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Kentucky White-tailed Deer Seasons and Limits, 2026-27
Everything a deer hunter in Kentucky needs for 2026-27: season rows, bag limits, licenses and field rules.
Photo: artistmac (CC BY-SA 2.0)
White-tailed Deer season snapshot for 2026-27
For white-tailed deer, the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide and its companion waterfowl guide print 15 season lines between September 5, 2026 and January 18, 2027. The guide adds a note on white-tailed deer: telecheck by midnight; CWD Surveillance Zone rules in 23 counties. Legal methods for white-tailed deer in short: archery, crossbow, muzzleloader, modern gun (centerfire, slug shotgun, .35+ air gun).
Source: Guide p. 12 and Guide p. 13 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
The deer calendar for 2026-27
Read across each deer line: the season, where it applies, the windows, the limit and any KDFWR remark.
| Season line | Zone | When | Bag limit | Remarks | Now | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Statewide | Sep 5–Jan 18, 2027 | 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 | |
| Youth, senior crossbow | Statewide | Sep 5–Jan 18, 2027 | Zone bag limits | Youth under 16 (resident or nonresident) and resident hunters 65 and older. | Guide p. 12 | |
| Crossbow | Statewide | Sep 19–Jan 18, 2027 | Zone bag limits; 1 antlered deer statewide | Guide p. 12 | ||
| CWD antlerless | CWD counties | Sep 25–28, 2026 | 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 gun | Statewide | Oct 10–18, 2026 | Zone bag limits | Youth under 16, accompanied by an adult; ages 12-15 need license and deer permit. | Guide p. 12 | |
| Early Muzzleloader | Statewide | Oct 17–18, 2026 | Zone bag limits | Zone 4: no antlerless deer this season. | Guide p. 12 | |
| Modern gun | Zone 1 | Nov 14–29, 2026 | Unlimited antlerless deer with the statewide deer permit plus additional deer permits; 1 antlered deer statewide. | Guide p. 12 | ||
| Modern gun | Zone 2 | Nov 14–29, 2026 | Up to 4 deer (1 antlered max statewide). | Guide p. 12 | ||
| Modern gun | Zone 3 | Nov 14–29, 2026 | Up to 4 deer; only 1 antlerless deer with a firearm or air gun (1 antlered max statewide). | Guide p. 12 | ||
| Modern gun | Zone 4 | Nov 14–29, 2026 | Up to 2 deer, only 1 antlerless (1 antlered max statewide); no antlerless deer during modern gun, early muzzleloader or the first 6 days of late muzzleloader. | Antlered deer only in Zone 4 during modern gun season. | Guide p. 12 | |
| Late Muzzleloader | Zone 1 | Dec 12–20, 2026 | Unlimited antlerless deer with the statewide deer permit plus additional deer permits; 1 antlered deer statewide. | Guide p. 12 | ||
| Late Muzzleloader | Zone 2 | Dec 12–20, 2026 | Up to 4 deer (1 antlered max statewide). | Guide p. 12 | ||
| Late Muzzleloader | Zone 3 | Dec 12–20, 2026 | Up to 4 deer; only 1 antlerless deer with a firearm or air gun (1 antlered max statewide). | Guide p. 12 | ||
| Late Muzzleloader | Zone 4 | Dec 12–20, 2026 | Up to 2 deer, only 1 antlerless (1 antlered max statewide); no antlerless deer during modern gun, early muzzleloader or the first 6 days of late muzzleloader. | Zone 4: antlerless deer only in the last 3 days (Dec. 18-20). | Guide p. 12 | |
| Free youth weekend | Statewide | Dec 26–27, 2026 | 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 |
How the four deer zones split the bag
Deer bags in Kentucky follow the county: Zone 1 allows unlimited antlerless deer with additional permits, while Zone 4 allows two deer at most.
| Zone | Counties | Short bag | Gun season | Late ML | Changed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone 1 | 68 | Unlimited antlerless | Nov 14 to Nov 29 | Dec 12 to Dec 20 | 17 |
| Deer Zone 2 | 24 | Up to 4 deer | Nov 14 to Nov 29 | Dec 12 to Dec 20 | 6 |
| Deer Zone 3 | 13 | 4 deer, 1 gun antlerless | Nov 14 to Nov 29 | Dec 12 to Dec 20 | 7 |
| Deer Zone 4 | 15 | 2 deer, 1 antlerless | Nov 14 to Nov 29 | Dec 12 to Dec 20 | 0 |
Deer zone moves for 2026-27
| County | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Adair | 2 | 1 |
| Boyd | 2 | 1 |
| Breckinridge | 2 | 1 |
| Butler | 2 | 1 |
| Carter | 2 | 1 |
| Clinton | 4 | 3 |
| Cumberland | 3 | 2 |
| Daviess | 2 | 1 |
| Elliott | 3 | 2 |
| Garrard | 3 | 2 |
| Grayson | 2 | 1 |
| Greenup | 2 | 1 |
| Hancock | 2 | 1 |
| Jackson | 4 | 3 |
| Johnson | 3 | 2 |
| Lawrence | 2 | 1 |
| Lewis | 2 | 1 |
| Logan | 2 | 1 |
| Marion | 2 | 1 |
| Martin | 4 | 3 |
| Meade | 2 | 1 |
| Menifee | 4 | 3 |
| Metcalfe | 2 | 1 |
| Morgan | 3 | 2 |
| Ohio | 2 | 1 |
| Pike | 4 | 3 |
| Rockcastle | 4 | 3 |
| Rowan | 3 | 2 |
| Russell | 4 | 3 |
| Taylor | 2 | 1 |
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. A Zone 1 September season is also in the amended rule.
Source: 301 KAR 2:172 and Deer Report (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
White-tailed Deer harvest by year and county
Across Kentucky, hunters checked 145,525 white-tailed deer in 2025-26; the table ranks the ten leading counties.
| Rank | County | 2025-26 | Deer zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hardin | 3,545 | Zone 1 |
| 2 | Breckinridge | 3,091 | Zone 1 |
| 3 | Christian | 3,002 | Zone 1 |
| 4 | Hart | 2,817 | Zone 1 |
| 5 | Graves | 2,698 | Zone 1 |
| 6 | Shelby | 2,692 | Zone 1 |
| 7 | Washington | 2,663 | Zone 1 |
| 8 | Pendleton | 2,642 | Zone 1 |
| 9 | Nelson | 2,591 | Zone 1 |
| 10 | Hopkins | 2,486 | Zone 1 |
Source: Harvest app, Harvest app and Deer Report (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Counting your white-tailed deer
Limits for white-tailed deer are quoted as KDFWR prints them; where a season or license year sets the count rather than a day, the wording says so.
| Line | Rule |
|---|---|
| White-tailed deer (statewide) | 1 antlered deer per license year regardless of zone or method; no daily limit. Statewide/youth deer permit = 4 deer (1 antlered + 3 antlerless or 4 antlerless); additional deer permit = 2 more. |
| White-tailed deer (Zone 1) | Unlimited antlerless deer with the statewide deer permit plus additional deer permits; 1 antlered deer statewide. |
| White-tailed deer (Zone 2) | Up to 4 deer (1 antlered max statewide). |
| White-tailed deer (Zone 3) | Up to 4 deer; only 1 antlerless deer with a firearm or air gun (1 antlered max statewide). |
| White-tailed deer (Zone 4) | Up to 2 deer, only 1 antlerless (1 antlered max statewide); no antlerless deer during modern gun, early muzzleloader or the first 6 days of late muzzleloader. |
| White-tailed deer (WMA quota hunts) | County zone limits apply on WMAs; up to 2 deer (1 antlered) on a quota hunt in Zones 2-4; quota bucks count toward the 1-buck limit. |
Source: Guide p. 13, Guide p. 12 and Guide p. 30 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Kentucky weapon rules for white-tailed deer
Gear and method lines for white-tailed deer, from the 2026-27 guides and laws summary.
| Season | Permitted | Prohibited |
|---|---|---|
| Deer modern gun | Centerfire rifle or handgun (any caliber), shotgun 10 ga or smaller with slugs/sabots, muzzleloaders, .35 cal+ external-tank air guns; magazines max 10 rounds; scopes allowed. | Fully automatic firearms; full metal jacket or tracer ammunition; rimfire. |
| Deer muzzleloader | Muzzle-loading rifles, handguns (any caliber) and shotguns (10 ga or smaller) with round ball, conical or saboted bullets; open sights or scopes; archery and crossbow. | Breech-loading firearms. |
| Deer archery and crossbow | Bows of any draw weight; crossbows with a working safety; broadheads at least 7/8 in. (fixed or mechanical). | Chemically treated arrows or broadheads. |
| Area | Wording |
|---|---|
| Antler traps | Devices to entangle or trap deer antlers are illegal; shed antlers legal to possess. |
| Swimming animals | No taking deer, elk or bear while swimming; no deer/elk/spring turkey from horseback. |
| Roads | No firearm, bow or crossbow discharge upon or across a public roadway. |
The guide’s method line for white-tailed deer: archery, crossbow, muzzleloader, modern gun (centerfire, slug shotgun, .35+ air gun).
