Home › Kentucky › Counties › Daviess County
Kentucky county, 2026-27
Daviess County Deer, Land and Seasons
Daviess County hunting for 2026-27: Deer Zone 1, outside the CWD Surveillance Zone, no mapped public hunting ground, and 1,060 deer checked through Telecheck in 2025-26.
Photo: Doug Kerr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Daviess County quick facts
For questions that need a KDFWR biologist, Daviess County falls to the Green River Region and its 25 counties. About 104,457 people lived here in 2024 by the Census estimate, with the courthouse in Owensboro. That is 1.1% up from the 2020 base of 103,315.
The Western Coal Field landscape takes in all 458 land square miles here, plus 18.1 square miles of water. 301 KAR 4:010 lists it in wildlife district II, the unit KDFWR uses to split the small game zones. The county line is shared with Hancock, Henderson, McLean and Ohio, plus Spencer County, Indiana and Warrick County, Indiana.
The Ohio River at Yellow Bank Island near Owensboro with a towboat and bargesPhoto: William Alden (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Adult wild turkey gobblerPhoto: fishhawk (CC BY 2.0)
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 Daviess County
Daviess County deer limits and gun days
The 301 KAR 2:172 zone list puts Daviess County in Zone 1, a group of 68 counties. In Zone 1 a hunter can keep taking does with additional deer permits, while the antlered limit stays at one for the whole state. The zone line moved here: Daviess County went from Zone 2 to Zone 1, part of a 30-county change that raised bag limits.
| Deer window | Methods | Opens | Ends | Count | Limit | Today? | Doc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Zone 1 gives gun hunters November 14 to November 29, 2026, then a late muzzleloader window of December 12 to December 20, 2026. Young hunters start October 10, and muzzleloader hunters get October 17 to October 18, 2026 before the main gun opener. Archery covers 136 days from September 5; crossbow season is 122 days.
Orange rules cover every hunter during modern gun, muzzleloader and youth gun days, with waterfowl and dove hunters among the exceptions. The free youth weekend, December 26 to December 27, 2026, lets hunters under 16 take a deer of either sex with 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.
CWD status in Daviess County
For CWD purposes Daviess County is an outside county, with Henderson County the nearest zone county at roughly 27 miles. Its neighbour Henderson is in the zone, which matters if you hunt both sides.
Whole carcasses from zone counties and other states stay out; meat without bone and clean antlers are fine. Outside the zone, baiting deer is legal on private land but not on WMAs, state parks or many federal lands.
Free CWD testing is open to every hunter, through round-the-clock drop-off sites or kits by mail.
From the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide, the KDFWR CWD Surveillance Zone page and baiting rules. Checked November 10, 2026.
Daviess County zones beyond deer
Black bear
Daviess County is not in a bear zone, so there is no bear season here; the closest bear county is Adair County, about 108 miles away.
Elk
Daviess County is outside the elk zone, where elk may be taken under the out-of-zone rule during deer seasons with deer methods. This permit stands apart from deer permits and the deer bag.
Small game and birds
Cottontails and bobwhites in Daviess County are on the Western Zone schedule, November 16 to February 10. No grouse season reaches Daviess County; it lies outside the Grouse Zone. Otter Zone 1 covers Daviess County.
Daviess County gets the Western Zone early goose days, September 1 to September 15, 2026, going by the KDFWR zone map. Statewide duck dates start November 26 and finish January 31, 2027, with a break in early December.
| Map | Value |
|---|---|
| Small game zone | Western |
| Grouse Zone | No |
| Otter zone | 1 |
| September goose | Western (map) |
| Bear zone | None |
| Elk zone | No |
| Wildlife district | II |
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.
Daviess County season calendar for 2026-27
Daviess County gets 51 rows covering 33 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 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 | Western zone | License | Nov 16, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | One | Guide p. 27 | |
| Rabbit | Rabbit Trapping | Western zone | License | Nov 16, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | One | Guide p. 27 | |
| Quail | Quail | Western zone | License | Nov 16, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | One | 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 | Western (map) | License | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 15, 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.
Daviess County harvest by the numbers
Hunters checked 1,060 deer in Daviess County during 2025-26, 54th among Kentucky's 120 counties. Spread over the land area, it is 2.3 deer a square mile, which ranks 90th. Over ten seasons the count moved up 3% from 2016-17, when it stood at 1,025. 2018-19 holds the high mark at 1,190, against a ten-season average near 1,035.
