Putnam County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,740 deer in Putnam County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 875 bucks and 865 does (WRD). That is 5 deer per square mile of land, and 40th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 11% below 2024-25 (1,956).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Putnam CountyWRD WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,740 (875 bucks, 865 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 5, 37th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,903 deer a season |
| Highest season | 2,111 in 2021-22 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 3 |
| Land area | 344.7 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 4 WMAs, 41,392 acres; 38,321 acres of national forest |
| Towns | Eatonton |
How many deer are killed in Putnam County each season?
WRD has reported Putnam County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,903 a season; the most was 2,111 in 2021-22 and the fewest 1,628 in 2017-18. 2025-26 was 2% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,740 | 875 | 865 | 5 | 2,337 |
| 2024-25 | 1,956 | 972 | 984 | 5.7 | 2,684 |
| 2023-24 | 2,105 | 1,024 | 1,081 | 6.1 | 2,543 |
| 2022-23 | 1,773 | 908 | 865 | 5.1 | 2,399 |
| 2021-22 | 2,111 | 1,141 | 970 | 6.1 | 2,826 |
| 2020-21 | 2,077 | 1,087 | 990 | 6 | 2,706 |
| 2019-20 | 1,971 | 978 | 993 | 5.7 | 2,794 |
| 2018-19 | 1,882 | 1,011 | 871 | 5.5 | 2,703 |
| 2017-18 | 1,628 | 863 | 765 | 4.7 | 2,301 |
| 2016-17 | 1,783 | 841 | 942 | 5.2 | 2,477 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 344.7 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 Putnam County for 2025-26 are 80% of bucks and 70% of does.
When is deer season in Putnam County in 2026-27?
On private land Putnam 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 Putnam County?
WRD's boundaries put 4 WMAs in Putnam County:
| WMA | Acres in Putnam County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Creek WMA | 25,049 | 107 |
| B.F. Grant WMA | 13,650 | 47 |
| Little River WMA | 1,504 | |
| Oconee WMA | 1,189 | 153 |
38,321 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 Putnam County compare with its neighbors?
Putnam 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Putnam County | 1,740 | 5 | -2% |
| Baldwin County | 1,065 | 4.1 | 0% |
| Greene County | 2,153 | 5.6 | -2% |
| Hancock County | 3,095 | 6.6 | -6% |
| Jasper County | 1,871 | 5.1 | -3% |
| Jones County | 1,471 | 3.7 | -15% |
| Morgan County | 1,743 | 5 | 9% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Putnam County, Georgia last season?
1,740 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Putnam County in the 2025-26 season: 875 bucks and 865 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Putnam County in?
Putnam 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 Putnam County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Cedar Creek WMA (25,049 acres in the county), B.F. Grant WMA (13,650 acres in the county), Little River WMA (1,504 acres in the county) and Oconee WMA (1,189 acres in the county) in Putnam County. The county also holds 38,321 acres of national forest.
Has the deer harvest in Putnam County gone up or down?
From 1,783 in 2016-17 to 1,740 in 2025-26, 2% lower. The high in that span was 2,111 (2021-22) and the low 1,628 (2017-18).
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 Baldwin County Greene County Hancock County Jasper County