Source: Guide p. 14 and Guide p. 10 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Buying a deer license
What it costs to hunt white-tailed deer in Kentucky this license year, which runs March 1, 2026 – February 28, 2027.
| Item | Kentucky resident | Visitor | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| $28.54 | $169.12 | Shooting range permit included (must register). | |
| $37 | $248.40 | 1 antlered + 3 antlerless or 4 antlerless. | |
| $15.86 | $15.86 | Not included in the Sportsman's License. | |
| $10.57 | $15.86 | ages 12-15, four deer | |
| $100.42 | Not sold | Combination hunting/fishing license, statewide deer permit, spring and fall turkey permits, Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit and trout permit; shooting range permit (must register). | |
| $37 | Not sold | Same licenses and permits as the standard Sportsman's License. New for 2026-27. | |
| $31.71 | Not sold | Hunting/fishing license, statewide deer permit, spring and fall turkey permits and Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit. |
Resident farm owners and tenants hunting white-tailed deer on their own land are license-exempt, along with their spouses and dependent children.
Source: Guide p. 7 and Guide p. 4 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Kentucky rules for deer hunters
Rules picked for white-tailed deer from the 2026-27 guide; the laws page carries the rest.
| Topic | Wording |
|---|---|
| Hunter orange | Plan on a solid orange hat and vest for white-tailed deer whenever deer guns or muzzleloaders are in season; camouflage orange alone does not count. |
| Ground blinds | During gun deer seasons on WMAs, in state parks and on gun quota hunts, attach a solid orange hat or vest to a ground blind visible from all sides; occupants still wear orange. |
| Telecheck | Telecheck: record the harvest on a harvest log (species, sex, date, county) before moving the carcass, then report by phone 1-800-245-4263 or online (My Profile); write the confirmation number on the log. |
| Deadline | By midnight on the day recovered and before processing; bear by 8 p.m. Eastern the day taken plus a call to 1-800-858-1549 within 24 hours for physical check and tag; bobcat and otter before leaving Kentucky. |
| Proof of sex | Keep head or genitalia attached if head or hide is removed before telecheck (deer, elk). |
| Carcass rules | 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. |
| Bait | Legal on private land outside the CWD Surveillance Zone; in the zone allowed for 2026-27 without contact feeders; prohibited on WMAs, state parks and many federal lands. |
| Bait in the CWD zone | Allowed in the zone for 2026-27 except through contact feeders (troughs, funnel or gravity feeders); never on WMAs or public land. The regulation text (301 KAR 2:015 and 2:172) still prohibits baiting in the zone; this is the KDFWR 2026-27 statement. |
| Public land bait | No baiting on WMAs, Big South Fork NRRA, Daniel Boone NF, Jefferson NF, Land Between The Lakes or state parks open to hunting. |
| Hunter education | The hunter education cutoff is a birth date of January 1, 1975; younger deer hunters either show a course card or hunt on the free exemption permit with an adult. |
Source: Guide p. 10, Guide p. 8 and Guide p. 9 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
White-tailed Deer on WMAs and federal land
These are the biggest of 84 public places where white-tailed deer appear in the land data; each area page lists its own restrictions.
| Area | Land type | Counties | Acres | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National forest | 710,298 | Chart: open | ||
| Ranger district | 209,423 | Listed species | ||
| Ranger district | 183,503 | Listed species | ||
| Ranger district | 170,938 | Listed species | ||
| Ranger district | 146,434 | Listed species | ||
| Recreation area | 107,594 | Listed species | ||
| WMA | 40,744 | Chart: open | ||
| WMA | 38,788 | Chart: open | ||
| River and rec area | 30,300 | Chart: open | ||
| WMA | 24,033 | Chart: open | ||
| WMA | 21,351 | Chart: open | ||
| WMA | 21,019 | Chart: open |
Source: KDFWR land records and Guide p. 30 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Kentucky white-tailed deer kit choices
Kentucky white-tailed deer picks open as live Amazon searches, so the prices shown are current ones.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Climbing stand
Plenty of Kentucky deer hunters would not head to the stand without a climbing stand.
Grunt call
Mid-November bucks on Bluegrass farm edges and Pennyrile woodlots will close the gap to a short grunt.
Hunter orange vest
From the September bow opener to the January close, a hunter orange vest earns its keep.
Rubber boots
Rubber boots are worth the room in the truck when the November gun opener arrives.
Shooting time for Kentucky white-tailed deer
Public areas can post shorter hours for white-tailed deer than these.
30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset for most species (deer, elk, bear, turkey, small game, groundhog).
