Oglethorpe County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 2,394 deer in Oglethorpe County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 1,203 bucks and 1,191 does (WRD). That is 5.5 deer per square mile of land, and 12th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 21% below 2024-25 (3,033).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Oglethorpe CountyWRD WMAsNational forestNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 2,394 (1,203 bucks, 1,191 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 5.5, 23rd of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,742 deer a season |
| Highest season | 3,033 in 2024-25 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 2 |
| Land area | 439.1 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 WMA, 3,807 acres; 3,949 acres of national forest |
| Towns | Maxeys, Arnoldsville, Crawford and Lexington |
How many deer are killed in Oglethorpe County each season?
WRD has reported Oglethorpe County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 2,742 a season; the most was 3,033 in 2024-25 and the fewest 2,394 in 2025-26. 2025-26 was 4% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,394 | 1,203 | 1,191 | 5.5 | 3,216 |
| 2024-25 | 3,033 | 1,535 | 1,498 | 6.9 | 4,157 |
| 2023-24 | 2,985 | 1,489 | 1,496 | 6.8 | 3,597 |
| 2022-23 | 2,723 | 1,389 | 1,334 | 6.2 | 3,686 |
| 2021-22 | 2,720 | 1,443 | 1,277 | 6.2 | 3,658 |
| 2020-21 | 2,880 | 1,492 | 1,388 | 6.6 | 3,752 |
| 2019-20 | 2,722 | 1,351 | 1,371 | 6.2 | 3,855 |
| 2018-19 | 2,791 | 1,445 | 1,346 | 6.4 | 4,015 |
| 2017-18 | 2,687 | 1,448 | 1,239 | 6.1 | 3,793 |
| 2016-17 | 2,484 | 1,290 | 1,194 | 5.7 | 3,408 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 439.1 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 Oglethorpe County for 2025-26 are 80% of bucks and 70% of does.
When is deer season in Oglethorpe County in 2026-27?
On private land Oglethorpe 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 Oglethorpe County?
WRD's boundaries put 1 WMA in Oglethorpe County:
| WMA | Acres in Oglethorpe County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Redlands WMA | 3,807 | 425 |
3,949 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 Oglethorpe County compare with its neighbors?
Oglethorpe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oglethorpe County | 2,394 | 5.5 | -4% |
| Clarke County | 483 | 4 | -30% |
| Elbert County | 2,075 | 5.9 | 7% |
| Greene County | 2,153 | 5.6 | -2% |
| Madison County | 2,078 | 7.4 | 14% |
| Oconee County | 670 | 3.6 | -2% |
| Taliaferro County | 987 | 5.1 | 5% |
| Wilkes County | 2,775 | 5.9 | 1% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Oglethorpe County, Georgia last season?
2,394 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Oglethorpe County in the 2025-26 season: 1,203 bucks and 1,191 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Oglethorpe County in?
Oglethorpe 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 Oglethorpe County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Redlands WMA (3,807 acres in the county) in Oglethorpe County. The county also holds 3,949 acres of national forest.
Has the deer harvest in Oglethorpe County gone up or down?
From 2,484 in 2016-17 to 2,394 in 2025-26, 4% lower. The high in that span was 3,033 (2024-25) and the low 2,394 (2025-26).
Get a Georgia hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Georgia are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Georgia included.
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 Clarke County Elbert County Greene County Madison County