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Deer Zone 1 county
Oldham County Hunting Rundown
Everything a hunter checks before driving to Oldham County, from the Zone 1 gun dates to 819 deer reported last season and no mapped public hunting ground.
Photo: Morgan (CC BY 2.0)
Getting your bearings in Oldham County
Wildlife work in Oldham County is organised under the Bluegrass Region, which counts 31 counties in all. La Grange holds the courthouse for a county of about 70,525 people, going by the 2024 estimate. Compared with the 2020 base of 67,608, that is a change of +4.3%.
Ecologists group the county with the Bluegrass; it holds 187 square miles of land and 9.1 of water. KDFWR regulations file it under wildlife district III when setting rabbit and quail dates. Neighbouring Kentucky counties are Henry, Jefferson, Shelby and Trimble; Clark County, Indiana lie across the border.
Wide Ohio River below wooded bluffs from the Oldham County shorePhoto: Morgan (CC BY 2.0)
Black oil sunflowers planted on a dove fieldPhoto: greenebriar (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.
Deer seasons and bag in Oldham County
Kentucky sets deer zones by whole county, and Oldham 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. Unlike 30 other counties, Oldham County did not change zones 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 Oldham 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.
Oldham County deer and CWD rules
CWD zone rules do not apply in Oldham County; Meade County, about 50 miles off, is the nearest county where they do.
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 Oldham 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 Oldham County
Black bear
Kentucky bear seasons cover 47 counties, and Oldham County is not among them; try Garrard County, about 73 miles away.
Elk
The out-of-zone elk rule covers Oldham 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
Oldham County uses the Eastern Zone dates for rabbit and quail, November 1 to November 13 and November 16 to January 31. Oldham County is outside the Grouse Zone, which means no ruffed grouse season here. River otter rules put Oldham County in Otter Zone 1.
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.
| Zone list | Answer |
|---|---|
| Small game zone | Eastern |
| Grouse Zone | No |
| Otter zone | 1 |
| September goose | Eastern (map) |
| Bear zone | None |
| Elk zone | No |
| Wildlife district | III |
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.
Oldham County season calendar for 2026-27
Oldham 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 | Eastern (map) | License | Sep 16, 2026 | Sep 30, 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.
Oldham County Telecheck harvest record
819 deer were reported from Oldham County in 2025-26, the 76th highest county total. Divide by land area and you get 4.4 deer per square mile, 41st in Kentucky. Against the 2016-17 baseline of 996, the change is -18%. The ten-year average is about 896 deer, with a peak of 1,106 in 2017-18.
By sex, 50% were males (369 with visible antlers) and 50% females. Most deer fell to modern firearms (64%), with archery at 124 and crossbows at 124. Zone 1 counties, as listed for 2026-27, checked 103,888 deer, under 1% of them here.
| Deer | Total | Part |
|---|---|---|
| All deer | 819 | 100% |
| Male | 407 | 50% |
| Antlered buck | 369 | 45% |
| Button buck | 38 | 5% |
| Female | 412 | 50% |
| Modern firearm | 522 | 64% |
| Muzzleloader | 49 | 6% |
| Archery | 124 | 15% |
| Crossbow | 124 | 15% |
Wild turkey
The 2026 spring gobbler season produced 173 turkeys in Oldham County, ranking 101st. Another 6 turkeys came in during fall 2025-26. Dates for spring 2027 were not yet out from KDFWR.
| When | Turkeys |
|---|---|
| spring 2022 | 92 |
| spring 2023 | 166 |
| spring 2024 | 153 |
| spring 2025 | 169 |
| spring 2026 | 173 |
| fall 2025-26 | 6 |
Young white-tailed buck standing in green grassPhoto: yrjö jyske (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.
Public acres in and near Oldham County
Every public area near Oldham County lies across the county line, since none is listed inside it.
Close by across the line:
- Twin Eagle WMAWMA · 26 miles from the centre
- Taylorsville Lake State ParkState park · 28 miles from the centre
- Kentucky River WMAWMA · 29 miles from the centre
- Taylorsville Lake WMAWMA · 30 miles from the centre
- T. N. Sullivan WMAWMA · 35 miles from the centre
- Stephens Creek WMAWMA · 35 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 Oldham County
Regional help for Oldham 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 33 miles from the county centre.
Local town pages:
- La Grange10,541 people
Processors, taxidermists and sporting goods stores in and around Oldham 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.
Oldham County ranges for a sight-in
Oldham County has no listed range of its own; the nearest three across the line are below, with miles.
With no rifle line listed in Oldham County, Range USA Louisville at 11 miles is the nearest one.
The KDFWR range nearest Oldham County on the permit list is 28 miles away at Taylorsville Lake WMA.
Ranges from the KDFWR range layer, club sites and directory listings, checked November 10, 2026.
Oldham County sun table for opening days
Oldham 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. | 8:08 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 8:38 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 8:08 p.m. | EDT |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Deer crossbow opens | 7:26 a.m. | 7:46 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 8:16 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth gun opens | 7:45 a.m. | 7:13 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 7:43 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 7:13 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Early muzzleloader | 7:51 a.m. | 7:03 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 7:33 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 7:03 p.m. | EDT |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Zone 1 gun opener | 7:22 a.m. | 5:31 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 6:01 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | EST |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Duck season opens | 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 |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Zone 1 gun closes | 7:38 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Late muzzleloader | 7:49 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:55 a.m. | 5:24 p.m. | 7:25 a.m. to 5:54 p.m. | 7:25 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Free youth weekend | 7:57 a.m. | 5:27 p.m. | 7:27 a.m. to 5:57 p.m. | 7:27 a.m. to 5:27 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 Oldham County
Oldham 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.
Oldham County answers in brief
Could a deer hunter without a lease find room in Oldham County?
Not on listed public land; ask landowners.
What does it take to hunt elk in Oldham County?
An annual hunting license plus an Out-of-Zone Elk Permit, during deer seasons.
Does Oldham County rank well for spring turkey?
101st of 120 in spring 2026, with 173 birds.
Where does Oldham County stand among the 120 counties for deer taken?
76th in 2025-26.
Which otter zone governs trappers in Oldham County?
Otter Zone 1.
Who answers wildlife questions for Oldham County hunters?
The Bluegrass Region coordinator at (502) 782-0742, or KDFWR in Frankfort at (502) 564-3400.
Does Oldham County fall under the Zone 1 deer bag this season?
Yes. Every county is in one zone, and Oldham County is a Zone 1 county.
Is Telecheck needed for a Oldham County turkey?
Yes. Turkeys are Telechecked like deer.
Is Oldham County one of the surveillance zone counties for 2026-27?
No. Meade County is the closest of the 23.
When can muzzleloader hunters go back out in Oldham County after the gun close?
Late muzzleloader runs December 12 to December 20, 2026.
Could a bear be taken legally in Oldham County?
No. It is not in a bear zone.
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: Morgan (CC BY 2.0); greenebriar (Public domain); yrjö jyske (CC BY 2.0).