Kentucky › Hunting seasons › Deer zones › Zone 3
Zone guide · 2026-27
Kentucky Deer Zone 3
13 counties, one bag rule and the 2026-27 gun and muzzleloader dates, all from the KDFWR zone list.
Photo: Patrick Mueller (CC BY 2.0)
The shape of Deer Zone 3
Counted county by county, Deer Zone 3 covers 13 of Kentucky's 120 counties this season, each one wholly inside the zone. Spread across the agency map, the zone reaches into 2 wildlife regions: Northeast (3) and Southeast (10).
Telecheck logged 11,395 deer in the 13 counties during the 2025-26 license year; the 2016-17 figure for the same counties was 8,444. The 2026-27 redraw moved 7 counties into Zone 3 from Deer Zone 4. The zone also gave up 6 counties to Deer Zone 2 this season.
Clock time matters on opening morning: the zone lies on Central Time and Eastern Time.
Zone lists from 301 KAR 2:172 and the KDFWR deer zone layer; regions from the KDFWR regions layer; harvest from the KDFWR Harvest Results app (The 2025-26 Kentucky White-tailed Deer Report prints 145,433 deer; the KDFWR Harvest Results app (live Telecheck) counts 145,525.); checked November 10, 2026.
Deer Zone 3 limits and permits
The 2026-27 guide prints the Zone 3 limit as:
Up to 4 deer; only 1 antlerless deer with a firearm or air gun (1 antlered max statewide).
Zone 3 also allows four deer, but a firearm or air gun can take only one antlerless deer here. Any further antlerless deer in the zone have to come with archery or crossbow gear.
One limit covers the whole deer year in the zone, whichever season you hunt.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Antlered limit | One antlered deer statewide |
| Zone rule in short | 4 deer, 1 gun antlerless |
| Statewide deer permit | $37 resident, $248.40 nonresident |
| Additional deer permit | $15.86, two deer |
Bag wording from Guide p. 12 and 301 KAR 2:172; permit prices from the 2026-27 fee table; checked November 10, 2026.
When deer season is open in Deer Zone 3
Gun hunters in Zone 3 get November 14 to November 29, 2026, with muzzleloaders back out December 12 to December 20, 2026. Season dates line up across Kentucky this year, so the zone matters for the bag more than for the calendar.
| Deer season | Dates | Covers | Limit | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 5–Jan 18 | All zones | Zone bag limits; 1 antlered deer statewide | Hunters using archery equipment during a firearm season must follow firearm-season rules and wear hunter orange. | Guide p. 12 |
| Crossbow | Sep 19–Jan 18 | All zones | Zone bag limits; 1 antlered deer statewide | — | Guide p. 12 |
| Youth/Senior Crossbow | Sep 5–Jan 18 | All zones | Zone bag limits | Youth under 16 (resident or nonresident) and resident hunters 65 and older. | Guide p. 12 |
| CWD Antlerless Season | Sep 25–28 | CWD counties, Zones 1-3 | Antlerless only; zone bag limits apply | Mandatory head drop-off for CWD testing for deer taken this season. Zone 4 CWD counties (McCreary, Whitley) cannot use firearms these four days. | Guide p. 12 |
| Youth-only Modern Firearms | Oct 10–18 | All zones | Zone bag limits | Youth under 16, accompanied by an adult; ages 12-15 need license and deer permit. | Guide p. 12 |
| Early Muzzleloader | Oct 17–18 | All zones | Zone bag limits | Zone 4: no antlerless deer this season. | Guide p. 12 |
| Modern Firearms | Nov 14–29 | Zone 3 | Up to 4 deer; only 1 antlerless deer with a firearm or air gun (1 antlered max statewide). | — | Guide p. 12 |
| Late Muzzleloader | Dec 12–20 | Zone 3 | Up to 4 deer; only 1 antlerless deer with a firearm or air gun (1 antlered max statewide). | — | Guide p. 12 |
| Free Youth Weekend | Dec 26–27 | All zones | Antlered or antlerless regardless of zone; bag limits apply | Youth under 16 accompanied by an adult; no license or deer permit needed. | Guide p. 12 |
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.
Solid hunter orange on the head, back and chest is required for every hunter in daylight during the modern gun, muzzleloader and youth gun seasons, archers and turkey hunters included. Law details.
