Towns County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 505 deer in Towns County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 364 bucks and 141 does (WRD). That is 3 deer per square mile of land, and 145th of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 9% above 2024-25 (463).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Towns CountyWRD WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 505 (364 bucks, 141 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3, 105th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 324 deer a season |
| Highest season | 505 in 2025-26 |
| Private-land deer zone | Yellow (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 2 |
| Land area | 166.5 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 WMAs, 19,850 acres; 57,504 acres of national forest |
| Bear zone | Northern (WRD) |
| Towns | Hiawassee and Young Harris |
How many deer are killed in Towns County each season?
WRD has reported Towns County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 324 a season; the most was 505 in 2025-26 and the fewest 209 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 142% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 505 | 364 | 141 | 3 | 620 |
| 2024-25 | 463 | 344 | 119 | 2.8 | 642 |
| 2023-24 | 399 | 299 | 100 | 2.4 | 581 |
| 2022-23 | 385 | 270 | 115 | 2.3 | 496 |
| 2021-22 | 260 | 215 | 45 | 1.6 | 348 |
| 2020-21 | 304 | 245 | 59 | 1.8 | 398 |
| 2019-20 | 250 | 210 | 40 | 1.5 | 374 |
| 2018-19 | 231 | 155 | 76 | 1.4 | 326 |
| 2017-18 | 238 | 179 | 59 | 1.4 | 349 |
| 2016-17 | 209 | 154 | 55 | 1.3 | 257 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 166.5 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 Towns County for 2025-26 are 79% of bucks and 88% of does.
When is deer season in Towns County in 2026-27?
On private land Towns 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 Towns County?
WRD's boundaries put 2 WMAs in Towns County:
| WMA | Acres in Towns County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Swallow Creek WMA | 18,354 | 6 |
| Chattahoochee WMA | 1,496 | 17 |
57,504 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 Towns County compare with its neighbors?
Towns 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Towns County | 505 | 3 | 142% |
| Habersham County | 1,338 | 4.8 | 38% |
| Rabun County | 371 | 1 | 72% |
| Union County | 1,755 | 5.4 | 128% |
| White County | 1,092 | 4.5 | 53% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Towns County, Georgia last season?
505 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Towns County in the 2025-26 season: 364 bucks and 141 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Towns County in?
Towns 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 Towns County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Swallow Creek WMA (18,354 acres in the county) and Chattahoochee WMA (1,496 acres in the county) in Towns County. The county also holds 57,504 acres of national forest.
Has the deer harvest in Towns County gone up or down?
From 209 in 2016-17 to 505 in 2025-26, 142% higher. The high in that span was 505 (2025-26) and the low 209 (2016-17).
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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 Rabun County Union County White County