Home › Kentucky › Counties › Franklin County
Bluegrass Region
Franklin County Hunting Rundown
Zone 1 deer rules, every season row, quota hunts, harvest since 2016-17 and the land you can walk on in Franklin County.
Photo: Sarah Stierch (CC BY 2.0)
Franklin County quick facts
On the KDFWR regional map, Franklin County is one of 31 counties grouped as the Bluegrass Region. The seat of government is Frankfort; the county counted roughly 52,442 residents in the 2024 estimate. The county has gained about 896 people since the 2020 count.
Expect Bluegrass country: 208 square miles of land and 4.1 square miles of lakes and streams. Its wildlife district is VI, which decides whether the Western or Eastern small game dates apply. Right next door sit Anderson, Henry, Owen, Scott, Shelby and Woodford.
Tractor raking hay in a rolling Franklin County field under a blue skyPhoto: Justin Pius (U.S. Department of Agriculture) (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
The Kentucky State Capitol and its long lawn in FrankfortPhoto: Gary Todd (CC0 1.0)
Population from the Census Bureau 2024 estimates; land area from the Census Gazetteer; region and districts from the KDFWR administrative layer and 301 KAR 4:010; harvest rank from the KDFWR Harvest Results app. Checked November 10, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Franklin County
Franklin County deer zone and dates
Zone 1 covers 68 counties for 2026-27, Franklin County among them. Antlerless deer are unlimited in Zone 1, provided each one is covered by a permit beyond the statewide deer permit. There was no zone change for Franklin County this season.
| Season | Method | Opens | Closes | Days | Bag | Today | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Bows | Sep 5, 2026 | Jan 18, 2027 | 136 | Zone bag | Guide p. 12 | |
| Youth, senior crossbow | Crossbow | Sep 5, 2026 | Jan 18, 2027 | 136 | Zone bag | Guide p. 12 | |
| Crossbow | Crossbow, bows | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 18, 2027 | 122 | Zone bag | Guide p. 12 | |
| Youth gun | Any legal method | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 9 | Zone bag | Guide p. 12 | |
| Early Muzzleloader | Muzzleloader, bows | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 2 | Zone bag | Guide p. 12 | |
| Modern gun | Any legal deer gun | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 16 | Zone bag | Guide p. 12 | |
| Late Muzzleloader | Muzzleloader, bows | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | 9 | Zone bag | Guide p. 12 | |
| Free youth weekend | Any legal method | Dec 26, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | 2 | Either sex | Guide p. 12 |
Firearms deer hunting runs November 14 to November 29, 2026 here, with the late muzzleloader days set for December 12 to December 20, 2026. Before that, the youth-only gun days run October 10 to October 18, 2026 and early muzzleloader takes October 17 to October 18, 2026. Statewide archery and crossbow seasons stretch to January 18, 2027, opening September 5 and September 19.
From the youth gun days through late muzzleloader, solid orange on the head, back and chest is the rule in Franklin County for nearly every hunter. Kids under 16 hunt free on December 26 to December 27, 2026, with no license or deer permit, alongside an adult.
Zones and bags from 301 KAR 2:172 and the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide; hunter orange from the guide. Checked November 10, 2026.
Franklin County chronic wasting disease rules
Franklin County is outside the CWD Surveillance Zone; the nearest zone county is Lincoln County, about 55 miles centre to centre.
A deer from a zone county can only come here as boned meat, antlers, clean skull caps, hides or finished mounts. Private-land baiting is allowed in Franklin County since it sits outside the zone, though never on WMAs or state parks.
KDFWR tests deer at no charge from anywhere in the state, by drop-off site or mail kit.
From the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide, the KDFWR CWD Surveillance Zone page and baiting rules. Checked November 10, 2026.
Other game zones covering Franklin County
Black bear
Bear hunting stops at the bear zone line, and Franklin County sits outside it; Clark County is the nearest zone county at about 43 miles.
Elk
Elk are not managed for a herd here; Franklin County hunters can take one elk of either sex a license year with an Out-of-Zone Elk Permit. Deer bags are unaffected; the elk is counted on its own.
Small game and birds
For rabbit and quail, Franklin County is a Eastern Zone county, with dates of November 1 to November 13 and November 16 to January 31. Franklin County is left off the Grouse Zone list. The otter map places Franklin County in Zone 1.
For the early Canada goose season the county falls in the Eastern Zone (September 16 to September 30, 2026). Duck hunters here use the statewide split season, November 26 through January 31, 2027.
| Zone | Setting |
|---|---|
| Small game zone | Eastern |
| Grouse Zone | No |
| Otter zone | 1 |
| September goose | Eastern (map) |
| Bear zone | None |
| Elk zone | No |
| Wildlife district | VI |
From the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide, the Kentucky Hunting Guide for Migratory Birds and Waterfowl, bear zone rules, elk rules and small game zones. Checked November 10, 2026.
Franklin County hunting dates by zone
Franklin County has 2 deer quota hunts on public ground this season; those need a drawn permit, so apply in the September window before planning around them.
| Game | Season | Area | Needs | Opens | Closes | Splits | Today | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | Statewide | Permit | Sep 5, 2026 | Jan 18, 2027 | One | Guide p. 12 | |
| Deer | Youth, senior crossbow | Statewide | Permit | Sep 5, 2026 | Jan 18, 2027 | One | Guide p. 12 | |
| Deer | Crossbow | Statewide | Permit | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 18, 2027 | One | Guide p. 12 | |
| Deer | Youth gun | Statewide | Permit | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | One | Guide p. 12 | |
| Deer | Early Muzzleloader | Statewide | Permit | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | One | Guide p. 12 | |
| Deer | Deer quota hunts | 2 hunts | Quota permit | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | 2 parts | KDFWR page | |
| Deer | Modern gun | Zone 1 | Permit | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | One | Guide p. 12 | |
| Deer | Late Muzzleloader | Zone 1 | Permit | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | One | Guide p. 12 | |
| Deer | Free youth weekend | Statewide | Permit | Dec 26, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | One | Guide p. 12 | |
| Elk | Out-of-zone elk | Deer dates | Permit | – | – | – | No dates | Guide p. 23 |
| Turkey | Fall Archery | Statewide | Permit | Sep 5, 2026 | Jan 18, 2027 | One | Guide p. 24 | |
| Turkey | Fall Crossbow | Statewide | Permit | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | 2 parts | Guide p. 24 | |
| Turkey | Fall Shotgun | Statewide | Permit | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | 2 parts | Guide p. 24 | |
| Turkey | Spring 2027 | Dates pending | Permit | – | – | – | No dates | 301 KAR 2:142 |
| Turkey | Youth spring 2027 | Dates pending | Permit | – | – | – | No dates | 301 KAR 2:142 |
| Squirrel | Fall Squirrel | Statewide | License | Aug 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 2 parts | Guide p. 27 | |
| Squirrel | Squirrel Trapping | Statewide | License | Nov 16, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guide p. 27 | |
| Squirrel | Spring 2027 | Dates pending | License | – | – | – | No dates | 301 KAR 2:122 |
| Rabbit | Rabbit | Eastern zone | License | Nov 1, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 2 parts | Guide p. 27 | |
| Rabbit | Rabbit Trapping | Eastern zone | License | Nov 16, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | One | Guide p. 27 | |
| Quail | Quail | Eastern zone | License | Nov 1, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 2 parts | Guide p. 27 | |
| Small game | Falconry | Statewide | License | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 30, 2027 | One | Guide p. 27 | |
| Small game, furbearers | Free youth week | Statewide | License | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | One | Guide p. 27 | |
| Groundhog | Groundhog | Statewide | License | Mar 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guide p. 29 | |
| Crow | Crow | Statewide | License | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 2 parts | Guide p. 29 | |
| Bullfrog | Bullfrog | Statewide | License | May 16, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | One | Guide p. 29 | |
| Turtles | Turtles | Statewide | License | Mar 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guide p. 29 | |
| Exotic hoofed | Exotic hoofed wildlife | Statewide | License | Mar 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guide p. 29 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck | Statewide | License | Nov 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 2 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 10 | |
| Ducks | Falconry | Statewide | License | Nov 26, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 10 | |
| Teal, wood duck | September teal | Statewide | License | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 23, 2026 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 10 | |
| Waterfowl | Youth days | Statewide | License | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 13, 2027 | 2 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 11 | |
| Waterfowl | Veteran, military days | Statewide | License | Nov 22, 2026 | Feb 14, 2027 | 2 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 11 | |
| Canada goose | September goose | Eastern (map) | License | Sep 16, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 10 | |
| Dark geese | Goose | Statewide | License | Nov 26, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 10 | |
| Light geese | Light Goose | Statewide | License | Nov 26, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 10 | |
| Light geese | Conservation order | Statewide | License | Feb 16, 2027 | Mar 31, 2027 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 10 | |
| Geese | Falconry | Statewide | License | Nov 26, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 10 | |
| Dove | Dove | Statewide | License | Sep 1, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | 3 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 7 | |
| Woodcock | Woodcock | Statewide | License | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | 2 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 7 | |
| Snipe | Snipe | Statewide | License | Sep 16, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 2 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 7 | |
| Rails | Rail | Statewide | License | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 7 | |
| Gallinules | Gallinule | Statewide | License | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 7 | |
| Sandhill crane | Crane, by permit | Statewide | Quota permit | Dec 7, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 8 | |
| Raccoon, opossum | Hunting | Statewide | License | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guide p. 25 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | Statewide | License | Mar 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guide p. 25 | |
| Coyote | Night, with lights | Statewide | License | Dec 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | One | Guide p. 25 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | Statewide | License | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guide p. 25 | |
| River otter | Hunting | Statewide | License | Nov 16, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guide p. 25 | |
| Other furbearers | Hunting | Statewide | License | Nov 16, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guide p. 25 | |
| Furbearers | Trapping | Statewide | License | Nov 16, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | 2 parts | Guide p. 25 | |
| Wild pig | No season | No season | None | – | – | – | No dates | Guide p. 29 |
Dates from the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide and the Kentucky Hunting Guide for Migratory Birds and Waterfowl, checked against the KDFWR Season Dates app; zone county lists from 301 KAR and KDFWR zone layers; quota hunts from the KDFWR Quota Hunts page (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Deer quota hunts on Franklin County land
Franklin County land hosts 2 of the 38 statewide deer quota hunts, with 400 slots on offer. Applications ran online from September 1 to September 30, 2026, at $3 per hunt, so this season's hunts are already drawn. A higher 2025 point minimum means a harder draw.
