White County deer harvest: Georgia Game Check, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,092 deer in White County in the 2025-26 season through Georgia Game Check: 718 bucks and 374 does (WRD). That is 4.5 deer per square mile of land, and 91st of Georgia's 159 counties by total. The count was 5% below 2024-25 (1,150).
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: WRD Game Check reports to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: WRD's 2026-27 regulations.
White CountyWRD WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,092 (718 bucks, 374 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.5, 58th of 159 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 881 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,150 in 2024-25 |
| Private-land deer zone | Orange (WRD) |
| WRD region | Region 2 |
| Land area | 240.8 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 3 WMAs, 23,136 acres; 42,277 acres of national forest |
| Bear zone | Northern (WRD) |
| Towns | Cleveland and Helen |
How many deer are killed in White County each season?
WRD has reported White County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 881 a season; the most was 1,150 in 2024-25 and the fewest 698 in 2017-18. 2025-26 was 53% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Bucks | Does | Per square mile | WRD's adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,092 | 718 | 374 | 4.5 | 1,435 |
| 2024-25 | 1,150 | 720 | 430 | 4.8 | 1,554 |
| 2023-24 | 1,081 | 644 | 437 | 4.5 | 1,279 |
| 2022-23 | 982 | 642 | 340 | 4.1 | 1,292 |
| 2021-22 | 788 | 554 | 234 | 3.3 | 975 |
| 2020-21 | 765 | 554 | 211 | 3.2 | 962 |
| 2019-20 | 720 | 504 | 216 | 3 | 1,011 |
| 2018-19 | 815 | 499 | 316 | 3.4 | 1,156 |
| 2017-18 | 698 | 496 | 202 | 2.9 | 958 |
| 2016-17 | 715 | 467 | 248 | 3 | 946 |
Source: WRD deer harvest reports (Georgia Game Check), deer reported by county. Per square mile uses the county's 240.8 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 White County for 2025-26 are 80% of bucks and 70% of does.
When is deer season in White County in 2026-27?
On private land White County is in WRD's Orange 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. 5, 2026 | Antlered bucks only |
| Firearms | Nov. 6 to 12, 2026 | Either sex |
| Firearms | Nov. 13 to 19, 2026 | Antlered bucks only |
| Firearms | Nov. 20 to 26, 2026 | Either sex |
| Firearms | Nov. 27 to Dec. 27, 2026 | Antlered bucks only |
| Firearms | Dec. 28, 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 White County?
WRD's boundaries put 3 WMAs in White County:
| WMA | Acres in White County | WMA deer reported, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Chattahoochee WMA | 21,033 | 17 |
| Chestatee WMA | 1,523 | 6 |
| Buck Shoals WMA | 580 |
42,277 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 White County compare with its neighbors?
White County touches 5 Georgia counties. Their 2025-26 harvest, and the change since 2016-17:
| County | Deer reported, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| White County | 1,092 | 4.5 | 53% |
| Habersham County | 1,338 | 4.8 | 38% |
| Hall County | 2,874 | 7.3 | 41% |
| Lumpkin County | 1,172 | 4.1 | 38% |
| Towns County | 505 | 3 | 142% |
| Union County | 1,755 | 5.4 | 128% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in White County, Georgia last season?
1,092 deer were reported through Georgia Game Check in White County in the 2025-26 season: 718 bucks and 374 does, by WRD's harvest reports.
What deer zone is White County in?
White County is in WRD's Orange zone for private land in 2026-27. Firearms either-sex days in the zone: Nov. 6 to 12, 2026, Nov. 20 to 26, 2026 and Dec. 28, 2026 to Jan. 10, 2027. Source: WRD regulations, pages 12 to 13.
Is there public hunting land in White County?
Yes. WRD's map puts Chattahoochee WMA (21,033 acres in the county), Chestatee WMA (1,523 acres in the county) and Buck Shoals WMA (580 acres in the county) in White County. The county also holds 42,277 acres of national forest.
Has the deer harvest in White County gone up or down?
From 715 in 2016-17 to 1,092 in 2025-26, 53% higher. The high in that span was 1,150 (2024-25) and the low 698 (2017-18).
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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 Hall County Lumpkin County Towns County