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Green River Region
Grayson County Hunter Guide
Zone 1 deer rules, every season row, quota hunts, harvest since 2016-17 and the land you can walk on in Grayson County.
Photo: sacdog3 (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Grayson County at a glance
On the KDFWR regional map, Grayson County is one of 25 counties grouped as the Green River Region. The seat of government is Leitchfield; the county counted roughly 27,070 residents in the 2024 estimate. The county has gained about 653 people since the 2020 count.
Expect Western Coal Field country: 500 square miles of land and 11.5 square miles of lakes and streams. Its wildlife district is IV, which decides whether the Western or Eastern small game dates apply. Right next door sit Breckinridge, Butler, Edmonson, Hardin, Hart and Ohio.
Sunrise over Nolin River Lake framed by bare treesPhoto: Traci Weber (posted by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District) (CC BY 2.0)
Calm green water and reflected trees at Nolin River LakePhoto: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District (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 Grayson County
Grayson County deer zone and dates
Zone 1 covers 68 counties for 2026-27, Grayson County among them. Antlerless deer are unlimited in Zone 1, provided each one is covered by a permit beyond the statewide deer permit. Grayson County is new to Zone 1; it sat in Zone 2 through the 2025-26 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 Grayson 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.
Grayson County CWD zone check
Grayson County is outside the CWD Surveillance Zone; the nearest zone county is Breckinridge County, about 23 miles centre to centre. Across the line in Breckinridge and Hardin, zone rules apply, including the carcass limits.
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 Grayson 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 Grayson County
Black bear
Bear hunting stops at the bear zone line, and Grayson County sits outside it; Adair County is the nearest zone county at about 63 miles.
Elk
Elk are not managed for a herd here; Grayson 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, Grayson County is a Eastern Zone county, with dates of November 1 to November 13 and November 16 to January 31. Grayson County is left off the Grouse Zone list. The otter map places Grayson County in Zone 1.
For the early Canada goose season the county falls in the Western Zone (September 1 to September 15, 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 | Western (map) |
| Bear zone | None |
| Elk zone | No |
| Wildlife district | IV |
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.
Grayson County hunting dates by zone
Grayson County has no deer quota hunt on its public ground this season, so every deer row here runs on statewide permits.
| 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 | 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 | 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.
Deer and turkey harvest in Grayson County
Telecheck logged 2,318 deer from Grayson County in the 2025-26 license year, ranking it 13th of 120. Per square mile the take was 4.6, 38th among counties. The 2016-17 figure was 2,170, so the latest season is 7% higher. The best year in the series was 2019-20 with 2,857, the lowest 2016-17 with 2,170.
Antlered deer were 43% of the total, with does at 48%. Modern firearms accounted for 76% of the deer, crossbows 8% and archery 10%. That was 2% of the deer checked in the counties now in Zone 1.
| Type | Checked | Of total |
|---|---|---|
| All deer | 2,318 | 100% |
| Male | 1,201 | 52% |
| Antlered buck | 989 | 43% |
| Button buck | 212 | 9% |
| Female | 1,117 | 48% |
| Modern firearm | 1,769 | 76% |
| Muzzleloader | 113 | 5% |
| Archery | 241 | 10% |
| Crossbow | 195 | 8% |
Wild turkey
The spring 2026 turkey take here was 549, 9th in Kentucky. In the 2025-26 fall season, 11 turkeys were checked. Watch for the spring 2027 dates; KDFWR had not released them yet.
| Turkey season | Checked |
|---|---|
| spring 2022 | 376 |
| spring 2023 | 573 |
| spring 2024 | 523 |
| spring 2025 | 502 |
| spring 2026 | 549 |
| fall 2025-26 | 11 |
White-tailed buck in velvet among tall green grassPhoto: Tom Koerner (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) (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.
Grayson County public ground and closed areas
Hunters have 2 public areas to choose from in Grayson County, led in size by Nolin River Lake WMA. GIS layers measure about 4,621 acres of land open to public hunting here, roughly 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 | 3,799 | Open to hunting |
| Corps of Engineers land | 3,254 | Rules vary |
| State parks | 297 | Drawn hunts only |
Nolin River Lake WMA (6,456 acres) is a WMA under KDFWR. About 93% of the ground there is forest. Listed game: white-tailed deer, wild turkey, squirrel, rabbit. Spread over 3 counties in Zones 1, 2, it takes the most liberal zone rule. The 4,180 acres of Rough River Lake WMA are run by KDFWR. Its cover is mostly forest, about 86% of the area. Rough River Lake WMA is open for all species under statewide rules.
Closed ground here includes Rough River Dam State Resort Park.
| Area | Kind | Open? | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rough River Dam State Resort Park | State park | Closed | 301 KAR 2:178 |
Short drives from Grayson County:
- L. B. Davison WMAWMA · 2 miles from the line
- Gabbard Branch WMAWMA · 8 miles from the line
- Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation AreaORA · 37 miles from the centre
- Yellowbank WMAWMA · 38 miles from the centre
- Fort Knox Military ReservationMilitary · 40 miles from the centre
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.
KDFWR contacts, towns and services for Grayson County
KDFWR lists (270) 875-3586 and FW.GreenRiverRegion@ky.gov for the Green River Region coordinator who covers Grayson County. KDFWR publishes no street address for its region offices; the closest office with one is the Southwestern Fisheries District Office in Bowling Green, about 37 miles away.
Hunting guides for towns in Grayson County:
- Leitchfield6,895 people
- Clarkson967 people
Local services for Grayson 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.
Grayson County ranges for a sight-in
Grayson County has no listed range of its own; the nearest three across the line are below, with miles.
Rifle shooters in Grayson County have to look across the line: Irvington Sportsmens Club in Breckinridge County is about 29 miles out.
Nearest KDFWR permit range: Taylorsville Lake WMA Archery Range, about 69 miles off.
Ranges from the KDFWR range layer, club sites and directory listings, checked November 10, 2026.
Grayson County legal light on key dates
Grayson 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 | 6:18 a.m. | 7:11 p.m. | 5:48 a.m. to 7:41 p.m. | 5:48 a.m. to 7:11 p.m. | CDT |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Deer crossbow opens | 6:29 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 6:49 p.m. | CDT |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth gun opens | 6:47 a.m. | 6:17 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 6:47 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 6:17 p.m. | CDT |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Early muzzleloader | 6:54 a.m. | 6:07 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 6:37 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 6:07 p.m. | CDT |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Zone 1 gun opener | 6:23 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 5:53 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 5:53 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. | CST |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Duck season opens | 6:36 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | CST |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Zone 1 gun closes | 6:39 a.m. | 4:29 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 4:29 p.m. | CST |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Late muzzleloader | 6:50 a.m. | 4:28 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 4:28 p.m. | CST |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:56 a.m. | 4:31 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 4:31 p.m. | CST |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Free youth weekend | 6:58 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 4:33 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.
Grayson County pack list
Grayson County picks were made with creek bottoms, crop edges and steep hardwood ridges in mind.
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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.
Grayson County answers in brief
Where does a Grayson County hunter log harvest?
Telecheck, by phone or online.
Are ruffed grouse open to hunters in Grayson County?
No; the Grouse Zone leaves this county out.
When do Grayson County gun hunters get the woods for modern firearms?
From November 14 through November 29, 2026.
Where does Grayson County land on the 2026-27 deer zone map?
In Zone 1, under 301 KAR 2:172. It moved from Zone 2 for 2026-27.
Why is there no bear season around Grayson County?
Bear seasons are set only for the 47 counties in Bear Zones 1 to 3.
Do carcass limits matter to a Grayson County hunter outside the zone?
Yes, for deer brought back from a zone county or another state.
Is any wildlife management area mapped within Grayson County?
Yes, the WMA label applies to Nolin River Lake WMA and Rough River Lake WMA.
How many elk may a Grayson County hunter take outside the zone?
One of either sex per license year.
Is fall turkey hunting open in Grayson County?
Yes. The statewide fall archery, crossbow and shotgun seasons apply.
What share of the Grayson County deer harvest fell to modern firearms?
76% in 2025-26.
How do I e-mail KDFWR staff responsible for Grayson County?
FW.GreenRiverRegion@ky.gov.
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: Traci Weber (posted by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District) (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District (CC BY 2.0); Tom Koerner (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) (CC BY 2.0); Danielle Robertson (posted by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District) (CC BY 2.0); Ka!zen (CC BY 2.0).