| Location | Hunt no. | Dates | Drawn | Min pts | Land type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John A. Kleber WMA | 16 | Nov. 7-8 | 200 | 0 | WMA |
| John A. Kleber WMA | 17 | Dec. 5-6 | 200 | 0 | WMA |
From the KDFWR Quota Hunts page (Sept. 1-30, 2026 online only, $3 per hunt) and the land records. Checked November 10, 2026.
Deer and turkey harvest in Franklin County
Telecheck logged 1,379 deer from Franklin County in the 2025-26 license year, ranking it 42nd of 120. Per square mile the take was 6.6, 12th among counties. The 2016-17 figure was 1,484, so the latest season is 7% lower. The best year in the series was 2017-18 with 1,535, the lowest 2022-23 with 1,251.
Antlered deer were 48% of the total, with does at 47%. Modern firearms accounted for 65% of the deer, crossbows 12% and archery 15%. That was 1% of the deer checked in the counties now in Zone 1.
| Type | Checked | Of total |
|---|---|---|
| All deer | 1,379 | 100% |
| Male | 737 | 53% |
| Antlered buck | 661 | 48% |
| Button buck | 76 | 6% |
| Female | 642 | 47% |
| Modern firearm | 899 | 65% |
| Muzzleloader | 99 | 7% |
| Archery | 210 | 15% |
| Crossbow | 171 | 12% |
Wild turkey
The spring 2026 turkey take here was 240, 72nd in Kentucky. In the 2025-26 fall season, 23 turkeys were checked. Watch for the spring 2027 dates; KDFWR had not released them yet.
| Turkey season | Checked |
|---|---|
| spring 2022 | 199 |
| spring 2023 | 253 |
| spring 2024 | 255 |
| spring 2025 | 180 |
| spring 2026 | 240 |
| fall 2025-26 | 23 |
White 1871 North Fork Baptist Church at Switzer in Franklin CountyPhoto: Sarah Stierch (CC BY 2.0)
Harvest from the KDFWR Harvest Results app (Telecheck; license years, 2025-26 = the latest); turkey from the same app. Checked November 10, 2026.
Franklin County public ground and closed areas
Hunters have 2 public areas to choose from in Franklin County, led in size by John A. Kleber WMA. GIS layers measure about 1,066 acres of land open to public hunting here, roughly under 1% of the county.
The table splits the mapped acres by owner; parks hunt only by draw, and preserves and Park Service land stay closed.
| Type | GIS measure | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| KDFWR wildlife management areas | 1,066 | Open to hunting |
| Military land | 360 | Rules vary |
John A. Kleber WMA (4,463 acres) is a WMA under KDFWR. About 90% of the ground there is forest. Listed game: white-tailed deer, wild turkey, squirrel, rabbit. The 145 acres of T. N. Sullivan WMA are run by KDFWR. Its cover is mostly open land, about 79% of the area. Listed game: white-tailed deer, wild turkey, squirrel, rabbit.
Short drives from Franklin County:
- Kentucky River WMAWMA · 2 miles from the line
- Dr. James R. Rich WMAWMA · 2 miles from the line
- Veterans Memorial WMAWMA · 9 miles from the line
- Taylorsville Lake WMAWMA · 10 miles from the line
Land records from KDFWR, the Kentucky Division of Forestry, Kentucky State Parks and federal managers; GIS acres from the KDFWR Public Hunting Areas layer and PAD-US (map measures, not official acreages); closures under 301 KAR 2:178 and 400 KAR 2:090. Checked November 10, 2026.
