Polk County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,982 deer in Polk County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 1,002 bucks and 980 does (WRD). That is 6.4 deer per square mile of land, and 28th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 9% below 2024-25 (2,175).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Polk CountyWRD WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,982 (1,002 bucks, 980 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 6.4, 9th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,768 deer a season |
| Highest season | 2,175 in 2024-25 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 1 |
| Land area | 310.3 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 5 WMAs, 8,721 acres |
| Bear zone | Northern (WRD) |
| Towns | Cedartown, Rockmart and Aragon |
How many deer are killed in Polk County each season?
WRD has reported Polk County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,768 a season; the most was 2,175 in 2024-25 and the fewest 1,331 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 49% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,982 | 1,002 | 980 | 6.4 | 2,655 |
| 2024-25 | 2,175 | 1,130 | 1,045 | 7 | 2,660 |
| 2023-24 | 2,011 | 1,056 | 955 | 6.5 | 2,445 |
| 2022-23 | 1,887 | 997 | 890 | 6.1 | 2,713 |
| 2021-22 | 1,807 | 999 | 808 | 5.8 | 2,652 |
| 2020-21 | 1,826 | 956 | 870 | 5.9 | 2,451 |
| 2019-20 | 1,775 | 894 | 881 | 5.7 | 2,230 |
| 2018-19 | 1,487 | 791 | 696 | 4.8 | 2,305 |
| 2017-18 | 1,395 | 784 | 611 | 4.5 | 2,146 |
| 2016-17 | 1,331 | 654 | 677 | 4.3 | 1,991 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 310.3 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 Polk County for 2025-26 are 78% of bucks and 72% of does.
When is deer season in Polk County in 2026-27?
On private land Polk 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 Polk County?
WRD's boundaries put 5 WMAs in Polk County:
| WMA | Acres in Polk County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Paulding Forest WMA | 5,203 | 106 |
| Treat Mountain WMA | 2,847 | |
| J.L. Lester WMA | 468 | 8 |
| Tallapoosa River WMA | 179 | |
| Sheffield WMA | 24 | 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 Polk County compare with its neighbors?
Polk 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County | 1,982 | 6.4 | 49% |
| Bartow County | 2,505 | 5.5 | 75% |
| Floyd County | 2,953 | 5.8 | 57% |
| Haralson County | 1,442 | 5.1 | 49% |
| Paulding County | 1,372 | 4.4 | 51% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Polk County, Georgia last season?
1,982 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Polk County in the 2025-26 season: 1,002 bucks and 980 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Polk County in?
Polk 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 Polk County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Paulding Forest WMA (5,203 acres in the county), Treat Mountain WMA (2,847 acres in the county), J.L. Lester WMA (468 acres in the county) and Tallapoosa River WMA (179 acres in the county) in Polk County.
Has the deer harvest in Polk County gone up or down?
From 1,331 in 2016-17 to 1,982 in 2025-26, 49% higher. The high in that span was 2,175 (2024-25) and the low 1,331 (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 Floyd County Haralson County Paulding County