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Home › Kentucky › Counties › Bell County

Southeast Region

Bell County Hunter Guide

Zone 4 deer rules, bear zone dates, elk zone permits, every season row, quota hunts, harvest since 2016-17 and the land you can walk on in Bell County.

Deer season
Public land
Past harvests
Hunting gear
4Deer zone
NoCWD zone
1Bear zone
YesElk zone
EasternSmall game zone

Photo: hspauldi (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Bell County at a glance

On the KDFWR regional map, Bell County is one of 29 counties grouped as the Southeast Region. The seat of government is Pineville; the county counted roughly 23,051 residents in the 2024 estimate. The county has lost about 1,047 people since the 2020 count.

Expect Eastern Coal Field country: 359 square miles of land and 2.1 square miles of lakes and streams. Its wildlife district is IX, which decides whether the Western or Eastern small game dates apply. Right next door sit Clay, Harlan, Knox, Leslie and Whitley, and over the state line Claiborne County, Tennessee and Lee County, Virginia.

PinevilleCounty seat
23,051People, 2024
359Square miles
Eastern Coal FieldNatural region
IXWildlife district
9thLaw district
661Deer checked
89thStatewide deer rank
Green ridges around Middlesboro seen from an overlook at Cumberland Gap

Green ridges around Middlesboro seen from an overlook at Cumberland GapPhoto: Warren LeMay (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Young red fox sitting on a gravel road

Young red fox sitting on a gravel roadPhoto: Kevin VanGorden (posted by Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area) (Public Domain Mark 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 Bell County

Cumberland Forest WMA

Public land · 10 mi from Bell County

Directions
Knox County

County · 15 mi from Bell County

Directions
Boone Forestlands WMA

Public land · 20 mi from Bell County

Directions
Redbird Ranger District, Daniel Boone National Forest

Public land · 22 mi from Bell County

Directions
Shooting Ranges Near Williamsburg

Range · 27 mi from Bell County

Directions
Harlan County

County · 27 mi from Bell County

Directions

Bell County deer zone and dates

Zone 4 covers 15 counties for 2026-27, Bell County among them. Two deer, one of them antlerless, is the Zone 4 limit, and antlerless deer are off the table for most of the gun days. There was no zone change for Bell County this season.

KDFWR wording for Zone 4: “Up to 2 deer, only 1 antlerless (1 antlered max statewide); no antlerless deer during modern gun, early muzzleloader or the first 6 days of late muzzleloader.” 301 KAR 2:172

SeasonMethodOpensClosesDaysBagTodaySource
ArcheryBowsSep 5, 2026Jan 18, 2027136Zone bagGuide p. 12
Youth, senior crossbowCrossbowSep 5, 2026Jan 18, 2027136Zone bagGuide p. 12
CrossbowCrossbow, bowsSep 19, 2026Jan 18, 2027122Zone bagGuide p. 12
Youth gunAny legal methodOct 10, 2026Oct 18, 20269Zone bagGuide p. 12
Early MuzzleloaderMuzzleloader, bowsOct 17, 2026Oct 18, 20262Zone bagGuide p. 12
Modern gunAny legal deer gunNov 14, 2026Nov 29, 202616Zone bagGuide p. 12
Late MuzzleloaderMuzzleloader, bowsDec 12, 2026Dec 20, 20269Zone bagGuide p. 12
Free youth weekendAny legal methodDec 26, 2026Dec 27, 20262Either sexGuide 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 Bell 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.

All of Zone 4
Whitetail guide
Compare zones

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.

Bell County chronic wasting disease rules

Bell County is outside the CWD Surveillance Zone; the nearest zone county is Whitley County, about 26 miles centre to centre. Across the line in Whitley, zone rules apply, including the carcass limits.

NoCWD zone
WhitleyNearest zone county
26 milesDistance
23Zone counties

A deer from a zone county can only come here as boned meat, antlers, clean skull caps, hides or finished mounts. Inside the elk zone, as Bell County is, baiting is illegal and the ban runs 30 days past removal.

Carcass rule: No whole carcasses or high-risk parts (head, skull/skull cap with brain, spine) may leave the zone or enter Kentucky from other states/provinces; deboned meat, antlers, clean skull caps/skulls/teeth, hides and finished taxidermy allowed.

KDFWR tests deer at no charge from anywhere in the state, by drop-off site or mail kit.

CWD zone page
Agency CWD page

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 Bell County

Black bear, Zone 1

The bear map puts Bell County in Zone 1, with its own archery, dog and gun windows. The firearm bear days are December 12 to December 14, after archery and crossbow on October 24 to October 26. The limit is one bear per license year, 75 pounds or more, and never a female with cubs.

SeasonOpensClosesSplitsTodaySource
Chase onlyJun 1, 2026Sep 30, 20262 partsGuide p. 18
Archery, crossbowOct 24, 2026Oct 26, 2026OneGuide p. 18
With dogsOct 19, 2026Oct 23, 2026OneGuide p. 18
FirearmDec 12, 2026Dec 14, 2026OneGuide p. 18

Bear baiting is illegal, and so is hunting or chasing over a baited site within 30 days of removing bait. A no-harvest chase season covers Bear Zones 1 to 3 from June into September. Inside the county, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is closed to bear hunting. Dogs may not be used for bears on Cumberland Gap NHP.

No bear quota; bear permits are over the counter. Guide p.17 lists four areas including Kingdom Come State Park; 301 KAR 2:300 Sec. 11 lists three (no Kingdom Come). 301 KAR 2:300

Zone 1 bear counties
Bear facts

Elk zone

Bell County sits in elk country: the zone spans 16 counties and roughly 4.1 million acres. Of the 500 permits drawn for 2026, 170 went to archery or crossbow and 26 to youth. Elk hunters drawn for Elk Hunting Unit 2 may end up on public ground here.

Hunt typeFromThroughSegmentsRight nowLink
Bull, firearmsSep 26, 2026Oct 7, 20262 partsGuide p. 22
Cow, firearmsNov 28, 2026Jan 6, 20272 partsGuide p. 22
Archery, crossbowSep 12, 2026Dec 11, 20262 partsGuide p. 22
Youth quotaSep 12, 2026Jan 6, 2027OneGuide p. 22

Elk zone rules ban bait outright, and a baited spot stays closed for 30 days after cleanup. Landowners with 100 acres or more who let quota hunters in can earn an either-sex elk permit through the voucher cooperator program.

Unit boundaries are an incorporated map ("Elk Hunting Units" 2024). Boone's Ridge viewing area closed to all elk hunting. 301 KAR 2:132

Elk zone rules
Permit draw

Small game and birds

For rabbit and quail, Bell County is a Eastern Zone county, with dates of November 1 to November 13 and November 16 to January 31. Grouse hunters can work Bell County, part of the 53-county Grouse Zone. The otter map places Bell County in Zone 2.

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.

September goose zone counties are read from the KDFWR zone map; they agree with the 301 KAR 2:225 rule. Waterfowl guide p. 11

ZoneSetting
Small game zoneEastern
Grouse ZoneYes
Otter zone2
September gooseEastern (map)
Bear zone1
Elk zoneYes
Wildlife districtIX
Small game map
Goose map

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.

Bell County hunting dates by zone

Bell County has no deer quota hunt on its public ground this season, so every deer row here runs on statewide permits.

