Wayne County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 914 deer in Wayne County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 363 bucks and 551 does (WRD). That is 1.4 deer per square mile of land, and 102nd of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 11% above 2024-25 (826).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
Wayne CountyWRD WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 914 (363 bucks, 551 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 1.4, 145th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 720 deer a season |
| Highest season | 931 in 2023-24 |
| Private-land deer zone | Green (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 6 |
| Land area | 641.8 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 6 WMAs, 41,618 acres |
| Towns | Jesup, Screven and Odum |
How many deer are killed in Wayne County each season?
WRD has reported Wayne County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 720 a season; the most was 931 in 2023-24 and the fewest 578 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 53% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 914 | 363 | 551 | 1.4 | 1,642 |
| 2024-25 | 826 | 343 | 483 | 1.3 | 1,542 |
| 2023-24 | 931 | 409 | 522 | 1.5 | 1,578 |
| 2022-23 | 754 | 354 | 400 | 1.2 | 1,293 |
| 2021-22 | 713 | 309 | 404 | 1.1 | 1,249 |
| 2020-21 | 617 | 262 | 355 | 1 | 1,111 |
| 2019-20 | 663 | 302 | 361 | 1 | 1,133 |
| 2018-19 | 578 | 243 | 335 | 0.9 | 1,225 |
| 2017-18 | 606 | 249 | 357 | 0.9 | 1,337 |
| 2016-17 | 596 | 288 | 308 | 0.9 | 1,042 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 641.8 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 Wayne County for 2025-26 are 68% of bucks and 50% of does.
When is deer season in Wayne County in 2026-27?
On private land Wayne 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 |
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 Wayne County?
WRD's boundaries put 6 WMAs in Wayne County:
| WMA | Acres in Wayne County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Sansavilla WMA | 17,933 | 47 |
| Penholoway Swamp WMA | 11,168 | 7 |
| Little Satilla WMA | 8,925 | 119 |
| Rogers WMA | 3,341 | 12 |
| Rayonier Corridor Lands WMA | 164 | |
| Morgan Lake WMA | 87 |
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 Wayne County compare with its neighbors?
Wayne County touches 7 Georgia counties. Their 2025-26 harvest, and the change since 2016-17:
| County | Deer reported, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | 914 | 1.4 | 53% |
| Appling County | 1,345 | 2.6 | 26% |
| Brantley County | 584 | 1.3 | 83% |
| Glynn County | 312 | 0.7 | 6% |
| Long County | 414 | 1 | 11% |
| McIntosh County | 422 | 1 | 73% |
| Pierce County | 599 | 1.8 | 90% |
| Tattnall County | 1,151 | 2.4 | 23% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Wayne County, Georgia last season?
914 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in Wayne County in the 2025-26 season: 363 bucks and 551 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is Wayne County in?
Wayne 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 Wayne County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Sansavilla WMA (17,933 acres in the county), Penholoway Swamp WMA (11,168 acres in the county), Little Satilla WMA (8,925 acres in the county) and Rogers WMA (3,341 acres in the county) in Wayne County.
Has the deer harvest in Wayne County gone up or down?
From 596 in 2016-17 to 914 in 2025-26, 53% higher. The high in that span was 931 (2023-24) and the low 578 (2018-19).
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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 Appling County Brantley County Glynn County Long County