Sumter County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,764 deer in Sumter County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 870 bucks and 894 does (WRD). That is 3.7 deer per square mile of land, and 36th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 9% above 2024-25 (1,617).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Sumter CountyWRD WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,764 (870 bucks, 894 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.7, 82nd of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,887 deer a season |
| Highest season | 2,535 in 2016-17 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 5 |
| Land area | 482.9 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | No WRD WMA; 103 acres of national wildlife refuge |
| Towns | Americus, Leslie, Andersonville, De Soto and Plains |
How many deer are killed in Sumter County each season?
WRD has reported Sumter County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,887 a season; the most was 2,535 in 2016-17 and the fewest 1,617 in 2024-25. 2025-26 was 30% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,764 | 870 | 894 | 3.7 | 2,635 |
| 2024-25 | 1,617 | 826 | 791 | 3.3 | 2,360 |
| 2023-24 | 1,921 | 948 | 973 | 4 | 2,690 |
| 2022-23 | 1,723 | 865 | 858 | 3.6 | 2,583 |
| 2021-22 | 1,731 | 808 | 923 | 3.6 | 2,578 |
| 2020-21 | 1,767 | 857 | 910 | 3.7 | 2,451 |
| 2019-20 | 1,681 | 849 | 832 | 3.5 | 2,469 |
| 2018-19 | 1,822 | 888 | 934 | 3.8 | 2,960 |
| 2017-18 | 2,307 | 1,158 | 1,149 | 4.8 | 3,647 |
| 2016-17 | 2,535 | 1,177 | 1,358 | 5.2 | 3,394 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 482.9 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 Sumter County for 2025-26 are 77% of bucks and 60% of does.
When is deer season in Sumter County in 2026-27?
On private land Sumter County is in WRD's Green zone. These are the zone's 2026-27 dates.
| 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 Sumter County?
No WRD WMA boundary falls in Sumter County. The closest WMAs with a page here: Flint River WMA (about 14 miles), Lanahassee WMA (about 17 miles) and Montezuma Bluffs WMA (about 22 miles).
103 acres of national wildlife refuge lie in the county, measured on the federal maps.
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 Sumter County compare with its neighbors?
Sumter County touches 8 Georgia counties. Their 2025-26 harvest, and the change since 2016-17:
| County | Deer reported, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumter County | 1,764 | 3.7 | -30% |
| Crisp County | 662 | 2.4 | -21% |
| Dooly County | 1,122 | 2.9 | 12% |
| Lee County | 1,105 | 3.1 | -52% |
| Macon County | 1,504 | 3.8 | 10% |
| Marion County | 1,433 | 3.9 | -23% |
| Schley County | 787 | 4.7 | -32% |
| Terrell County | 1,555 | 4.6 | -2% |
| Webster County | 1,164 | 5.6 | -2% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Sumter County, Georgia last season?
1,764 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Sumter County in the 2025-26 season: 870 bucks and 894 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Sumter County in?
Sumter 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 Sumter County?
No WRD WMA boundary falls in Sumter County. The closest WMAs with a page here: Flint River WMA (about 14 miles), Lanahassee WMA (about 17 miles) and Montezuma Bluffs WMA (about 22 miles).
Has the deer harvest in Sumter County gone up or down?
From 2,535 in 2016-17 to 1,764 in 2025-26, 30% lower. The high in that span was 2,535 (2016-17) and the low 1,617 (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 Crisp County Dooly County Lee County Macon County