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Home › Kentucky › Counties › Harrison County

Bluegrass Region

Harrison County Hunter Guide

Zone 1 deer rules, every season row, quota hunts, harvest since 2016-17 and the land you can walk on in Harrison County.

Deer season
Public land
Past harvests
Hunting gear
1Deer zone
NoCWD zone
NoneBear zone
NoElk zone
EasternSmall game zone

Photo: w.marsh (CC BY 2.0)

Harrison County at a glance

On the KDFWR regional map, Harrison County is one of 31 counties grouped as the Bluegrass Region. The seat of government is Cynthiana; the county counted roughly 19,525 residents in the 2024 estimate. The county has gained about 832 people since the 2020 count.

Expect Bluegrass country: 306 square miles of land and 3.4 square miles of lakes and streams. Its wildlife district is V, which decides whether the Western or Eastern small game dates apply. Right next door sit Bourbon, Bracken, Grant, Nicholas, Pendleton, Robertson and Scott.

CynthianaCounty seat
19,525People, 2024
306Square miles
BluegrassNatural region
VWildlife district
5thLaw district
1,813Deer checked
22ndStatewide deer rank
Male wood duck

Male wood duckPhoto: Frank.Vassen (CC BY 2.0)

Wild turkeys feeding in a grassy field

Wild turkeys feeding in a grassy fieldPhoto: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain)

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 Harrison County

Shooting Ranges Near Georgetown

Range · 17 mi from Harrison County

Directions
Shooting Ranges Near Paris

Range · 17 mi from Harrison County

Directions
Pendleton County

County · 17 mi from Harrison County

Directions
Grant County

County · 21 mi from Harrison County

Directions
Clay WMA

Public land · 25 mi from Harrison County

Directions
Shooting Ranges Near Lexington

Range · 29 mi from Harrison County

Directions

Harrison County deer zone and dates

Zone 1 covers 68 counties for 2026-27, Harrison 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 Harrison County this season.

KDFWR wording for Zone 1: “Unlimited antlerless deer with the statewide deer permit plus additional deer permits; 1 antlered deer statewide.” 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 Harrison 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.

A January 9-11, 2027 antlerless-only firearms season in Zones 1-3 was adopted in 301 KAR 2:172 effective November 5, 2026; KDFWR's guide still lists it as pending. 301 KAR 2:172

All of Zone 1
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.

Harrison County CWD zone check

Harrison County is outside the CWD Surveillance Zone; the nearest zone county is Lincoln County, about 70 miles centre to centre.

NoCWD zone
LincolnNearest zone county
70 milesDistance
23Zone counties

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 Harrison County since it sits outside the zone, though never on WMAs or state parks.

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 Harrison County

Black bear

Bear hunting stops at the bear zone line, and Harrison County sits outside it; Clark County is the nearest zone county at about 34 miles.

Elk

Elk are not managed for a herd here; Harrison 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.

Follows deer season dates and methods; needs annual hunting license plus Out-of-Zone Elk Permit; no deer permit required. 1 elk of either sex per license year (not counted in deer bag) Guide p. 23

Small game and birds

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

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 zone1
September gooseEastern (map)
Bear zoneNone
Elk zoneNo
Wildlife districtV
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.

Harrison County hunting dates by zone

Harrison 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 1PermitNov 14, 2026Nov 29, 2026OneGuide p. 12
DeerLate MuzzleloaderZone 1PermitDec 12, 2026Dec 20, 2026OneGuide p. 12
DeerFree youth weekendStatewidePermitDec 26, 2026Dec 27, 2026OneGuide p. 12
ElkOut-of-zone elkDeer datesPermit–––No datesGuide p. 23
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
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 Harrison County

Telecheck logged 1,813 deer from Harrison County in the 2025-26 license year, ranking it 22nd of 120. Per square mile the take was 5.9, 17th among counties. The 2016-17 figure was 1,832, so the latest season is 1% lower. The best year in the series was 2017-18 with 1,958, the lowest 2020-21 with 1,514.

Harrison County deer checked by license year07501,5002,2503,0002016-17: 1,8321,8322016-172017-18: 1,9581,9582017-182018-19: 1,9471,9472018-192019-20: 1,5711,5712019-202020-21: 1,5141,5142020-212021-22: 1,6101,6102021-222022-23: 1,5991,5992022-232023-24: 1,5841,5842023-242024-25: 1,6411,6412024-252025-26: 1,8131,8132025-26

Antlered deer were 44% of the total, with does at 51%. Modern firearms accounted for 74% of the deer, crossbows 9% and archery 10%. That was 2% of the deer checked in the counties now in Zone 1.

TypeCheckedOf total
All deer1,813100%
Male89449%
Antlered buck80244%
Button buck925%
Female91951%
Modern firearm1,33474%
Muzzleloader1176%
Archery19010%
Crossbow1729%

Wild turkey

The spring 2026 turkey take here was 414, 26th in Kentucky. In the 2025-26 fall season, 25 turkeys were checked. Watch for the spring 2027 dates; KDFWR had not released them yet.

Turkey seasonChecked
spring 2022269
spring 2023357
spring 2024307
spring 2025304
spring 2026414
fall 2025-2625
Young white-tailed buck standing in green grass

Young white-tailed buck standing in green grassPhoto: yrjö jyske (CC BY 2.0)

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.

Harrison County public ground and closed areas

Hunters have 1 public area to choose from in Harrison County, led in size by Griffith Woods WMA. GIS layers measure about 751 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.

TypeGIS measureRule
KDFWR wildlife management areas751Open to hunting
Nature preserves179Closed
WMAGriffith Woods WMAWMA · 746 ac · Zone 1

Griffith Woods WMA (746 acres) is a WMA under KDFWR. About 57% of the ground there is open land. Listed game: white-tailed deer, wild turkey, squirrel, rabbit.

Short drives from Harrison 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.

Harrison County offices, towns and shops

KDFWR lists (502) 782-0742 and FW.BluegrassRegion@ky.gov for the Bluegrass Region coordinator who covers Harrison County. KDFWR publishes no street address for its region offices; the closest office with one is the Headquarters (Frankfort) in Frankfort, about 37 miles away.

Bluegrass Region
Regional coordinator

(502) 782-0742
FW.BluegrassRegion@ky.gov

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

(502) 564-3400
Navigate

Hunting guides for towns in Harrison County:

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

Lizers Taxidermy
Cynthiana, Harrison County · about 3 mi away

Map it

Back to Life Taxidermy
Cynthiana, Harrison County · about 7 mi away

(502) 682-8166
Map it

Ritchies Taxidermy
Cynthiana, Harrison County · about 7 mi away

Map it

H and H Processing LLC
Cynthiana, Harrison County · about 8 mi away

(859) 333-1603
Map it

Sonnys Taxidermy
Falmouth, Pendleton County · about 11 mi away

Map it

Whitsons Deer Processing
Carlisle, Nicholas County · about 15 mi away

(859) 588-8224
Map it

Sullivan Art
Falmouth, Pendleton County · about 16 mi away

Map it

Jims Blue-Licks Taxidermy
Mount Olivet, Robertson County · about 16 mi away

Map it
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.

Before a Harrison County hunt: the ranges

Veterans Memorial WMA Shooting Range is the closest listed range to Harrison County, 16 miles from its centre.

Veterans Memorial WMA Shooting
Range
KDFWR range

Georgetown, Scott County · 16 mi

Lines: rifle, handgun, shotgun

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

John A.⁠ Kleber WMA
Range
KDFWR range

Owenton, Owen County · 23 mi

Lines: rifle, handgun

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

Elk Creek Hunt Club
sporting clays

Owenton, Owen County · 25 mi

Lines: sporting clays, shotgun, 5-stand

Access not stated · KDFWR range map, checked Nov 9, 2026

Rifle shooters in Harrison County have to look across the line: Veterans Memorial WMA Shooting Range in Scott County is about 16 miles out.

Nearest KDFWR permit range: Veterans Memorial WMA Shooting Range, about 16 miles off.

Neighbouring counties list 6 more.

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

Harrison County legal hours by season date

Harrison 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 opens7:09 a.m.8:03 p.m.6:39 a.m. to 8:33 p.m.6:39 a.m. to 8:03 p.m.EDT
Sep 19, 2026Deer crossbow opens7:21 a.m.7:41 p.m.6:51 a.m. to 8:11 p.m.6:51 a.m. to 7:41 p.m.EDT
Oct 10, 2026Youth gun opens7:40 a.m.7:08 p.m.7:10 a.m. to 7:38 p.m.7:10 a.m. to 7:08 p.m.EDT
Oct 17, 2026Early muzzleloader7:47 a.m.6:58 p.m.7:17 a.m. to 7:28 p.m.7:17 a.m. to 6:58 p.m.EDT
Nov 14, 2026Zone 1 gun opener7:17 a.m.5:27 p.m.6:47 a.m. to 5:57 p.m.6:47 a.m. to 5:27 p.m.EST
Nov 26, 2026Duck season opens7:30 a.m.5:19 p.m.7:00 a.m. to 5:49 p.m.7:00 a.m. to 5:19 p.m.EST
Nov 29, 2026Zone 1 gun closes7:33 a.m.5:18 p.m.7:03 a.m. to 5:48 p.m.7:03 a.m. to 5:18 p.m.EST
Dec 12, 2026Late muzzleloader7:45 a.m.5:17 p.m.7:15 a.m. to 5:47 p.m.7:15 a.m. to 5:17 p.m.EST
Dec 21, 2026Shortest day7:51 a.m.5:20 p.m.7:21 a.m. to 5:50 p.m.7:21 a.m. to 5:20 p.m.EST
Dec 26, 2026Free youth weekend7:53 a.m.5:22 p.m.7:23 a.m. to 5:52 p.m.7:23 a.m. to 5:22 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.

Harrison County pack list

Harrison 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.

Amazon options

Box call

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

Amazon options

Chest waders

Chest waders are standard kit for a December morning in a flooded field.

Amazon options

Dove stool

Public dove field crowds on September 1 often bring a dove stool.

Amazon options

Side-by-side gear
Gear guides

Next counties from Harrison County

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

Robertson County

Deer Zone 1 · Northeast Region · 15 miles

Scott County

Deer Zone 1 · Bluegrass Region · 17 miles

Pendleton County

Deer Zone 1 · Bluegrass Region · 17 miles

Bourbon County

Deer Zone 2 · Bluegrass Region · 18 miles

Season dates
Hunting laws
KDFWR offices

Asked about Harrison County

Is any wildlife management area mapped within Harrison County?

Yes, the WMA label applies to Griffith Woods WMA.

How many elk may a Harrison County hunter take outside the zone?

One of either sex per license year.

Is fall turkey hunting open in Harrison County?

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

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

74% in 2025-26.

Are ruffed grouse open to hunters in Harrison County?

Yes, the county sits inside the Grouse Zone.

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

FW.BluegrassRegion@ky.gov.

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

In Zone 1, under 301 KAR 2:172.

Where does a Harrison County hunter log harvest?

Telecheck, by phone or online.

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

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

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

From November 14 through November 29, 2026.

Why is there no bear season around Harrison 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: Frank.Vassen (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); yrjö jyske (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain).