Rabun County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 371 deer in Rabun County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 329 bucks and 42 does (WRD). That is 1 deer per square mile of land, and 152nd of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 29% above 2024-25 (288).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Rabun CountyWRD WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 371 (329 bucks, 42 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 1, 154th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 249 deer a season |
| Highest season | 371 in 2025-26 |
| Private-land deer zone | Yellow (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 2 |
| Land area | 370.1 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 WMAs, 18,024 acres; 148,525 acres of national forest |
| Bear zone | Northern (WRD) |
| Towns | Clayton, Sky Valley, Mountain City, Dillard and Tiger |
How many deer are killed in Rabun County each season?
WRD has reported Rabun County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 249 a season; the most was 371 in 2025-26 and the fewest 191 in 2019-20. 2025-26 was 72% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 371 | 329 | 42 | 1 | 463 |
| 2024-25 | 288 | 250 | 38 | 0.8 | 389 |
| 2023-24 | 270 | 233 | 37 | 0.7 | 377 |
| 2022-23 | 261 | 219 | 42 | 0.7 | 336 |
| 2021-22 | 224 | 194 | 30 | 0.6 | 296 |
| 2020-21 | 243 | 215 | 28 | 0.7 | 314 |
| 2019-20 | 191 | 151 | 40 | 0.5 | 286 |
| 2018-19 | 205 | 162 | 43 | 0.6 | 287 |
| 2017-18 | 222 | 187 | 35 | 0.6 | 314 |
| 2016-17 | 216 | 172 | 44 | 0.6 | 255 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 370.1 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 Rabun County for 2025-26 are 79% of bucks and 88% of does.
When is deer season in Rabun County in 2026-27?
On private land Rabun County is in WRD's Yellow 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. 17 to Nov. 27, 2026 | Antlered bucks only |
| Firearms | Nov. 28 to 29, 2026 | Either sex |
| Firearms | Nov. 30 to Dec. 31, 2026 | Antlered bucks only |
| Firearms | Jan. 1, 2027 | Either sex |
| Firearms | Jan. 2 to 10, 2027 | Antlered bucks only |
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 Rabun County?
WRD's boundaries put 2 WMAs in Rabun County:
| WMA | Acres in Rabun County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Warwoman WMA | 16,609 | 2 |
| Tallulah Gorge WMA | 1,415 |
148,525 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 Rabun County compare with its neighbors?
Rabun County touches 2 Georgia counties. Their 2025-26 harvest, and the change since 2016-17:
| County | Deer reported, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabun County | 371 | 1 | 72% |
| Habersham County | 1,338 | 4.8 | 38% |
| Towns County | 505 | 3 | 142% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Rabun County, Georgia last season?
371 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Rabun County in the 2025-26 season: 329 bucks and 42 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Rabun County in?
Rabun County is in WRD's Yellow zone for private land in 2026-27. Firearms either-sex days in the zone: Nov. 28 to 29, 2026 and Jan. 1, 2027. Source: WRD regulations, pages 12 to 13.
Is there public hunting land in Rabun County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Warwoman WMA (16,609 acres in the county) and Tallulah Gorge WMA (1,415 acres in the county) in Rabun County. The county also holds 148,525 acres of national forest.
Has the deer harvest in Rabun County gone up or down?
From 216 in 2016-17 to 371 in 2025-26, 72% higher. The high in that span was 371 (2025-26) and the low 191 (2019-20).
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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 Habersham County Towns County