Franklin County help lines and shops
KDFWR lists (502) 782-0742 and FW.BluegrassRegion@ky.gov for the Bluegrass Region coordinator who covers Franklin County. KDFWR publishes no street address for its region offices; the closest office with one is the Headquarters (Frankfort) in Frankfort, about 5 miles away.
Hunting guides for towns in Franklin County:
- Frankfort28,610 people
Local services for Franklin County hunters, nearest first; check by phone before you go.
Regional coordinator phone and e-mail from the KDFWR regional biologists map; offices from the KDFWR Contact Us page and fisheries district layer; services from the KDFWR taxidermist and processor list and directories. Checked November 10, 2026.
Franklin County hunting calendar
This county lists 2 dates ahead; the first is KDFWR headquarters archery range hunter education range day on November 10, 2026.
| Date | Event | Site | Go | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 10, 2026 | KDFWR headquarters archery range hunter education range day | KDFWR headquarters archery range | Enroll | Source |
| Nov 18, 2026 | KDFWR headquarters archery range hunter education range day | KDFWR headquarters archery range | Enroll | Source |
Listings and results from the KDFWR calendar, the DU and NWTF feeds, UKC and American Field, read November 9, 2026. Times are on local clock time: Central Time in the western 41 counties, Eastern Time elsewhere.
Franklin County shooters: ranges and dates
The Franklin County cards carry the gate rule and the source for each of the 2 ranges.
Ranges from the KDFWR range layer, club sites and directory listings, checked November 10, 2026.
Franklin County sun table for opening days
Franklin County clocks fall back on November 1, 2026 and spring ahead on March 14, 2027, shifting every time in this table by an hour across those dates.
| Day | Why it matters | Sun up | Sun down | Deer and turkey | Ducks and doves | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Deer archery opens | 7:12 a.m. | 8:05 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 8:35 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 8:05 p.m. | EDT |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Deer crossbow opens | 7:23 a.m. | 7:43 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 8:13 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 7:43 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth gun opens | 7:42 a.m. | 7:10 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 7:40 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Early muzzleloader | 7:49 a.m. | 7:00 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. | EDT |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Zone 1 gun opener | 7:19 a.m. | 5:29 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 5:59 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | EST |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:32 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | EST |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Zone 1 gun closes | 7:35 a.m. | 5:21 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 5:51 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Late muzzleloader | 7:47 a.m. | 5:20 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:52 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Free youth weekend | 7:54 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | EST |
Hours rules from the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide; sunrise and sunset from the NOAA solar formula at this point on Eastern Time; checked November 10, 2026. Legal hours across Kentucky.
Franklin County pack list
Franklin County picks were made with creek bottoms, crop edges and steep hardwood ridges in mind.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Climbing stand
Plenty of Kentucky deer hunters would not head to the stand without a climbing stand.
Box call
Fall and spring turkey hunters across Kentucky rarely leave a box call at home.
Franklin County FAQ
What share of the Franklin County deer harvest fell to modern firearms?
65% in 2025-26.
Is any wildlife management area mapped within Franklin County?
Yes, the WMA label applies to John A. Kleber WMA and T. N. Sullivan WMA.
How do I e-mail KDFWR staff responsible for Franklin County?
FW.BluegrassRegion@ky.gov.
Is fall turkey hunting open in Franklin County?
Yes. The statewide fall archery, crossbow and shotgun seasons apply.
Which Franklin County areas run deer quota hunts?
John A. Kleber WMA.
Are ruffed grouse open to hunters in Franklin County?
No; the Grouse Zone leaves this county out.
Where does Franklin County land on the 2026-27 deer zone map?
In Zone 1, under 301 KAR 2:172.
Where does a Franklin County hunter log harvest?
Telecheck, by phone or online.
Do carcass limits matter to a Franklin County hunter outside the zone?
Yes, for deer brought back from a zone county or another state.
When do Franklin County gun hunters get the woods for modern firearms?
From November 14 through November 29, 2026.
How many elk may a Franklin County hunter take outside the zone?
One of either sex per license year.
Why is there no bear season around Franklin County?
Bear seasons are set only for the 47 counties in Bear Zones 1 to 3.
From the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide, 301 KAR 2:172, Telecheck rules, the KDFWR Harvest Results app and the county data above. Checked November 10, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Justin Pius (U.S. Department of Agriculture) (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Gary Todd (CC0 1.0); Sarah Stierch (CC BY 2.0); Joe Haupt (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).