Murray County, Georgia last season?
1,558 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Murray County in the 2025-26 season: 930 bucks and 628 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Murray County in?
Murray 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 Murray County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Cohutta WMA (42,758 acres in the county), Carters Lake WMA (2,815 acres in the county), Coosawattee WMA (2,714 acres in the county) and Conasauga River WMA (398 acres in the county) in Murray County. The county also holds 51,857 acres of national forest.
Has the deer harvest in Murray County gone up or down?
From 641 in 2016-17 to 1,558 in 2025-26, 143% higher. The high in that span was 1,768 (2024-25) and the low 641 (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 Fannin County Gilmer County Gordon County Whitfield County