Kentucky · Rowan County
Hunting near Farmers, Kentucky
Public land from Farmers: 5 places inside 10 miles, 10 inside 25, all under Rowan County rules at the town itself.
Photo: sellers8847 (CC BY 2.0)
Mileage from Farmers to hunting areas
Farmers has 5 listed public places reaching within 10 miles: 2 campground hunt areas, 1 national forest, 1 WMA and 1 ranger district. By polygon, roughly 60,134 public acres lie inside 10 miles of Farmers and 167,956 inside 25, overlaps counted once.
Skip the flagged rows and Daniel Boone National Forest comes up first, less than a mile away. Farmers serves as the jumping-off point for Daniel Boone National Forest, which lies 0.7 mi off. Old Trace Creek WMA closes out the 25-mile list at 22 mi, after 4 categories of land.
| Area | Type | Miles | Band | Zone | Hunting access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National forest | 0.7 mi | Inside 10 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Open forest land | |
| Campground hunt area | 2.9 mi | Inside 10 | 2 | No 2026-27 hunt | |
| WMA | 3.1 mi | Inside 10 | 2, 3 | Chart exceptions | |
| Campground hunt area | 4.9 mi | Inside 10 | 2 | Quota hunt only | |
| Ranger district | 6.7 mi | Inside 10 | 2, 3, 4 | Open forest land | |
| WMA | 10 mi | Inside 25 | 2 | Statewide rules | |
| WMA | 13 mi | Inside 25 | 2 | Chart exceptions | |
| WMA | 17 mi | Inside 25 | 2 | Statewide rules | |
| WMA | 19 mi | Inside 25 | 2 | Chart exceptions | |
| WMA | 22 mi | Inside 25 | 1 | Statewide rules |
Rings and distances from places.json (lands.json boundaries to the Census point of Farmers); deer zones from the KDFWR deer zone layer and 301 KAR 2:172; access cells from each record’s own fields (the 2026-27 KDFWR quick reference charts, KDFWR area pages, 301 KAR 2:178, 50 CFR 32.36, Forest Service and LBL pages). GIS acres are not official acreage. Checked November 10, 2026.
Farmers nearest three, area by area
Size, zone and access rules for the three areas nearest Farmers.
Daniel Boone National Forest
Open national forest ground under statewide rules for the county, minus posted closures.
Twin Knobs Campground
Closed to statewide seasons; the mobility-impaired quota hunt here runs only in odd-numbered years, which skips 2026-27.
From lands.json (KDFWR area pages and 2026-27 quick reference charts, 301 KAR 2:178, 50 CFR 32.36, Forest Service, Park Service and LBL pages, the Division of Forestry quick guide). Checked November 10, 2026.
Farmers deer zone, bag and CWD status
Rowan County, home county of Farmers, is a Zone 2 county under 301 KAR 2:172 (24 counties share that zone). Youth gun weekend runs October 10 to October 18, 2026, and adult gun hunters follow on November 14, 2026. This is new: Rowan County was a Zone 3 county last season and is Zone 2 now.
Farmers is not in the CWD Surveillance Zone, so its deer carry no zone carcass restrictions.
Zone lists and bags from 301 KAR 2:172 and the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide; CWD rules from the guide CWD section and KDFWR CWD page; pending January season from 301 KAR 2:172. Checked November 10, 2026.
Farmers seasons, zones and quota hunts
Farmers gets 56 rows covering 35 species here, and the status column checks each window against today.
| Species | Season | Zone or area | Permit? | Open date | Close date | Windows | Today? | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Modern gun | Zone 2 | Permit | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | One | Guide p. 12 | |
| Deer | Late Muzzleloader | Zone 2 | 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 |
| Black bear | Chase only | Bear Zone 2 | Permit | Jun 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 2 parts | Guide p. 18 | |
| Black bear | With dogs | Bear Zone 2 | Permit | Oct 19, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | 2 parts | Guide p. 18 | |
| Black bear | Archery, crossbow | Bear Zone 2 | Permit | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 28, 2026 | One | Guide p. 18 | |
| Black bear | Firearm | Bear Zone 2 | Permit | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | One | Guide p. 18 | |
| 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 | |
| Grouse | Grouse | Grouse Zone | License | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 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.
Where Farmers sits on the other zone maps
Bear Zone 2 takes in Rowan County; dog hunters there get October 19 to October 23, 2026 and October 29 to November 6, 2026. Outside the 16-county elk zone, Farmers hunters may take an elk on the out-of-zone permit, following deer season dates and methods.
The Eastern small game zone covers Rowan County, which also sits in the Grouse Zone. Rowan County reads as Eastern zone on the September goose map; duck dates do not change by county.
Bear zones from the guide bear section; elk zone and out-of-zone rule from the guide elk section; small game and Grouse Zone from the guide; September goose zones from the Kentucky Hunting Guide for Migratory Birds and Waterfowl map. Checked November 10, 2026.
Quota hunts in reach of Farmers
Farmers hunters can apply for 2 quota hunts on nearby public ground, each with set slots and a 2025 preference point minimum.
| Hunt | Area | Distance | Dates | Slots | Min points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | 4.9 mi | Dec. 12 | 12 | 0 | |
| 7 | 13 mi | Nov. 7-8 | 225 | 1 |
Hunts, dates, slots and 2025 preference point minimums from the KDFWR Quota Hunts page; distances from places.json. Checked November 10, 2026.
Deer checked in Rowan County, the county around Farmers
Rowan County sits 102nd among Kentucky counties for checked deer, with 543 in 2025-26. Bucks with visible antlers numbered 363; button bucks 21.
For turkeys, the spring 2026 county count was 286.
County totals from the KDFWR Harvest Results app (Telecheck, license years; deer checked through Telecheck (KDFWR Harvest Results app, license year)); turkey, bear and elk from the same app. County figures, not town figures. Checked November 10, 2026.
Agency help for Farmers hunters
For Farmers, the regional coordinator of the Northeast Region takes calls at (859) 473-0061 and mail at FW.NortheastRegion@ky.gov. Farmers is about 1 mile from KDFWR Northeastern Fisheries District Office in Morehead. Telecheck runs at 1-800-245-4263; check a deer by midnight on the day it is recovered.
Region coordinators from the KDFWR regional biologists map; offices from the KDFWR Contact Us page and fisheries district office layer; Telecheck from the guide; straight-line distances. Checked November 10, 2026.
Farmers gear and game care
Within 25 miles of Farmers: 7 gun or outdoor shops, 10 taxidermists and 4 game processors with an address. Some listings may be out of date; call first.
Listings from the KDFWR taxidermist and processor list, Yellow Pages and store locators (services.json); chain stores left out and not every listing was checked as open. Checked November 10, 2026.
Farmers range cards, closest three
Miles here start at the Farmers town point and ignore the road network.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 10, 2026.
Farmers legal hours by season date
Every time in this Farmers table is computed for the exact town location.
| Day | Note | Sunup | Sundown | Game hours | Duck hours | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Deer archery opens | 7:06 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. | EDT |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Deer crossbow opens | 7:18 a.m. | 7:38 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 8:08 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth gun opens | 7:37 a.m. | 7:05 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 7:05 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Early muzzleloader | 7:43 a.m. | 6:55 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 6:55 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Bear Zone 2 archery | 7:51 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. | EDT |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Zone 2 gun opener | 7:14 a.m. | 5:24 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 5:54 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | EST |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:26 a.m. | 5:17 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:47 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | EST |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Zone 2 gun closes | 7:30 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Bear Zone 2 firearm; late muzzleloader | 7:41 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:47 a.m. | 5:17 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:47 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Free youth weekend | 7:49 a.m. | 5:20 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 5:20 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.
Packing for a hunt in Farmers
Farmers hunters get four items suited to a Kentucky year, from the September bow opener to February rabbits.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Climbing stand
Whitetail hunters from the Jackson Purchase to the eastern ridges keep a climbing stand close once the woods turn.
Skinning knife
Bear hunters in the southeastern mountains often pack a skinning knife.
Box call
Loud box yelps carry across a hollow when a gobbler is roosted on the far ridge.
Chest waders
Goose and duck mornings near the big reservoirs go better with chest waders.
Farmers hunters ask about land, zones and dates
How many quota hunt slots are near Farmers?
237 across the hunts within 25 miles.
When does legal light end at Farmers on the gun opener?
5:54 p.m. EST on November 14, 2026, 30 minutes after sunset (NOAA solar formula for the town point).
What hunter orange is required around Farmers?
Mesh allowed if openings are no wider than 1/4 inch; small portion of another color allowed; camouflage orange alone does not qualify.
What does a nonresident pay to hunt deer near Farmers?
$169.12 for the annual hunting license plus $248.40 for the deer permit.
How many hunting stores are inside 25 miles of Farmers?
The directory counts 7 gun and outdoor stores there, plus 10 taxidermists and 4 processors.
Which KDFWR building with a street address is closest to Farmers?
The KDFWR Northeastern Fisheries District Office, Morehead, about 1 mile from Farmers; its street address is on the card above.
Does the 10-mile circle around Farmers hold any public hunting land?
It does: 5 areas covering about 60,134 GIS acres, with Daniel Boone National Forest the first open one.
Which deer bag applies to Farmers hunters?
The Deer Zone 2 bag: Up to 4 deer (1 antlered max statewide).
What day does modern gun deer season start for Farmers hunters?
November 14, 2026, and it runs through November 29, 2026 in Zone 2.
Does the CWD Surveillance Zone include Farmers?
No. Rowan County sits outside all 23 zone counties.
Is bear baiting legal near Farmers?
No. Baiting bears is illegal in Kentucky.
What elk permit works near Farmers?
The out-of-zone elk permit, with an annual hunting license.
From places.json, lands.json, regs.json (the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide, hunter orange, license fees, CWD, quota hunts), counties.json and services.json; hours by the NOAA solar formula on Eastern Time. Checked November 10, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Cindy Stuntz (CC BY 2.0); Cindy Stuntz (CC BY 2.0); Patrick Mueller (CC BY 2.0); Aaron Vowels (CC BY 2.0).