Richmond County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 651 deer in Richmond County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 344 bucks and 307 does (WRD). That is 2 deer per square mile of land, and 134th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 26% above 2024-25 (515).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Richmond CountyWRD WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 651 (344 bucks, 307 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 2, 136th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 763 deer a season |
| Highest season | 914 in 2018-19 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 3 |
| Land area | 324.3 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 WMAs, 2,176 acres |
| Towns | Augusta, Hephzibah and Blythe |
How many deer are killed in Richmond County each season?
WRD has reported Richmond County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 763 a season; the most was 914 in 2018-19 and the fewest 515 in 2024-25. 2025-26 was 13% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 651 | 344 | 307 | 2 | 964 |
| 2024-25 | 515 | 254 | 261 | 1.6 | 755 |
| 2023-24 | 757 | 414 | 343 | 2.3 | 1,051 |
| 2022-23 | 736 | 381 | 355 | 2.3 | 1,102 |
| 2021-22 | 786 | 415 | 371 | 2.4 | 1,145 |
| 2020-21 | 842 | 437 | 405 | 2.6 | 1,160 |
| 2019-20 | 803 | 402 | 401 | 2.5 | 1,180 |
| 2018-19 | 914 | 471 | 443 | 2.8 | 1,481 |
| 2017-18 | 877 | 437 | 440 | 2.7 | 1,387 |
| 2016-17 | 747 | 366 | 381 | 2.3 | 996 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 324.3 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 Richmond County for 2025-26 are 77% of bucks and 60% of does.
When is deer season in Richmond County in 2026-27?
On private land Richmond 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 |
Richmond 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 Richmond County?
WRD's boundaries put 2 WMAs in Richmond County:
| WMA | Acres in Richmond County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Phinizy Swamp WMA | 1,610 | 1 |
| Spirit Creek Forest WMA | 566 | 9 |
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 Richmond County compare with its neighbors?
Richmond 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond County | 651 | 2 | -13% |
| Burke County | 3,322 | 4 | -10% |
| Columbia County | 1,385 | 4.8 | 3% |
| Jefferson County | 2,185 | 4.1 | 8% |
| McDuffie County | 1,508 | 5.9 | 43% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Richmond County, Georgia last season?
651 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Richmond County in the 2025-26 season: 344 bucks and 307 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Richmond County in?
Richmond 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 Richmond County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Phinizy Swamp WMA (1,610 acres in the county) and Spirit Creek Forest WMA (566 acres in the county) in Richmond County.
Has the deer harvest in Richmond County gone up or down?
From 747 in 2016-17 to 651 in 2025-26, 13% lower. The high in that span was 914 (2018-19) and the low 515 (2024-25).
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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 Burke County Columbia County Jefferson County McDuffie County