Season rows from the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide, cross-checked against the KDFWR Season Dates app; hunter orange from Guide p. 10; checked November 10, 2026.
Deer Zone 3 county list
Each county below is in Zone 3 in full. The change column shows the 2026-27 moves.
| County | Wildlife region | Deer last season | Changed | CWD | Seat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton | Southeast | 483 | Zone 4 to 3 | — | Albany |
| Estill | Southeast | 643 | — | — | Irvine |
| Jackson | Southeast | 930 | Zone 4 to 3 | — | McKee |
| Laurel | Southeast | 1,593 | — | Yes | London |
| Martin | Northeast | 392 | Zone 4 to 3 | — | Inez |
| Menifee | Northeast | 218 | Zone 4 to 3 | — | Frenchburg |
| Pike | Northeast | 1,632 | Zone 4 to 3 | — | Pikeville |
| Powell | Southeast | 381 | — | — | Stanton |
| Pulaski | Southeast | 2,359 | — | Yes | Somerset |
| Rockcastle | Southeast | 737 | Zone 4 to 3 | Yes | Mount Vernon |
| Russell | Southeast | 597 | Zone 4 to 3 | Yes | Jamestown |
| Wayne | Southeast | 1,057 | — | Yes | Monticello |
| Wolfe | Southeast | 373 | — | — | Campton |
Counties from 301 KAR 2:172 and the KDFWR deer zone layer; 2026 changes from guide p. 10 and the Deer Report; checked November 10, 2026.
New lines for Deer Zone 3
Here is each county that entered or left Zone 3 for 2026-27; no county jumped more than one zone.
| County | Old zone | New zone | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton | Zone 4 | Zone 3 | Into this zone |
| Jackson | Zone 4 | Zone 3 | Into this zone |
| Martin | Zone 4 | Zone 3 | Into this zone |
| Menifee | Zone 4 | Zone 3 | Into this zone |
| Pike | Zone 4 | Zone 3 | Into this zone |
| Rockcastle | Zone 4 | Zone 3 | Into this zone |
| Russell | Zone 4 | Zone 3 | Into this zone |
| Cumberland | Zone 3 | Zone 2 | Out of this zone |
| Elliott | Zone 3 | Zone 2 | Out of this zone |
| Garrard | Zone 3 | Zone 2 | Out of this zone |
| Johnson | Zone 3 | Zone 2 | Out of this zone |
| Morgan | Zone 3 | Zone 2 | Out of this zone |
| Rowan | Zone 3 | Zone 2 | Out of this zone |
From 301 KAR 2:172, guide p. 10 and the 2025-2026 Deer Report; checked November 10, 2026.
Where CWD rules reach Deer Zone 3
Chronic wasting disease rules apply in 5 counties here, all part of the 23-county surveillance zone. From September 25 to September 28, 2026 they open for antlerless deer by any method, and heads must be dropped off for testing. Pulaski and Wayne have a mandatory in-person check for deer taken November 14 to November 16, 2026.
- LaurelCWD antlerless Sep 25–28
- PulaskiStaffed check Nov 14–16
- RockcastleCWD antlerless Sep 25–28
- RussellCWD antlerless Sep 25–28
- WayneStaffed check Nov 14–16
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| Baiting, KDFWR statement | Allowed in the zone for 2026-27 except through contact feeders (troughs, funnel or gravity feeders); never on WMAs or public land. |
| Baiting, regulation text | The regulation text (301 KAR 2:015 and 2:172) still prohibits baiting in the zone; this is the KDFWR 2026-27 statement. |
| Testing | Free voluntary testing statewide at 24/7 drop-off sites or by mail-in kit (Shoot for Samples giveaway). |
From Guide p. 15, the KDFWR CWD page and 301 KAR 2:172; checked November 10, 2026.
Ten seasons of deer in Deer Zone 3
Read every bar as "counties in today's Zone 3", because the zone lines were different in some of those years.
The best year on the chart was 2024-25 with 11,744 deer; Pulaski County led the zone in 2025-26 with 2,359.
| County | Harvest | Antlered | Button | Does | Gun | Archery | Crossbow | Muzzle | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulaski | 2,359 | 1,307 | 125 | 927 | 1,588 | 318 | 330 | 123 | #12 |
| Pike | 1,632 | 1,295 | 18 | 319 | 1,157 | 190 | 194 | 91 | #31 |
| Laurel | 1,593 | 763 | 89 | 741 | 1,053 | 244 | 217 | 79 | #35 |
| Wayne | 1,057 | 582 | 54 | 421 | 722 | 129 | 146 | 60 | #57 |
| Jackson | 930 | 690 | 28 | 212 | 651 | 97 | 119 | 63 | #67 |
| Rockcastle | 737 | 581 | 21 | 135 | 506 | 85 | 115 | 31 | #83 |
| Estill | 643 | 393 | 25 | 225 | 489 | 54 | 56 | 44 | #91 |
| Russell | 597 | 441 | 15 | 140 | 380 | 68 | 108 | 41 | #96 |
| Clinton | 483 | 377 | 6 | 100 | 349 | 60 | 45 | 29 | #105 |
| Martin | 392 | 326 | 2 | 64 | 277 | 40 | 41 | 34 | #112 |
deer checked by county, KDFWR Harvest Results app (Telecheck), license year: KDFWR Harvest Results app, 2016-17 to 2025-26 (license years); zone totals summed for the counties in today’s Zone 3. The 2025-26 Kentucky White-tailed Deer Report prints 145,433 deer; the KDFWR Harvest Results app (live Telecheck) counts 145,525. Checked November 10, 2026.
Deer Zone 3 public hunting areas
Public land with at least one county in Zone 3: 29 areas. For the 22 areas on a zone line, WMA hunters follow whichever zone is more liberal.
WMA quick reference charts sometimes limit methods or days; the area pages carry those details.
| Place | Type | County | Crosses into | Drawn hunts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Creek WMA | WMA | Pulaski | 4 | 1 |
| Access area | Pike | 4 | — | |
| Buck Creek WMA | WMA | Pulaski | — | — |
| Cane Creek WMA | WMA | Laurel, Pulaski | — | 2 |
| Continental Hunting Access Area | Access area | Pike | 4 | — |
| Crow Creek WMA | WMA | Clinton | 2 | — |
| State park | Clinton | 2 | 2 | |
| Dale Hollow Lake WMA | WMA | Clinton | 2 | — |
| Daniel Boone National Forest | National forest | Estill, Jackson, Laurel, Menifee, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Wayne, Wolfe | 1, 2, 4 | — |
| Ranger district | Estill, Menifee, Powell, Wolfe | 2, 4 | — | |
| Ranger district | Estill, Jackson, Laurel, Pulaski, Rockcastle | 4 | — | |
| Ranger district | Pulaski, Wayne | 4 | — | |
| Dewey Lake WMA | WMA | Pike | 4 | 1 |
| Access area | Pike | 4 | — | |
| Fishtrap Lake WMA | WMA | Pike | — | 1 |
| Hidden Valley Training Area | Training area | Powell | 2 | — |
| Jefferson National Forest | National forest | Pike | 4 | — |
| KDFWR Hunting Access Areas | Access program | Pike | 4 | — |
| Lake Cumberland WMA | WMA | Clinton, Pulaski, Russell, Wayne | 4 | — |
| Legacy WMA | WMA | Martin, Pike | 4 | — |
| Meadow Creek WMA | WMA | Wayne | — | — |
| Mill Creek WMA | WMA | Jackson | — | — |
| Ping-Sinking Valley WMA | WMA | Pulaski | — | — |
| Pioneer Weapons WMA | WMA | Menifee | 2 | — |
| Pocahontas WMA | WMA | Martin, Pike | 2, 4 | — |
| R. F. Tarter WMA | WMA | Russell | 1 | — |
| RH Group WMA | WMA | Martin, Pike | 2, 4 | — |
| Rockcastle River WMA | WMA | Pulaski | — | — |
| Ross Creek WMA | WMA | Estill | 4 | — |
Drawn deer hunts: 7 of the 38 statewide are on land in the zone, and the 2026 application period was September 1-30.
| Hunt | Where | Days | Permits | Points needed 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Beaver Creek WMA | Nov. 7-8 | 330 | 0.0 |
| 5 | Cane Creek WMA | Oct. 25- Nov. 30 | 30 | — |
| 6 | Cane Creek WMA | Nov. 7-8 | 22 | — |
| 9 | Dewey Lake WMA | Nov. 7-8 | 150 | 0.0 |
| 10 | Fishtrap Lake WMA | Nov. 21-22 | 200 | 0.0 |
| 27 | Nov. 20-22 | 50 | 0.0 | |
| 28 | Dec. 4-6 | 40 | 0.0 |
Areas and counties from lands.json (KDFWR public land); quota hunts from the KDFWR Quota Hunts page and Guide p. 34; WMA zone rule from 301 KAR 2:178; checked November 10, 2026.
Deer Zone 3 gun opener hours
Opening morning, November 14, 2026: when legal shooting starts and ends at a few Zone 3 county seats.
| County seat | County | Time | Sunrise | First legal | Last legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somerset | Pulaski | EST | 7:16 a.m. EST | 6:46 a.m. EST | 6:01 p.m. EST |
| Jamestown | Russell | CST | 6:17 a.m. CST | 5:47 a.m. CST | 5:03 p.m. CST |
| London | Laurel | EST | 7:14 a.m. EST | 6:44 a.m. EST | 5:58 p.m. EST |
| Pikeville | Pike | EST | 7:08 a.m. EST | 6:38 a.m. EST | 5:52 p.m. EST |
Rule from Guide p. 10. KDFWR prints no sunrise table, so sunrise and sunset are worked out with the NOAA solar formula for the exact point, on Central Time in the 41 western counties and Eastern Time elsewhere, with daylight time ending November 1, 2026 and starting March 14, 2027. The Eastern/Central Time line follows 49 CFR 71.5(c): Meade, Hardin, Larue, Taylor, Casey, Pulaski and Wayne counties and everything east of them keep Eastern Time; the 41 counties west of that line keep Central Time. Checked November 10, 2026.
Deer Zone 3 town pages
Nearby-land guides exist for 25 towns inside the zone.
- SomersetPulaski County
- LondonLaurel County
- PikevillePike County
- MonticelloWayne County
- StantonPowell County
- Russell SpringsRussell County
- Mount VernonRockcastle County
- IrvineEstill County
- JamestownRussell County
- AlbanyClinton County
- Clay CityPowell County
- BrodheadRockcastle County
- Elkhorn CityPike County
- McKeeJackson County
- BurnsidePulaski County
- FrenchburgMenifee County
- RavennaEstill County
- InezMartin County
- CamptonWolfe County
- AnnvilleJackson County
- East BernstadtLaurel County
- FreeburnPike County
- Hazel GreenWolfe County
- North CorbinLaurel County
Fall-colored forest filling the Red River Gorge seen from a rock ledgePhoto: Patrick Mueller (CC BY 2.0)
Sandstone cliffs and green forest across the Red River GorgePhoto: Patrick Mueller (CC BY 2.0)
Sandstone cliffs and fall color above the Red River GorgePhoto: Patrick Mueller (CC BY 2.0)
Deer Zone 3 FAQ
Is there public land to hunt in Zone 3?
Yes, 29 public hunting areas reach into the zone.
Which is the top deer county in Zone 3?
Pulaski County (2,359 in 2025-26, #12 statewide).
Is Deer Zone 3 the same size as last year?
No. It holds 13 counties for 2026-27 after 7 moved in and 6 moved out.
How early can I shoot a deer in Zone 3?
Thirty minutes before sunrise, read on local time.
What are the Zone 3 rifle dates?
Modern firearms run November 14 to November 29, 2026.
What does KDFWR allow per hunter in Zone 3?
Up to 4 deer; only 1 antlerless deer with a firearm or air gun (1 antlered max statewide).
Did any county leave Zone 3?
Cumberland, Elliott, Garrard, Johnson, Morgan and Rowan moved to Zone 2.
Does Zone 3 get a late muzzleloader season?
Yes: December 12 to December 20, 2026.
Does Zone 3 touch the CWD Surveillance Zone?
Yes, in 5 counties.
From 301 KAR 2:172, the 2026-27 guide and the Harvest Results app; checked November 10, 2026.