Thomas County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,322 deer in Thomas County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 609 bucks and 713 does (WRD). That is 2.4 deer per square mile of land, and 71st of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 17% above 2024-25 (1,133).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Thomas CountyWRD WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,322 (609 bucks, 713 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 2.4, 129th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,176 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,507 in 2017-18 |
| Private-land deer zone | Magenta (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 5 |
| Land area | 544.6 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 WMA, 2,585 acres; 142 acres of national wildlife refuge |
| Towns | Thomasville, Boston, Pavo, Meigs and Ochlocknee |
How many deer are killed in Thomas County each season?
WRD has reported Thomas County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,176 a season; the most was 1,507 in 2017-18 and the fewest 927 in 2021-22. 2025-26 was 2% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,322 | 609 | 713 | 2.4 | 1,990 |
| 2024-25 | 1,133 | 586 | 547 | 2.1 | 1,651 |
| 2023-24 | 1,189 | 619 | 570 | 2.2 | 1,658 |
| 2022-23 | 1,113 | 565 | 548 | 2 | 1,668 |
| 2021-22 | 927 | 464 | 463 | 1.7 | 1,364 |
| 2020-21 | 1,139 | 581 | 558 | 2.1 | 1,569 |
| 2019-20 | 1,142 | 553 | 589 | 2.1 | 1,670 |
| 2018-19 | 983 | 495 | 488 | 1.8 | 1,595 |
| 2017-18 | 1,507 | 675 | 832 | 2.8 | 2,398 |
| 2016-17 | 1,300 | 599 | 701 | 2.4 | 1,741 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 544.6 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 Thomas County for 2025-26 are 77% of bucks and 60% of does.
When is deer season in Thomas County in 2026-27?
On private land Thomas County is in WRD's Magenta 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 27, 2026 | Antlered bucks only |
| Archery | Sept. 28 to Oct. 9, 2026 | Either sex |
| Archery | Jan. 16 to 31, 2027 | 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. 15, 2027 | Either sex |
Thomas 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 Thomas County?
WRD's boundaries put 1 WMA in Thomas County:
| WMA | Acres in Thomas County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| River Creek the Rolf and Alexandra Kauka WMA | 2,585 | 18 |
142 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 Thomas County compare with its neighbors?
Thomas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas County | 1,322 | 2.4 | 2% |
| Brooks County | 1,111 | 2.3 | 10% |
| Colquitt County | 1,861 | 3.4 | 49% |
| Grady County | 1,044 | 2.3 | 16% |
| Mitchell County | 1,257 | 2.5 | 42% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Thomas County, Georgia last season?
1,322 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Thomas County in the 2025-26 season: 609 bucks and 713 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Thomas County in?
Thomas County is in WRD's Magenta zone for private land in 2026-27. Firearms either-sex days in the zone: Oct. 17, 2026 to Jan. 15, 2027. Source: WRD regulations, pages 12 to 13.
Is there public hunting land in Thomas County?
Yes. WRD's map puts River Creek the Rolf and Alexandra Kauka WMA (2,585 acres in the county) in Thomas County.
Has the deer harvest in Thomas County gone up or down?
From 1,300 in 2016-17 to 1,322 in 2025-26, 2% higher. The high in that span was 1,507 (2017-18) and the low 927 (2021-22).
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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 Brooks County Colquitt County Grady County Mitchell County