Laurel County Hunting, 2026-27

Deer seasons and bag in Laurel County

Kentucky sets deer zones by whole county, and Laurel County falls in Zone 3 along with 12 others. Up to four deer are legal in Zone 3, yet only one doe can fall to a firearm or air gun. Unlike 30 other counties, Laurel County did not change zones for 2026-27.

KDFWR wording for Zone 3: “Up to 4 deer; only 1 antlerless deer with a firearm or air gun (1 antlered max statewide).” 301 KAR 2:172

Rifles and shotguns open on November 14, 2026 and close on November 29, 2026; muzzleloaders get a second turn from December 12 to December 20, 2026. Earlier gun chances come with the youth-only season, October 10 to October 18, 2026, and the two early muzzleloader days, October 17 to October 18, 2026. Bowhunters have September 5, 2026 to January 18, 2027; crossbows join on September 19.

During the gun, muzzleloader and youth gun deer days, everyone afield in Laurel County wears solid hunter orange on head, back and chest, archers and turkey hunters included. After Christmas comes the free youth weekend, December 26 to December 27, 2026, open to any legal method.

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

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.

Which zones reach Laurel County

Black bear, Zone 2

Black bear hunting is open here: Laurel County falls in Bear Zone 2. Expect bear archery on October 24 to October 28 and the gun season on December 12 to December 16. One bear per license year is the cap, with a 75-pound minimum and no females with cubs.

Bait and lures are banned for bears; wait 30 days after bait is cleared before hunting there. Dog training without a kill, the chase-only season, also runs in all three bear zones in summer and September. Cane Creek WMA and Daniel Boone National Forest are on the no-dog list for bears.

No bear quota; bear permits are over the counter. 301 KAR 2:300

Elk

The out-of-zone elk rule covers Laurel County: annual hunting license, Out-of-Zone Elk Permit, deer dates and methods. It is separate from the deer bag, and a deer permit is not required.

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

Laurel County uses the Eastern Zone dates for rabbit and quail, November 1 to November 13 and November 16 to January 31. Laurel County is also in the Grouse Zone, so ruffed grouse are open from November 1 to February 28, 2027. River otter rules put Laurel County in Otter Zone 2; no more than six of the ten-otter limit may come from Zone 2.

The September Canada goose season here follows the Eastern Zone, September 16 to September 30, 2026, while ducks and regular geese are statewide. Duck season opens statewide on November 26, 2026 in two parts that end January 31, 2027.

September goose zone counties are read from the KDFWR zone map; they agree with the 301 KAR 2:225 rule. No goose hunting in posted areas of Laurel River Lake. Waterfowl guide p. 11

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.

Laurel County Telecheck harvest record

1,593 deer were reported from Laurel County in 2025-26, the 35th highest county total. Divide by land area and you get 3.7 deer per square mile, 52nd in Kentucky. Against the 2016-17 baseline of 762, the change is +109%. The ten-year average is about 1,243 deer, with a peak of 1,593 in 2025-26.

By sex, 53% were males (763 with visible antlers) and 47% females. Most deer fell to modern firearms (66%), with archery at 244 and crossbows at 217. Zone 3 counties, as listed for 2026-27, checked 11,395 deer, 14% of them here.

Wild turkey

The 2026 spring gobbler season produced 487 turkeys in Laurel County, ranking 16th. Another 23 turkeys came in during fall 2025-26. Dates for spring 2027 were not yet out from KDFWR.

Elk

Laurel County has produced 1 checked elk since 2016-17.

Black bear

Bear hunters have checked 2 bears in Laurel County since 2020-21.

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

KDFWR contacts, towns and services for Laurel County

Regional help for Laurel County comes from the Southeast coordinator, (606) 344-0585, e-mail FW.SoutheastRegion@ky.gov. The nearest KDFWR office with a mailing address is the Southeastern Fisheries District Office in Williamsburg, some 27 miles from the county centre.

Local town pages:

• London7,573 people
• East Bernstadt
• North Corbin

Processors, taxidermists and sporting goods stores in and around Laurel County; listings from directories are not individually verified, so 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.

Counties near Laurel County

More counties near Laurel County and three wider guides.