| Date | Paducah (McCracken) | Louisville (Jefferson) | Pikeville (Pike) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | 5:58 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. CDT | 6:45 a.m. to 8:38 p.m. EDT | 6:32 a.m. to 8:25 p.m. EDT |
| Sep 19, 2026 | 6:09 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. CDT | 6:57 a.m. to 8:16 p.m. EDT | 6:44 a.m. to 8:03 p.m. EDT |
| Sep 25, 2026 | 6:14 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. CDT | 7:02 a.m. to 8:07 p.m. EDT | 6:49 a.m. to 7:54 p.m. EDT |
| Oct 10, 2026 | 6:27 a.m. to 6:57 p.m. CDT | 7:15 a.m. to 7:44 p.m. EDT | 7:02 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. EDT |
| Oct 17, 2026 | 6:33 a.m. to 6:47 p.m. CDT | 7:22 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. EDT | 7:08 a.m. to 7:21 p.m. EDT |
| Nov 14, 2026 | 6:02 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. CST | 6:52 a.m. to 6:03 p.m. EST | 6:38 a.m. to 5:51 p.m. EST |
Hours rule from the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide; sunrise and sunset from the NOAA solar formula for each county seat on its own clock (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.); checked November 10, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
White-tailed doe standing in snowy woods in Calloway CountyPhoto: Carolyn Sugg (CC BY-SA 2.0)
White-tailed doe watching from a thicket at Clarks River National Wildlife RefugePhoto: Scott Simmons (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) (CC BY 2.0)
White-tailed deer grazing by a road near Carr Creek LakePhoto: Edie Wright (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District) (CC BY 2.0)
White-tailed Deer questions
When must a deer hunter wear orange?
Plan on a solid orange hat and vest for white-tailed deer whenever deer guns or muzzleloaders are in season; camouflage orange alone does not count.
Do I have to telecheck white-tailed deer?
By midnight on the day recovered and before processing; bear by 8 p.m. Eastern the day taken plus a call to 1-800-858-1549 within 24 hours for physical check and tag; bobcat and otter before leaving Kentucky. Telecheck: record the harvest on a harvest log (species, sex, date, county) before moving the carcass, then report by phone 1-800-245-4263 or online (My Profile); write the confirmation number on the log.
Does Kentucky allow bait for deer hunting?
Legal on private land outside the CWD Surveillance Zone; in the zone allowed for 2026-27 without contact feeders; prohibited on WMAs, state parks and many federal lands. Allowed in the zone for 2026-27 except through contact feeders (troughs, funnel or gravity feeders); never on WMAs or public land. The regulation text (301 KAR 2:015 and 2:172) still prohibits baiting in the zone; this is the KDFWR 2026-27 statement.
How do the four Kentucky deer zones differ?
Zone 1: Unlimited antlerless deer with the statewide deer permit plus additional deer permits; 1 antlered deer statewide. Zone 2: Up to 4 deer (1 antlered max statewide). Zone 3: Up to 4 deer; only 1 antlerless deer with a firearm or air gun (1 antlered max statewide). Zone 4: Up to 2 deer, only 1 antlerless (1 antlered max statewide); no antlerless deer during modern gun, early muzzleloader or the first 6 days of late muzzleloader. One antlered deer statewide.
Is the January 2027 deer season official?
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.
Which Kentucky counties have CWD rules?
23 counties: Ballard, Breckinridge, Calloway, Carlisle, Casey, Fulton, Graves, Hardin, Henderson, Hickman, Laurel, Lincoln, Marshall, McCracken, McCreary, Meade, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Union, Wayne, Webster and Whitley. Deer taken Nov. 14-16, 2026 in Henderson, McCreary, Pulaski and Wayne counties must be brought to a staffed check station (9 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, two per county). Times are on local clock time: Central Time in the western 41 counties, Eastern Time elsewhere.
Where do deer hunters find public ground?
Public ground with white-tailed deer: 84 areas by the KDFWR land records and charts, the largest listed above.
What is the deer calendar for 2026-27?
Archery (Statewide): Sep 5, 2026 to Jan 18, 2027; CWD antlerless (CWD counties): Sep 25 to Sep 28, 2026; Crossbow (Statewide): Sep 19, 2026 to Jan 18, 2027; Early Muzzleloader (Statewide): Oct 17 to Oct 18, 2026. The rest of the deer windows are in the season table.
What is the bag limit for white-tailed deer in Kentucky?
The deer limit as printed: 1 antlered deer per license year regardless of zone or method; no daily limit. Statewide/youth deer permit = 4 deer (1 antlered + 3 antlerless or 4 antlerless); additional deer permit = 2 more.; Unlimited antlerless deer with the statewide deer permit plus additional deer permits; 1 antlered deer statewide.; Up to 4 deer (1 antlered max statewide)..
Which permits cover white-tailed deer in Kentucky?
Annual Hunting $28.54 resident, $169.12 nonresident; Deer Permit $37 resident, $248.40 nonresident; Additional Deer Permit $15.86 resident, $15.86 nonresident; Youth Deer Permit $10.57 resident, $15.86 nonresident. The license table on this page lists every deer item.
What gear is legal for a deer hunt?
Archery, crossbow, muzzleloader, modern gun (centerfire, slug shotgun, .35+ air gun). Centerfire rifle or handgun (any caliber), shotgun 10 ga or smaller with slugs/sabots, muzzleloaders, .35 cal+ external-tank air guns; magazines max 10 rounds; scopes allowed.