GameSeasonAreaNeedsOpensClosesSplitsTodaySource
DeerArcheryStatewidePermitSep 5, 2026Jan 18, 2027OneGuide p. 12
DeerYouth, senior crossbowStatewidePermitSep 5, 2026Jan 18, 2027OneGuide p. 12
DeerCrossbowStatewidePermitSep 19, 2026Jan 18, 2027OneGuide p. 12
DeerYouth gunStatewidePermitOct 10, 2026Oct 18, 2026OneGuide p. 12
DeerEarly MuzzleloaderStatewidePermitOct 17, 2026Oct 18, 2026OneGuide p. 12
DeerModern gunZone 4PermitNov 14, 2026Nov 29, 2026OneGuide p. 12
DeerLate MuzzleloaderZone 4PermitDec 12, 2026Dec 20, 2026OneGuide p. 12
DeerFree youth weekendStatewidePermitDec 26, 2026Dec 27, 2026OneGuide p. 12
ElkArchery, crossbowElk zoneQuota permitSep 12, 2026Dec 11, 20262 partsGuide p. 22
ElkYouth quotaElk zoneQuota permitSep 12, 2026Jan 6, 2027OneGuide p. 22
ElkBull, firearmsElk zoneQuota permitSep 26, 2026Oct 7, 20262 partsGuide p. 22
ElkCow, firearmsElk zoneQuota permitNov 28, 2026Jan 6, 20272 partsGuide p. 22
Black bearChase onlyBear Zone 1PermitJun 1, 2026Sep 30, 20262 partsGuide p. 18
Black bearWith dogsBear Zone 1PermitOct 19, 2026Oct 23, 2026OneGuide p. 18
Black bearArchery, crossbowBear Zone 1PermitOct 24, 2026Oct 26, 2026OneGuide p. 18
Black bearFirearmBear Zone 1PermitDec 12, 2026Dec 14, 2026OneGuide p. 18
TurkeyFall ArcheryStatewidePermitSep 5, 2026Jan 18, 2027OneGuide p. 24
TurkeyFall CrossbowStatewidePermitOct 1, 2026Dec 31, 20262 partsGuide p. 24
TurkeyFall ShotgunStatewidePermitOct 24, 2026Dec 11, 20262 partsGuide p. 24
TurkeySpring 2027Dates pendingPermit–––No dates301 KAR 2:142
TurkeyYouth spring 2027Dates pendingPermit–––No dates301 KAR 2:142
SquirrelFall SquirrelStatewideLicenseAug 15, 2026Feb 28, 20272 partsGuide p. 27
SquirrelSquirrel TrappingStatewideLicenseNov 16, 2026Feb 28, 2027OneGuide p. 27
SquirrelSpring 2027Dates pendingLicense–––No dates301 KAR 2:122
RabbitRabbitEastern zoneLicenseNov 1, 2026Jan 31, 20272 partsGuide p. 27
RabbitRabbit TrappingEastern zoneLicenseNov 16, 2026Jan 31, 2027OneGuide p. 27
QuailQuailEastern zoneLicenseNov 1, 2026Jan 31, 20272 partsGuide p. 27
GrouseGrouseGrouse ZoneLicenseNov 1, 2026Feb 28, 20272 partsGuide p. 27
Small gameFalconryStatewideLicenseSep 1, 2026Mar 30, 2027OneGuide p. 27
Small game, furbearersFree youth weekStatewideLicenseDec 26, 2026Jan 1, 2027OneGuide p. 27
GroundhogGroundhogStatewideLicenseMar 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027OneGuide p. 29
CrowCrowStatewideLicenseSep 1, 2026Feb 28, 20272 partsGuide p. 29
BullfrogBullfrogStatewideLicenseMay 16, 2026Oct 31, 2026OneGuide p. 29
TurtlesTurtlesStatewideLicenseMar 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027OneGuide p. 29
Exotic hoofedExotic hoofed wildlifeStatewideLicenseMar 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027OneGuide p. 29
DucksRegular duckStatewideLicenseNov 26, 2026Jan 31, 20272 partsWaterfowl guide p. 10
DucksFalconryStatewideLicenseNov 26, 2026Feb 21, 2027OneWaterfowl guide p. 10
Teal, wood duckSeptember tealStatewideLicenseSep 19, 2026Sep 23, 2026OneWaterfowl guide p. 10
WaterfowlYouth daysStatewideLicenseNov 21, 2026Feb 13, 20272 partsWaterfowl guide p. 11
WaterfowlVeteran, military daysStatewideLicenseNov 22, 2026Feb 14, 20272 partsWaterfowl guide p. 11
Canada gooseSeptember gooseEastern (map)LicenseSep 16, 2026Sep 30, 2026OneWaterfowl guide p. 10
Dark geeseGooseStatewideLicenseNov 26, 2026Feb 15, 2027OneWaterfowl guide p. 10
Light geeseLight GooseStatewideLicenseNov 26, 2026Feb 15, 2027OneWaterfowl guide p. 10
Light geeseConservation orderStatewideLicenseFeb 16, 2027Mar 31, 2027OneWaterfowl guide p. 10
GeeseFalconryStatewideLicenseNov 26, 2026Feb 15, 2027OneWaterfowl guide p. 10
DoveDoveStatewideLicenseSep 1, 2026Jan 10, 20273 partsWaterfowl guide p. 7
WoodcockWoodcockStatewideLicenseOct 24, 2026Dec 9, 20262 partsWaterfowl guide p. 7
SnipeSnipeStatewideLicenseSep 16, 2026Jan 31, 20272 partsWaterfowl guide p. 7
RailsRailStatewideLicenseSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026OneWaterfowl guide p. 7
GallinulesGallinuleStatewideLicenseSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026OneWaterfowl guide p. 7
Sandhill craneCrane, by permitStatewideQuota permitDec 7, 2026Jan 31, 2027OneWaterfowl guide p. 8
Raccoon, opossumHuntingStatewideLicenseOct 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027OneGuide p. 25
CoyoteHuntingStatewideLicenseMar 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027OneGuide p. 25
CoyoteNight, with lightsStatewideLicenseDec 1, 2026Mar 31, 2027OneGuide p. 25
BobcatHuntingStatewideLicenseNov 21, 2026Feb 28, 2027OneGuide p. 25
River otterHuntingStatewideLicenseNov 16, 2026Feb 28, 2027OneGuide p. 25
River otterZone 2 sub-limitOtter Zone 2LicenseNov 16, 2026Mar 31, 2027OneGuide p. 25
Other furbearersHuntingStatewideLicenseNov 16, 2026Feb 28, 2027OneGuide p. 25
FurbearersTrappingStatewideLicenseNov 16, 2026Mar 31, 20272 partsGuide p. 25
Wild pigNo seasonNo seasonNone–––No datesGuide p. 29

