Deer season hits peak this Saturday

Modern gun deer hunting season opens Saturday and runs through Nov. 29. These 16 days comprise Kentucky’s biggest hunting season annually.

With strong deer populations across the state, Kentucky offers many hunting opportunities. Hunters reported harvesting more than 145,000 deer last year, down slightly from nearly 150,000 in 2024-2025. Deer hunters have been afield since September with the opening of archery and crossbow seasons but modern gun season accounts for the most deer harvested annually.

“The opening weekend of modern firearms deer season is one of the most anticipated times of the year for many hunters across Kentucky,” said Ben Robinson, director of the wildlife division for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “The 2026 calendar has the season opening later than normal but we still anticipate a strong harvest statewide.”

Hunting licenses and permits may be purchased online on the fw.ky.gov website and at authorized license agents throughout the state.

Licenses are available for residents and non-residents, youth and senior/disabled. A statewide or youth deer permit is required for all license types.

For detailed license requirements and other hunting regulations, visit the Deer Hunting section of the department’s website or view and download the 2026-2027 Fall Hunting and Trapping Guide.

HARVEST LIMITS

Kentucky is divided into four deer zones, based predominantly on the deer density of the counties in each region. Each zone has different method of take restrictions and harvest limits for antlerless deer, however a hunter may take only one buck a year in the state, regardless of zone. Consult the hunting guide for more information on the zone being hunted.

HARVEST MORE DOES

Hunters are encouraged to harvest more does this season, particularly in Zone 1 and 2 counties, to help improve overall herd health. A hunter may harvest an unlimited number of antlerless deer in Zone 1 using the statewide permit and additional deer permits. A hunter may harvest up to four antlerless deer in Zone 2.

Adequate doe harvests are critical for maintaining balanced, healthy deer populations. A balanced buck-to-doe ratio means a more intense rut chasing bucks that are more likely to reach their potential, state officials say. Fawns are born in a more concentrated window improving recruitment. A balanced deer population helps reduce over-browsing, agricultural issues, and keeps roadways safer.

HARVEST REPORTING

Immediately upon recovery of a harvested deer, a hunter must fill out a harvest log consisting of game species, sex, county and date on the back of the hunting license or elsewhere and kept in their possession. Before midnight, each harvest must be reported to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, even if the hunter is license exempt. Hunters can report their harvest by calling the department’s telecheck number at 1-800-245-4263, or by using the online My Profile portal at fw.ky.gov.

CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE (CWD)

Special restrictions apply to deer harvested in the CWD Surveillance Zone. Ballard, Breckinridge, Calloway, Carlisle, Casey, Fulton, Graves, Hardin, Henderson, Hickman, Laurel, Lincoln, Marshall, McCracken, McCreary, Meade, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Union, Wayne, Webster and Whitley counties are under carcass transportation and baiting restrictions in an effort to monitor and contain CWD. Hunters in Henderson, McCreary, Pulaski and Wayne counties also must take their harvested deer to a staffed check station or use a CWD Sample Drop-Off Site the first three days of modern gun season, Nov. 14-16.

Deer hunters outside the CWD Surveillance Zone can aid monitoring efforts by donating the heads of legally harvested and telechecked deer for free testing and aging through the voluntary CWD Sample Drop-Off Sites or CWD Sample Mail-In Kits.

HUNTER EDUCATION

Valid proof of hunter education certification is required for hunters born in 1975 or later. For new hunters without hunter education certification, a free one-year exemption permit is available. This permit allows a person to hunt as long as they are accompanied in the field by an adult who is hunter education-certified or born before 1975. Learn more on the department’s Hunter Education webpage.

KENTUCKY DEER & ELK APP

Introduced to Kentucky’s deer and elk hunters last year, the Kentucky Deer & Elk App allows users to see public land property boundaries, locate local processors and taxidermists, keep a digital copy of their license and get more information about the county they are hunting. This app is available for free download from the Apple App and Google Play stores.

VENISON DONATION

Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry and Boone Brothers are excellent options for hunters who want to contribute to conservation and harvest additional does, but don’t need the meat themselves. Both organizations process and distribute venison to people in need in the communities where the deer were harvested.

Deer season hits peak this Saturday

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