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Deer Zone 1 county
Marion County Hunter Guide
Everything a hunter checks before driving to Marion County, from the Zone 1 gun dates to 1,673 deer reported last season and 1,340 GIS acres of public hunting ground.
Photo: w.marsh (CC BY 2.0)
Getting your bearings in Marion County
Wildlife work in Marion County is organised under the Bluegrass Region, which counts 31 counties in all. Lebanon holds the courthouse for a county of about 19,851 people, going by the 2024 estimate. Compared with the 2020 base of 19,581, that is a change of +1.4%.
Ecologists group the county with the Knobs; it holds 344 square miles of land and 3.3 of water. KDFWR regulations file it under wildlife district IV when setting rabbit and quail dates. Neighbouring Kentucky counties are Boyle, Casey, LaRue, Nelson, Taylor and Washington.
Mallard drakes taking flightPhoto: USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0)
Male northern bobwhite quailPhoto: ilouque (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 Marion County
Deer seasons and bag in Marion County
Kentucky sets deer zones by whole county, and Marion County falls in Zone 1 along with 67 others. Doe hunting is wide open in Zone 1, with additional deer permits covering every antlerless deer after the statewide permit. Marion County moved from Zone 2 to Zone 1 this season, one of 30 counties KDFWR shifted to a more liberal zone for 2026-27.
| Window | Allowed | Start | End | Days | What counts | Now | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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 Marion 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.
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.
Marion County deer and CWD rules
CWD zone rules do not apply in Marion County; Casey County, about 25 miles off, is the nearest county where they do. Deer killed in neighbouring Casey carry zone carcass rules, even when you drive them here.
Carcass rules still matter: whole deer and high-risk parts may not leave a zone county or enter Kentucky from another state. KDFWR allows deer baiting on private land outside the zone, which includes Marion County, but not on public hunting land.
Want a deer checked for the disease? Statewide testing is free by drop-off or by mail.
From the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide, the KDFWR CWD Surveillance Zone page and baiting rules. Checked November 10, 2026.
Which zones reach Marion County
Black bear
Kentucky bear seasons cover 47 counties, and Marion County is not among them; try Casey County, about 25 miles away.
Elk
The out-of-zone elk rule covers Marion 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.
Small game and birds
Marion County uses the Eastern Zone dates for rabbit and quail, November 1 to November 13 and November 16 to January 31. Marion County is outside the Grouse Zone, which means no ruffed grouse season here. River otter rules put Marion 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 Western Zone, September 1 to September 15, 2026, while ducks and regular geese are statewide. Duck season opens statewide on November 26, 2026 in two parts that end January 31, 2027.
| Zone list | Answer |
|---|---|
| Small game zone | Eastern |
| Grouse Zone | No |
| Otter zone | 2 |
| 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.
Marion County season calendar for 2026-27
Marion County lists 5 rows without dates yet; KDFWR had not printed spring 2027 dates when this was checked, and out-of-zone elk simply follows deer dates.
| Quarry | Window | Zone | Permit type | Start | Finish | Parts | Right now | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| River otter | Zone 2 sub-limit | Otter Zone 2 | License | Nov 16, 2026 | Mar 31, 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.
Marion County Telecheck harvest record
1,673 deer were reported from Marion County in 2025-26, the 29th highest county total. Divide by land area and you get 4.9 deer per square mile, 34th in Kentucky. Against the 2016-17 baseline of 1,074, the change is +56%. The ten-year average is about 1,373 deer, with a peak of 1,673 in 2025-26.
By sex, 52% were males (775 with visible antlers) and 48% females. Most deer fell to modern firearms (76%), with archery at 167 and crossbows at 133. Zone 1 counties, as listed for 2026-27, checked 103,888 deer, 2% of them here.
| Deer | Total | Part |
|---|---|---|
| All deer | 1,673 | 100% |
| Male | 876 | 52% |
| Antlered buck | 775 | 46% |
| Button buck | 101 | 6% |
| Female | 797 | 48% |
| Modern firearm | 1,264 | 76% |
| Muzzleloader | 109 | 7% |
| Archery | 167 | 10% |
| Crossbow | 133 | 8% |
Wild turkey
The 2026 spring gobbler season produced 376 turkeys in Marion County, ranking 34th. Another 12 turkeys came in during fall 2025-26. Dates for spring 2027 were not yet out from KDFWR.
| When | Turkeys |
|---|---|
| spring 2022 | 300 |
| spring 2023 | 404 |
| spring 2024 | 353 |
| spring 2025 | 326 |
| spring 2026 | 376 |
| fall 2025-26 | 12 |
White-tailed buck in velvet bounding across a grassy hillsidePhoto: Jacob W. Frank (National Park Service) (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Harvest from the KDFWR Harvest Results app (Telecheck; license years, 2025-26 = the latest); turkey from the same app. Checked November 10, 2026.
