Oglethorpe County has once again solidified its place as one of Georgia’s top counties for deer hunting, ranking fifth for total deer harvested in 2024-25.
According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources database, hunters harvested 3,650 deer in the county in the 2024-25 season, marking a 1.47% increase from the previous year. Deer season ended Jan. 12.
Georgia Department of Natural Resources game warden Phillip Nelson credits part of the county’s success to a state rule change.
“In years past, the first two weeks were buck only, and they changed it to where it’s open to either sex all season long,” Nelson said. “This helps with removing extra does during the season.”
Nelson said the weather also contributed to successful hunting. While October’s dry spell briefly dampened hunting efforts, a rainy November boosted deer activity.
“I think weather is the key factor for most hunting,” Nelson said. “The drier it is, the harder it is for animals to smell.”
Seth Robinson, an avid Oglethorpe County hunter, found the most success during the wetter periods that followed October. He hunts mainly on property owned by friends and family.
“We first started killing our bucks during that time when they kind of disappeared in October from camera, and then they started showing up that first week in November,” Robinson said. “My buddy shot his biggest one, and then six days later, I shot mine, and then, like a week and a half later, his son shot his.”
Although Robinson brought down his biggest buck to date this season, a 12-pointer, his favorite moment was witnessing his son, Harris, who is 9, land his first-ever buck on New Year’s Eve. The two have been hunting together since Harris turned 7.
From scaring off the deer with the click-clacking of a Nintendo Switch to losing patience after missed shots, Robinson said the last couple of years have been a work in progress. However, it was all worth it in the end.
“I looked up and saw the buck standing there. And so from that point, I helped get him in position and he got settled on the buck, and he shot it, and it went down,” Robinson said. “Seeing him enjoy it, and then just seeing the emotion because he welled up and his eyes got teary and stuff like that, I was ecstatic.”
Robinson looks forward to creating more memories with his son next season and plans to scout new properties during the summer. He also intends to renovate and relocate his two-man ladder stand.
The next deer hunting season will begin on Sept. 14 for archery and Oct. 12 for primitive weapons and firearms.