WMAs can set shorter seasons. Goose zones marked (map) are read from the KDFWR zone map.

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 and turkey harvest in Bell County

Telecheck logged 661 deer from Bell County in the 2025-26 license year, ranking it 89th of 120. Per square mile the take was 1.8, 104th among counties. The 2016-17 figure was 713, so the latest season is 7% lower. The best year in the series was 2016-17 with 713, the lowest 2017-18 with 330.

Bell County deer checked by license year02004006008002016-17: 7137132016-172017-18: 3303302017-182018-19: 5345342018-192019-20: 4174172019-202020-21: 4814812020-212021-22: 5015012021-222022-23: 5425422022-232023-24: 5545542023-242024-25: 6346342024-252025-26: 6616612025-26

Antlered deer were 78% of the total, with does at 20%. Modern firearms accounted for 70% of the deer, crossbows 13% and archery 10%. That was 7% of the deer checked in the counties now in Zone 4.

TypeCheckedOf total
All deer661100%
Male52780%
Antlered buck51478%
Button buck132%
Female13420%
Modern firearm46270%
Muzzleloader538%
Archery6310%
Crossbow8313%

Wild turkey

The spring 2026 turkey take here was 164, 104th in Kentucky. In the 2025-26 fall season, 9 turkeys were checked. Watch for the spring 2027 dates; KDFWR had not released them yet.

Turkey seasonChecked
spring 2022127
spring 2023181
spring 2024158
spring 2025168
spring 2026164
fall 2025-269

Elk

Elk hunters have checked 315 elk in Bell County since 2016-17, 41 of them in 2025-26.

Black bear

Over the years from 2016-17, 99 bears were reported here, 15 of them last season.

White-tailed buck emerging from the tree line at the edge of a field

White-tailed buck emerging from the tree line at the edge of a fieldPhoto: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain)

Telecheck rules
Top Bucks

Harvest from the KDFWR Harvest Results app (Telecheck; license years, 2025-26 = the latest); turkey from the same app. Checked November 10, 2026.

Bell County public ground and closed areas

Hunters have 9 public areas to choose from in Bell County, led in size by Cumberland Forest WMA. GIS layers measure about 64,869 acres of land open to public hunting here, roughly 28% of the county.

The table splits the mapped acres by owner; parks hunt only by draw, and preserves and Park Service land stay closed.

TypeGIS measureRule
KDFWR wildlife management areas45,149Open to hunting
State forests11,648Rules vary
State parks4,823Drawn hunts only
Other Park Service land9,624Closed
WMACumberland Forest WMAWMA · 54,137 ac · Zone 4WMABoone Forestlands WMAWMA · 27,997 ac · Zone 4WMAElk Forest WMAWMA · 16,587 ac · Zone 4Access areaAsher Hunting Access AreaAccess area · 13,145 ac · Zone 4

Cumberland Forest WMA (54,137 acres) is a WMA under KDFWR. About 93% of the ground there is forest. Every statewide season applies on Cumberland Forest WMA. The 27,997 acres of Boone Forestlands WMA are run by KDFWR. Its cover is mostly forest, about 89% of the area. Boone Forestlands WMA is open for all species under statewide rules. The 16,587 acres of Elk Forest WMA are run by KDFWR. Forest makes up about 92% of it. Elk Forest WMA is open for all species under statewide rules.

