Oconee County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 670 deer in Oconee County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 356 bucks and 314 does (WRD). That is 3.6 deer per square mile of land, and 131st of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 24% below 2024-25 (883).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Oconee CountyWRD WMAsNational forestNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 670 (356 bucks, 314 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.6, 85th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 729 deer a season |
| Highest season | 883 in 2024-25 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 2 |
| Land area | 184.3 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 WMA, 162 acres; 167 acres of national forest; 175 acres of national wildlife refuge |
| Towns | Watkinsville, Bogart, North High Shoals and Bishop |
How many deer are killed in Oconee County each season?
WRD has reported Oconee County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 729 a season; the most was 883 in 2024-25 and the fewest 621 in 2021-22. 2025-26 was 2% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 670 | 356 | 314 | 3.6 | 896 |
| 2024-25 | 883 | 479 | 404 | 4.8 | 1,205 |
| 2023-24 | 788 | 410 | 378 | 4.3 | 946 |
| 2022-23 | 761 | 395 | 366 | 4.1 | 1,028 |
| 2021-22 | 621 | 351 | 270 | 3.4 | 822 |
| 2020-21 | 793 | 394 | 399 | 4.3 | 1,035 |
| 2019-20 | 692 | 385 | 307 | 3.8 | 978 |
| 2018-19 | 729 | 410 | 319 | 4 | 1,044 |
| 2017-18 | 670 | 382 | 288 | 3.6 | 941 |
| 2016-17 | 681 | 371 | 310 | 3.7 | 928 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 184.3 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 Oconee County for 2025-26 are 80% of bucks and 70% of does.
When is deer season in Oconee County in 2026-27?
On private land Oconee 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 Oconee County?
WRD's boundaries put 1 WMA in Oconee County:
| WMA | Acres in Oconee County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Redlands WMA | 162 | 425 |
167 acres of national forest and 175 acres of national wildlife refuge 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 Oconee County compare with its neighbors?
Oconee County touches 7 Georgia counties. Their 2025-26 harvest, and the change since 2016-17:
| County | Deer reported, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oconee County | 670 | 3.6 | -2% |
| Barrow County | 755 | 4.7 | 35% |
| Clarke County | 483 | 4 | -30% |
| Greene County | 2,153 | 5.6 | -2% |
| Jackson County | 2,133 | 6.3 | 7% |
| Morgan County | 1,743 | 5 | 9% |
| Oglethorpe County | 2,394 | 5.5 | -4% |
| Walton County | 1,395 | 4.3 | 1% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Oconee County, Georgia last season?
670 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Oconee County in the 2025-26 season: 356 bucks and 314 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Oconee County in?
Oconee 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 Oconee County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Redlands WMA (162 acres in the county) in Oconee County. The county also holds 167 acres of national forest.
Has the deer harvest in Oconee County gone up or down?
From 681 in 2016-17 to 670 in 2025-26, 2% lower. The high in that span was 883 (2024-25) and the low 621 (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 Barrow County Clarke County Greene County Jackson County