The split was 520 antlered bucks, 73 button bucks and 467 does. Gun hunters took 785, while bows and crossbows together added 238. Daviess County provided 1% of the 103,888 deer checked across the counties in today's Zone 1.
| Category | Count | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| All deer | 1,060 | 100% |
| Male | 593 | 56% |
| Antlered buck | 520 | 49% |
| Button buck | 73 | 7% |
| Female | 467 | 44% |
| Modern firearm | 785 | 74% |
| Muzzleloader | 37 | 3% |
| Archery | 151 | 14% |
| Crossbow | 87 | 8% |
Wild turkey
Telecheck counted 259 spring birds from Daviess County in 2026, 65th of 120. Fall hunters took 5 turkeys in 2025-26. KDFWR had not yet published the spring 2027 turkey dates.
| Year | Birds |
|---|---|
| spring 2022 | 183 |
| spring 2023 | 245 |
| spring 2024 | 238 |
| spring 2025 | 242 |
| spring 2026 | 259 |
| fall 2025-26 | 5 |
White-tailed buck crossing a leaf-strewn trail in fall woodsPhoto: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 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.
Walk-in hunting ground in Daviess County
Public hunting land is missing from Daviess County entirely, one of 28 Kentucky counties with none on record.
Just over the line from Daviess County:
- Sloughs WMAWMA · 0 miles from the line
- Green River National Wildlife RefugeRefuge · 6 miles from the line
- Green River State ForestState forest · 8 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.
Help and services near Daviess County
For local wildlife questions, the Green River Region coordinator line is (270) 875-3586 (FW.GreenRiverRegion@ky.gov). Visitors can head to the Northwestern Fisheries District Office in Calhoun, the closest KDFWR office at roughly 14 miles.
Towns with their own pages here:
- Owensboro60,675 people
Here are the nearest processors, taxidermists and gun or outdoor stores, with a reminder to call ahead.
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.
Daviess County event listings
Inside the county line: 1 date ahead (NWTF chapter banquet), checked November 9, 2026.
| When | Title | Location | Tickets or seats | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 23, 2027 | Western KY Ridge Runners Pre Show Banquet (NWTF chapter banquet) | Philpot | Listing | Source |
Listings and results from the KDFWR calendar, the DU and NWTF feeds, UKC and American Field, read November 9, 2026.
Daviess County: benches and clay fields
The first six Daviess County ranges appear as cards; any extra sit in a table.
For a department range, Daviess County shooters go 43 miles to Higginson-Henry WMA Range, a permit property.
Ranges from the KDFWR range layer, club sites and directory listings, checked November 10, 2026.
Daviess County sun table for opening days
Daviess County duck, goose and dove hunters stop at sunset rather than half an hour after it, which is why the bird column closes earlier.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | General hours | Migratory birds | Clock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Deer archery opens | 6:21 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 7:44 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. | CDT |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Deer crossbow opens | 6:32 a.m. | 6:52 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 6:52 p.m. | CDT |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth gun opens | 6:51 a.m. | 6:20 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. | CDT |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Early muzzleloader | 6:57 a.m. | 6:10 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 6:10 p.m. | CDT |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Zone 1 gun opener | 6:27 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. | CST |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Duck season opens | 6:40 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. | CST |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Zone 1 gun closes | 6:43 a.m. | 4:31 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 4:31 p.m. | CST |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Late muzzleloader | 6:54 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | CST |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:00 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 4:33 p.m. | CST |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Free youth weekend | 7:02 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. | CST |
Hours rules from the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide; sunrise and sunset from the NOAA solar formula at this point on Central Time; checked November 10, 2026. Legal hours across Kentucky.
Daviess County kit choices
Daviess County shoppers see no product until they choose one.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Climbing stand
A climbing stand is worth the room in the truck when the November gun opener arrives.
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.
Hunting Daviess County, answered
Where does Daviess County stand for spring birds?
65th statewide in 2026.
Does KDFWR keep a walk-in office in Daviess County?
The nearest office with an address is the Northwestern Fisheries District Office in Calhoun.
When do rabbits open in Daviess County?
November 16, 2026, on the Western Zone schedule.
By what time must a Daviess County deer be reported?
Midnight on the day recovered, and before processing.
How liberal is the antlerless limit around Daviess County?
It is a Zone 1 county: Unlimited antlerless deer with the statewide deer permit plus additional deer permits; 1 antlered deer statewide.
On what dates can a rifle hunter sit a stand in Daviess County?
November 14 to November 29, 2026, the Zone 1 modern gun season.
Can deer hunters put out bait on private ground in Daviess County?
Yes on private land outside the zone; never on WMAs, state parks or many federal lands.
Does any bear zone reach into Daviess County?
No.
Is an elk draw needed to hunt elk in Daviess County?
No. Outside the zone an Out-of-Zone Elk Permit covers it.
Daviess County public land: which tracts are open to hunters?
None inside the county; try Sloughs WMA and Green River National Wildlife Refuge.
How many does were reported from Daviess County last season?
467 in 2025-26.
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: William Alden (CC BY-SA 2.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0).