Public acres in and near Marion County
The land records put 1 hunting area in Marion County, with Marion County WMA and State Forest the largest. By GIS measure, roughly 1,340 acres are open to the public for hunting, near under 1% of the county.
Each line is a GIS measure, not an official acreage, and the status column flags closed land.
| Owner type | Acres (GIS) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| KDFWR wildlife management areas | 1,340 | Open to hunting |
Marion County WMA and State Forest adds some 1,341 acres of WMA ground, managed by KDFWR. Forest makes up about 99% of it. All species may be hunted there on statewide dates.
Close by across the line:
- Rolling Fork WMAWMA · 1 mile from the line
- Green River Lake WMAWMA · 4 miles from the line
- Green River Lake State ParkState park · 10 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 Marion County
Regional help for Marion County comes from the Bluegrass coordinator, (502) 782-0742, e-mail FW.BluegrassRegion@ky.gov. The nearest KDFWR office with a mailing address is the Headquarters (Frankfort) in Frankfort, some 47 miles from the county centre.
Local town pages:
- Lebanon6,558 people
- Bradfordsville273 people
Processors, taxidermists and sporting goods stores in and around Marion 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.
Marion County: benches and clay fields
Marion County has 1 range on file.
The KDFWR range nearest Marion County on the permit list is 32 miles away at Taylorsville Lake WMA.
Ranges from the KDFWR range layer, club sites and directory listings, checked November 10, 2026.
Marion County legal hours by season date
Marion County raccoon, coyote and other furbearer hunters follow separate night and daylight rules that this table leaves out.
| When | Opener or event | First light | Last light | Most game | Migratory | Clock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Deer archery opens | 7:14 a.m. | 8:06 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 8:36 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 8:06 p.m. | EDT |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Deer crossbow opens | 7:25 a.m. | 7:45 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth gun opens | 7:43 a.m. | 7:13 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 7:43 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. to 7:13 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Early muzzleloader | 7:50 a.m. | 7:03 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 7:33 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 7:03 p.m. | EDT |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Zone 1 gun opener | 7:19 a.m. | 5:32 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 6:02 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | EST |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:32 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | EST |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Zone 1 gun closes | 7:35 a.m. | 5:24 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 5:54 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Late muzzleloader | 7:46 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:52 a.m. | 5:26 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 5:56 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Free youth weekend | 7:54 a.m. | 5:28 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:58 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. | EST |
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.
Packing for a hunt in Marion County
Marion County gear here follows the game on this page; nothing loads until you tap a button.
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Climbing stand
Pack a climbing stand; deer cover here runs from crop edges to steep hardwood draws.
Chest waders
Waterfowl hunters along the Ohio and Mississippi bottoms pack chest waders.
Dove stool
A seat with shell storage suits a long September afternoon on a sunflower field.
Hunting Marion County, answered
Which otter zone governs trappers in Marion County?
Otter Zone 2.
Who answers wildlife questions for Marion County hunters?
The Bluegrass Region coordinator at (502) 782-0742, or KDFWR in Frankfort at (502) 564-3400.
Does Marion County fall under the Zone 1 deer bag this season?
Yes. Every county is in one zone, and Marion County is a Zone 1 county. It moved from Zone 2 for 2026-27.
Is Telecheck needed for a Marion County turkey?
Yes. Turkeys are Telechecked like deer.
Is Marion County one of the surveillance zone counties for 2026-27?
No. Casey County is the closest of the 23.
When can muzzleloader hunters go back out in Marion County after the gun close?
Late muzzleloader runs December 12 to December 20, 2026.
What does it take to hunt elk in Marion County?
An annual hunting license plus an Out-of-Zone Elk Permit, during deer seasons.
Could a bear be taken legally in Marion County?
No. It is not in a bear zone.
Where does Marion County stand among the 120 counties for deer taken?
29th in 2025-26.
Which tract is the biggest public hunting area touching Marion County?
Marion County WMA and State Forest, going by recorded acres.
Does Marion County rank well for spring turkey?
34th of 120 in spring 2026, with 376 birds.
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: USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0); ilouque (CC BY 2.0); Jacob W. Frank (National Park Service) (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Yellowstone National Park (Public domain).