Paulding County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,372 deer in Paulding County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 780 bucks and 592 does (WRD). That is 4.4 deer per square mile of land, and 65th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 2% below 2024-25 (1,404).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Paulding CountyWRD WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,372 (780 bucks, 592 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.4, 60th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,134 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,404 in 2024-25 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 1 |
| Land area | 312.4 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 WMAs, 28,716 acres |
| Bear zone | Northern (WRD) |
| Towns | Dallas, Hiram and Braswell |
How many deer are killed in Paulding County each season?
WRD has reported Paulding County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,134 a season; the most was 1,404 in 2024-25 and the fewest 906 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 51% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,372 | 780 | 592 | 4.4 | 1,826 |
| 2024-25 | 1,404 | 779 | 625 | 4.5 | 1,914 |
| 2023-24 | 1,340 | 753 | 587 | 4.3 | 1,596 |
| 2022-23 | 1,121 | 672 | 449 | 3.6 | 1,491 |
| 2021-22 | 1,079 | 646 | 433 | 3.5 | 1,405 |
| 2020-21 | 1,051 | 605 | 446 | 3.4 | 1,357 |
| 2019-20 | 1,017 | 557 | 460 | 3.3 | 1,438 |
| 2018-19 | 1,007 | 572 | 435 | 3.2 | 1,435 |
| 2017-18 | 1,047 | 634 | 413 | 3.4 | 1,462 |
| 2016-17 | 906 | 511 | 395 | 2.9 | 1,228 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 312.4 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 Paulding County for 2025-26 are 80% of bucks and 70% of does.
When is deer season in Paulding County in 2026-27?
On private land Paulding 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 |
Paulding County is one of the 29 extended archery counties, where archery season runs September 12, 2026 to January 31, 2027 (page 11).
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 Paulding County?
WRD's boundaries put 2 WMAs in Paulding County:
| WMA | Acres in Paulding County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Paulding Forest WMA | 23,185 | 106 |
| Sheffield WMA | 5,531 | 26 |
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 Paulding County compare with its neighbors?
Paulding County touches 6 Georgia counties. Their 2025-26 harvest, and the change since 2016-17:
| County | Deer reported, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paulding County | 1,372 | 4.4 | 51% |
| Bartow County | 2,505 | 5.5 | 75% |
| Carroll County | 2,360 | 4.7 | 55% |
| Cobb County | 611 | 1.8 | 73% |
| Douglas County | 935 | 4.7 | 18% |
| Haralson County | 1,442 | 5.1 | 49% |
| Polk County | 1,982 | 6.4 | 49% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Paulding County, Georgia last season?
1,372 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Paulding County in the 2025-26 season: 780 bucks and 592 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Paulding County in?
Paulding 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 Paulding County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Paulding Forest WMA (23,185 acres in the county) and Sheffield WMA (5,531 acres in the county) in Paulding County.
Has the deer harvest in Paulding County gone up or down?
From 906 in 2016-17 to 1,372 in 2025-26, 51% higher. The high in that span was 1,404 (2024-25) and the low 906 (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 Bartow County Carroll County Cobb County Douglas County