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Deer Zone 1 county
Trigg County Hunting Rundown
Everything a hunter checks before driving to Trigg County, from the Zone 1 gun dates to 1,804 deer reported last season and 96,080 GIS acres of public hunting ground.
Photo: joannapoe (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting your bearings in Trigg County
Wildlife work in Trigg County is organised under the Purchase Region, which counts 14 counties in all. Cadiz holds the courthouse for a county of about 14,559 people, going by the 2024 estimate. Compared with the 2020 base of 14,056, that is a change of +3.6%.
Ecologists group the county with the Pennyrile; it holds 441 square miles of land and 39.9 of water. KDFWR regulations file it under wildlife district I when setting rabbit and quail dates. Neighbouring Kentucky counties are Caldwell, Calloway, Christian, Lyon and Marshall; Stewart County, Tennessee lie across the border.
Winter driftwood piled in a cove on Lake Barkley in Trigg CountyPhoto: Joseph H. Hartman (CC0 1.0)
Mallard drakes resting on rocks in pink sunset waterPhoto: Strolling Shuttereyes (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.
Deer seasons and bag in Trigg County
Kentucky sets deer zones by whole county, and Trigg 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, Trigg 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 Trigg 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.
Trigg County deer and CWD rules
CWD zone rules do not apply in Trigg County; Calloway County, about 26 miles off, is the nearest county where they do. Deer killed in neighbouring Calloway and Marshall 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 Trigg 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 Trigg County
Black bear
Kentucky bear seasons cover 47 counties, and Trigg County is not among them; try Cumberland County, about 137 miles away.
Elk
The out-of-zone elk rule covers Trigg 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
Trigg County uses the Western Zone dates for rabbit and quail, November 16 to February 10. Trigg County is outside the Grouse Zone, which means no ruffed grouse season here. River otter rules put Trigg County in Otter Zone 1.
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 | Western |
| Grouse Zone | No |
| Otter zone | 1 |
| September goose | Western (map) |
| Bear zone | None |
| Elk zone | No |
| Wildlife district | I |
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.
Trigg County season calendar for 2026-27
Trigg 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 | Deer quota hunts | 2 hunts | Quota permit | Nov 2, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | 2 parts | KDFWR page | |
| 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 | Western zone | License | Nov 16, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | One | Guide p. 27 | |
| Rabbit | Rabbit Trapping | Western zone | License | Nov 16, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | One | Guide p. 27 | |
| Quail | Quail | Western zone | License | Nov 16, 2026 | Feb 10, 2027 | One | 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.
Drawn deer hunts around Trigg County
Trigg County has 2 deer quota hunts on 1 public area this season, 45 slots in all. Hunters applied during September 2026 at $3 a hunt, and unsuccessful applicants earn a preference point. Preference points listed are the 2025 minimums that were drawn.
| Public area | Number | Days | Hunters | Points needed | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Barkley State Resort Park | 36 | Nov. 2-6 | 25 | – | state park / other |
| Lake Barkley State Resort Park | 37 | Jan. 5-6 | 20 | – | state park / other |
Other quota lines in Trigg County:
- Land Between The Lakes National Recreation AreaLBL Kentucky adult deer quota hunts Nov. 6-8 and Nov. 20-22, 2026; youth-only quota hunt Oct. 23-25, 2026 (LBL Hunting and Fishing page)
- Lake Barkley WMASeason-long waterfowl blind drawing ("Barkley Lake", Quota Hunts page)
From the KDFWR Quota Hunts page (Sept. 1-30, 2026 online only, $3 per hunt) and the land records. Checked November 10, 2026.
Trigg County Telecheck harvest record
1,804 deer were reported from Trigg County in 2025-26, the 24th highest county total. Divide by land area and you get 4.1 deer per square mile, 46th in Kentucky. Against the 2016-17 baseline of 1,828, the change is -1%. The ten-year average is about 2,107 deer, with a peak of 2,443 in 2019-20.
By sex, 51% were males (814 with visible antlers) and 49% females. Most deer fell to modern firearms (71%), with archery at 252 and crossbows at 134. Zone 1 counties, as listed for 2026-27, checked 103,888 deer, 2% of them here.
| Deer | Total | Part |
|---|---|---|
| All deer | 1,804 | 100% |
| Male | 914 | 51% |
| Antlered buck | 814 | 45% |
| Button buck | 100 | 6% |
| Female | 890 | 49% |
| Modern firearm | 1,283 | 71% |
| Muzzleloader | 135 | 7% |
| Archery | 252 | 14% |
| Crossbow | 134 | 7% |
Wild turkey
The 2026 spring gobbler season produced 470 turkeys in Trigg County, ranking 18th. Another 12 turkeys came in during fall 2025-26. Dates for spring 2027 were not yet out from KDFWR.
| When | Turkeys |
|---|---|
| spring 2022 | 232 |
| spring 2023 | 350 |
| spring 2024 | 384 |
| spring 2025 | 324 |
| spring 2026 | 470 |
| fall 2025-26 | 12 |
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 Trigg County
The land records put 4 hunting areas in Trigg County, with Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area the largest. By GIS measure, roughly 96,080 acres are open to the public for hunting, near 34% 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 | 545 | Open to hunting |
| National forest land | 64,204 | Open to hunting |
| Corps of Engineers land | 8,514 | Rules vary |
| Military land | 23,116 | Rules vary |
| State parks | 3,246 | Drawn hunts only |
Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area adds some 107,594 acres of recreation area ground, managed by the Forest Service. Forest makes up about 90% of it. The 2026-27 chart lists white-tailed deer, wild turkey, squirrel, waterfowl there. Fort Campbell Military Reservation runs to about 36,113 acres and is managed by the Army. Roughly 70% of Fort Campbell Military Reservation is forest. Lake Barkley State Resort Park runs to about 3,304 acres and is managed by Kentucky State Parks. Expect mainly forest there (78%). The 2026-27 chart lists white-tailed deer there.
Close by across the line:
- Kenlake State Resort ParkState park · 0 miles from the line
- Kentucky Lake WMAWMA · 1 mile from the line
- Pennyrile State ForestState forest · 3 miles from the line
- Clarks River National Wildlife RefugeRefuge · 7 miles from the line
- Jones-Keeney WMAWMA · 8 miles from the line
- Beechy Creek WMAWMA · 9 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.
Trigg County contacts and local businesses
Regional help for Trigg County comes from the Purchase coordinator, (270) 577-6374, e-mail FW.PurchaseRegion@ky.gov. The nearest KDFWR office with a mailing address is the Western Fisheries District Office in Murray, some 25 miles from the county centre.
Local town pages:
- Cadiz2,741 people
Processors, taxidermists and sporting goods stores in and around Trigg 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.
Trigg County ranges: clubs, clays and bow lanes
Trigg County has 2 ranges on file, Golden Pond Target Range (Land Between the Lakes) among them on public ground.
The KDFWR range nearest Trigg County on the permit list is 57 miles away at West Kentucky WMA.
Ranges from the KDFWR range layer, club sites and directory listings, checked November 10, 2026.
Trigg County sun table for opening days
Trigg 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 | 6:25 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 5:55 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. | 5:55 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. | CDT |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Deer crossbow opens | 6:36 a.m. | 6:55 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 6:55 p.m. | CDT |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth gun opens | 6:53 a.m. | 6:23 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:53 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:23 p.m. | CDT |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Early muzzleloader | 6:59 a.m. | 6:14 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:14 p.m. | CDT |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Zone 1 gun opener | 6:28 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. | CST |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Duck season opens | 6:40 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | CST |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Zone 1 gun closes | 6:43 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. | CST |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Late muzzleloader | 6:55 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. | CST |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:00 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | CST |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Free youth weekend | 7:02 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 4:41 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.
Packing for a hunt in Trigg County
Trigg 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.
Trigg County hunting questions
Who answers wildlife questions for Trigg County hunters?
The Purchase Region coordinator at (270) 577-6374, or KDFWR in Frankfort at (502) 564-3400.
Does Trigg County rank well for spring turkey?
18th of 120 in spring 2026, with 470 birds.
What dates are set for the Trigg County quota hunts?
Nov. 2-6 and Jan. 5-6.
Which otter zone governs trappers in Trigg County?
Otter Zone 1.
Does Trigg County fall under the Zone 1 deer bag this season?
Yes. Every county is in one zone, and Trigg County is a Zone 1 county.
Is Telecheck needed for a Trigg County turkey?
Yes. Turkeys are Telechecked like deer.
Is Trigg County one of the surveillance zone counties for 2026-27?
No. Calloway County is the closest of the 23.
When can muzzleloader hunters go back out in Trigg County after the gun close?
Late muzzleloader runs December 12 to December 20, 2026.
What does it take to hunt elk in Trigg County?
An annual hunting license plus an Out-of-Zone Elk Permit, during deer seasons.
Could a bear be taken legally in Trigg County?
No. It is not in a bear zone.
Where does Trigg County stand among the 120 counties for deer taken?
24th in 2025-26.
Which tract is the biggest public hunting area touching Trigg County?
Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area, going by recorded acres.
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: Joseph H. Hartman (CC0 1.0); Strolling Shuttereyes (CC BY 2.0); yrjö jyske (CC BY 2.0); Jeff Laird (posted by Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area) (Public Domain Mark 1.0); cuatrok77 (CC BY-SA 2.0); Judy Gallagher (CC BY 2.0); Brian Stansberry (CC BY 4.0).