Stay out with a gun at Pine Mountain State Resort Park and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park; these are closed to hunting.

AreaKindOpen?Ref
Pine Mountain State Resort ParkState parkClosed301 KAR 2:178
Cumberland Gap National Historical ParkPark Service unitClosed36 CFR 2.2

Short drives from Bell County:

Every hunting area
Closed areas

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.

Bell County help lines and shops

KDFWR lists (606) 344-0585 and FW.SoutheastRegion@ky.gov for the Southeast Region coordinator who covers Bell County. KDFWR publishes no street address for its region offices; the closest office with one is the Southeastern Fisheries District Office in Williamsburg, about 26 miles away.

Southeast Region
Regional coordinator

(606) 344-0585
FW.SoutheastRegion@ky.gov

KDFWR Southeastern Fisheries District Office
2073 N. Highway 25W., Williamsburg

(606) 549-1332
Navigate

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (headquarters)
#1 Sportsman's Lane, Frankfort

(502) 564-3400
(800) 858-1549

Hunting guides for towns in Bell County:

Local services for Bell County hunters, nearest first; check by phone before you go.

Big Boss Arms
Pineville, Bell County · about 1 mi away

(606) 269-2965
Map it
Visit site

S & G Gun Shop
Pineville, Bell County · about 3 mi away

(606) 273-5867
Map it

Rose Taxidermy
Middlesboro, Bell County · about 7 mi away

Map it

Dominion Outdoors Kentucky
Middlesboro, Bell County · about 7 mi away

(606) 896-8085
Map it
Visit site

Mike's Gun Shop
Middlesboro, Bell County · about 8 mi away

(606) 248-7071
Map it

Sonny's Sporting Goods
Barbourville, Knox County · about 15 mi away

(606) 546-3844
Map it
Visit site

Mikes Taxidermy
Gray, Knox County · about 18 mi away

Map it

Mountain Outdoors
Baxter, Harlan County · about 22 mi away

(606) 573-6260
Map it
Visit site
Contact list
Deer processors
Find a taxidermist

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.

Bell County hunting calendar

2 results from UKC nite hunt in the county sit under the dates.

Winners posted

HeldHostPlacedMore
Jul 24, 2026Bell CC (cast 2 of the night)
Wipeout Zebbie (TW) won the cast at 225+
Results
Jul 24, 2026Bell CC (cast 1 of the night)
Stylish Lil Ann (TW) won the cast at 175+
Results
All Kentucky events
Nite hunt results

Know a Kentucky date close by that we lack? Send it

Listings and results from the KDFWR calendar, the DU and NWTF feeds, UKC and American Field, read November 9, 2026.

Bell County shooters: ranges and dates

Nothing is listed inside Bell County, so three neighbours stand in.

Center Target Firearms and
Range
indoor range

London, Laurel County · 35 mi

Lines: rifle, handgun, shotgun

Open to the public · KDFWR range map, checked Nov 9, 2026

Whitman Branch Shooting Range
Federal range

London, Whitley County · 36 mi

Lines: rifle, handgun

Public (federal) · KDFWR range map, checked Nov 9, 2026

Appletree Shooting Range
Federal range

Whitley City, McCreary County · 43 mi

Lines: rifle, handgun

Public (federal) · KDFWR range map, checked Nov 9, 2026

Rifle shooters in Bell County have to look across the line: Center Target Firearms and Range in Laurel County is about 35 miles out.

Nearest KDFWR permit range: Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA Range, about 69 miles off.

Neighbouring counties list 1 more.

Ranges from the KDFWR range layer, club sites and directory listings, checked November 10, 2026.

Bell County legal hours by season date

Bell 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.

DayWhy it mattersSun upSun downDeer and turkeyDucks and dovesZone
Sep 5, 2026Deer archery opens7:08 a.m.7:59 p.m.6:38 a.m. to 8:29 p.m.6:38 a.m. to 7:59 p.m.EDT
Sep 19, 2026Deer crossbow opens7:19 a.m.7:38 p.m.6:49 a.m. to 8:08 p.m.6:49 a.m. to 7:38 p.m.EDT
Sep 26, 2026Bull elk week7:25 a.m.7:27 p.m.6:55 a.m. to 7:57 p.m.6:55 a.m. to 7:27 p.m.EDT
Oct 10, 2026Youth gun opens7:36 a.m.7:07 p.m.7:06 a.m. to 7:37 p.m.7:06 a.m. to 7:07 p.m.EDT
Oct 17, 2026Early muzzleloader7:43 a.m.6:57 p.m.7:13 a.m. to 7:27 p.m.7:13 a.m. to 6:57 p.m.EDT
Oct 24, 2026Bear Zone 1 archery7:49 a.m.6:48 p.m.7:19 a.m. to 7:18 p.m.7:19 a.m. to 6:48 p.m.EDT
Nov 14, 2026Zone 4 gun opener7:11 a.m.5:28 p.m.6:41 a.m. to 5:58 p.m.6:41 a.m. to 5:28 p.m.EST
Nov 26, 2026Duck season opens7:24 a.m.5:21 p.m.6:54 a.m. to 5:51 p.m.6:54 a.m. to 5:21 p.m.EST
Nov 29, 2026Zone 4 gun closes7:27 a.m.5:20 p.m.6:57 a.m. to 5:50 p.m.6:57 a.m. to 5:20 p.m.EST
Dec 12, 2026Bear Zone 1 firearm; late muzzleloader7:38 a.m.5:19 p.m.7:08 a.m. to 5:49 p.m.7:08 a.m. to 5:19 p.m.EST
Dec 21, 2026Shortest day7:43 a.m.5:22 p.m.7:13 a.m. to 5:52 p.m.7:13 a.m. to 5:22 p.m.EST
Dec 26, 2026Free youth weekend7:45 a.m.5:24 p.m.7:15 a.m. to 5:54 p.m.7:15 a.m. to 5:24 p.m.EST

Pheasant quota hunts keep set hours. Times are on local clock time: Central Time in the western 41 counties, Eastern Time elsewhere.

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.

Bell County pack list

Bell 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.

Cow call

Elk permits are hard to draw, so a cow call that works the first time is worth having.

Amazon options

Climbing stand

Plenty of Kentucky deer hunters would not head to the stand without a climbing stand.

Amazon options

Skinning knife

A bear hide takes a sharp blade and an unhurried hour.

Amazon options

Box call

Fall and spring turkey hunters across Kentucky rarely leave a box call at home.

Amazon options

Side-by-side gear
Gear guides

Next counties from Bell County

The nearest counties to Bell County, plus a few statewide pages.

Knox County

Deer Zone 4 · Southeast Region · 15 miles

Whitley County

Deer Zone 4 · Southeast Region · 26 miles

Harlan County

Deer Zone 4 · Southeast Region · 27 miles

Leslie County

Deer Zone 4 · Southeast Region · 30 miles

Waterfowl zones
Telecheck reporting
National forests

Bell County FAQ

Is fall turkey hunting open in Bell County?

Yes. The statewide fall archery, crossbow and shotgun seasons apply.

What share of the Bell County deer harvest fell to modern firearms?

70% in 2025-26.

Are ruffed grouse open to hunters in Bell County?

Yes, the county sits inside the Grouse Zone.

How do I e-mail KDFWR staff responsible for Bell County?

FW.SoutheastRegion@ky.gov.

Where does Bell County land on the 2026-27 deer zone map?

In Zone 4, under 301 KAR 2:172.

Where does a Bell County hunter log harvest?

Telecheck, by phone or online.

Do carcass limits matter to a Bell County hunter outside the zone?

Yes, for deer brought back from a zone county or another state.

When do Bell County gun hunters get the woods for modern firearms?

From November 14 through November 29, 2026.

Which elk hunting units show up on Bell County public land?

Elk Hunting Unit 2.

When do firearm bear days fall in Bell County?

December 12 to December 14, 2026.

Is any wildlife management area mapped within Bell County?

Yes, the WMA label applies to Cumberland Forest WMA, Boone Forestlands WMA and Elk Forest WMA.

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: Warren LeMay (CC BY-SA 2.0); Kevin VanGorden (posted by Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area) (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); the real Kam75 (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain).