Jefferson County, KY
Louisville hunting land and zones
Louisville sits in Deer Zone 1; Knobs State Forest and WMA is 19 miles away, and 0 public hunting places lie inside 10 miles.
Photo: Edsel Little (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Louisville in the 10 and 25 mile circles
Past the 10-mile mark from Louisville the list begins, with 4 areas counted out to 25 miles. The 10-mile acreage for Louisville is nil, though the 25-mile circle catches 88,096 acres.
By air Knobs State Forest and WMA is 19 mi from Louisville; Kentucky back roads usually stretch that. Fort Knox Military Reservation sits 14 mi away, yet its access cell reads "base access rules". Taylorsville Lake State Park marks the outer edge of the 25-mile list at 22 mi, and 3 land types show up before it.
| Land | Manager type | How far | Ring | Deer zones | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Military land | 14 mi | 25-mile ring | 1 | Base access rules | |
| WMA | 19 mi | 25-mile ring | 1 | Chart exceptions | |
| WMA | 21 mi | 25-mile ring | 1 | Chart exceptions | |
| State park | 22 mi | 25-mile ring | 1 | Quota hunts only |
Rings and distances from places.json (lands.json boundaries to the Census point of Louisville); deer zones from the KDFWR deer zone layer and 301 KAR 2:172; access cells from each record’s own fields (the 2026-27 KDFWR quick reference charts, KDFWR area pages, 301 KAR 2:178, 50 CFR 32.36, Forest Service and LBL pages). GIS acres are not official acreage. Checked November 10, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Louisville
Louisville three nearest areas compared
These three areas lie closest to Louisville; their cards flag any permit or closure first.
Fort Knox
Base rules come first here; installation registration and checks apply on top of Kentucky licenses.
From lands.json (KDFWR area pages and 2026-27 quick reference charts, 301 KAR 2:178, 50 CFR 32.36, Forest Service, Park Service and LBL pages, the Division of Forestry quick guide). Checked November 10, 2026.
Deer hunting rules around Louisville
Louisville lies in Jefferson County, one of the 68 counties KDFWR places in Deer Zone 1 for 2026-27. Modern gun season runs November 14 to November 29, 2026 and late muzzleloader December 12 to December 20, 2026 in Zone 1.
The CWD Surveillance Zone does not reach Jefferson County this season.
Zone lists and bags from 301 KAR 2:172 and the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide; CWD rules from the guide CWD section and KDFWR CWD page; pending January season from 301 KAR 2:172. Checked November 10, 2026.
Louisville season calendar for 2026-27
Louisville has no deer quota hunt on its public ground this season, so every deer row here runs on statewide permits.
| Game | Season | Area | Needs | Opens | Closes | Splits | Today | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Bear, elk and small game zones at Louisville
No bear zone covers Jefferson County, which leaves Louisville without a bear season. No elk draw is needed near Louisville: the out-of-zone elk permit covers Jefferson County during the deer seasons.
Rabbit and quail near Louisville follow the Eastern zone dates, and grouse season does not reach the county. Waterfowl near Louisville: ducks and regular geese are statewide, and the September goose zone here is Eastern (map).
Bear zones from the guide bear section; elk zone and out-of-zone rule from the guide elk section; small game and Grouse Zone from the guide; September goose zones from the Kentucky Hunting Guide for Migratory Birds and Waterfowl map. Checked November 10, 2026.
Louisville quota hunt list for 2026-27
The KDFWR draw covers 4 deer hunts close to Louisville; the table gives dates, slots and last year's point cutoff.
| No. | Place | Miles | When | Hunters | 2025 points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 21 mi | Nov. 7-8 | 268 | 0.8 | |
| 21 | 21 mi | Nov. 7-8 | 7 | 0.2 | |
| 22 | 21 mi | Dec. 5-6 | 268 | 0 | |
| 23 | 21 mi | Dec. 5-6 | 7 | 0 |
Hunts, dates, slots and 2025 preference point minimums from the KDFWR Quota Hunts page; distances from places.json. Checked November 10, 2026.
Deer checked in Louisville's county
County figures for Louisville: 1,169 deer checked in 2025-26, 52nd statewide. Of those, 522 were antlered bucks and 571 were does.
Gobbler hunters reported 86 birds from Jefferson County in spring 2026.
County totals from the KDFWR Harvest Results app (Telecheck, license years; deer checked through Telecheck (KDFWR Harvest Results app, license year)); turkey, bear and elk from the same app. County figures, not town figures. Checked November 10, 2026.
Off-limits public land near Louisville
Louisville has 1 closed place inside 25 miles, and E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park at 9.4 mi is the nearest. State parks open only for scheduled quota hunts, nature preserves stay closed unless their dedication allows hunting, and Park Service units such as Mammoth Cave prohibit it.
| Site | Type | Miles | Hunting |
|---|---|---|---|
| State park | 9.4 mi | Closed |
Closed places from lands.json: nature preserves (400 KAR 2:090), state parks and historic sites (301 KAR 2:178), Park Service units (36 CFR 2.2). Checked November 10, 2026.
Louisville region coordinator and offices
KDFWR files Jefferson County under its Bluegrass Region, reachable at (502) 782-0742. The closest staffed KDFWR address is in Frankfort, 39 miles from town. Harvest reports go through Telecheck (1-800-245-4263) before processing.
Region coordinators from the KDFWR regional biologists map; offices from the KDFWR Contact Us page and fisheries district office layer; Telecheck from the guide; straight-line distances. Checked November 10, 2026.
Louisville gun shops, taxidermists, processors
Inside a 25-mile radius Louisville has 42 stores selling hunting gear, 20 taxidermists and 3 meat processors on the list. Confirm by phone before a trip.
Listings from the KDFWR taxidermist and processor list, Yellow Pages and store locators (services.json); chain stores left out and not every listing was checked as open. Checked November 10, 2026.
Louisville area banquets, trials and classes
Inside roughly 30 miles, soonest first: 1 date ahead (hunter education range day). First is Bluegrass Precision Archery hunter education range day on November 11, 2026.
| When | Title | How far | Location | Tickets or seats | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 11, 2026 | Bluegrass Precision Archery hunter education range day | 17 | Bluegrass Precision Archery Simpsonville | Enroll | Source |
Listings and results from the KDFWR calendar, the DU and NWTF feeds, UKC and American Field, read November 9, 2026. Times are on local clock time: Central Time in the western 41 counties, Eastern Time elsewhere.
Louisville: ranges close by
Louisville hunters can read the gate rule on each card before the drive.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 10, 2026.
Louisville sun table for opening days
Louisville duck, goose and dove hunters stop at sunset rather than half an hour after it, which is why the bird column closes earlier.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | General hours | Migratory birds | Clock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Deer archery opens | 7:15 a.m. | 8:08 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 8:38 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 8:08 p.m. | EDT |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Deer crossbow opens | 7:27 a.m. | 7:46 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 8:16 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth gun opens | 7:45 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 7:44 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Early muzzleloader | 7:52 a.m. | 7:04 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 7:04 p.m. | EDT |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Zone 1 gun opener | 7:22 a.m. | 5:33 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 6:03 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | EST |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:35 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | EST |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Zone 1 gun closes | 7:38 a.m. | 5:24 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:54 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Late muzzleloader | 7:49 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:55 a.m. | 5:26 p.m. | 7:25 a.m. to 5:56 p.m. | 7:25 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Free youth weekend | 7:57 a.m. | 5:28 p.m. | 7:27 a.m. to 5:58 p.m. | 7:27 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.
Gear worth carrying around Louisville
Louisville cards match the seasons listed above.
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Climbing stand
A climbing stand is worth the room in the truck when the November gun opener arrives.
Box call
Fall and spring turkey hunters across Kentucky rarely leave a box call at home.
Louisville quick answers for 2026-27
When is orange required for Louisville hunters?
In daylight during modern gun, muzzleloader and youth gun deer seasons, and firearm elk or bear seasons in their zones.
What are deer hunting hours at Louisville on December 21?
7:25 a.m. EST to 5:56 p.m. EST on December 21, 2026.
Where can a Louisville hunter get a deer processed?
Red Hog Butcher Shop in Louisville is the nearest processor on file, about 7 miles off; phone before dropping a deer.
How long is a Kentucky hunting license good for Louisville hunters?
One license year, March 1, 2026 – February 28, 2027.
What open area lies closest to the Louisville Census point?
Knobs State Forest and WMA at 19 mi, status “chart exceptions”. None sits inside 10 miles of Louisville; the 25-mile count is 4.
Does KDFWR list a region office address for Louisville?
No street address is published for region offices; phone the Bluegrass Region coordinator at (502) 782-0742.
Which 2026-27 deer windows matter most near Louisville?
Bow season stretches September 5, 2026 to January 18, 2027; gun deer fills November 14 to November 29, 2026; the late muzzleloader block is December 12 to December 20, 2026.
Is Louisville in Zone 1, 2, 3 or 4 for deer?
Zone 1. KDFWR sets deer zones by whole county, and Jefferson County is in Deer Zone 1.
Is black bear hunting open around Louisville?
No. Jefferson County is not among the 47 bear zone counties.
Do CWD carcass rules apply near Louisville?
Not to deer from Jefferson County; they apply to deer brought from zone counties or other states.
Do quota hunts near Louisville use preference points?
Yes. KDFWR deer quota hunts are drawn with preference points; the table shows the 2025 minimums.
Is elk hunting possible from Louisville?
Yes. Jefferson County lies outside the elk zone, so an out-of-zone elk permit works during deer seasons.
From places.json, lands.json, regs.json (the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide, hunter orange, license fees, CWD, quota hunts), counties.json and services.json; hours by the NOAA solar formula on Eastern Time. Checked November 10, 2026.
Other photos on this page: William Alden (CC BY-SA 2.0); Ka!zen (CC BY 2.0); William Alden (CC BY-SA 2.0); Aaron Vowels (CC BY 2.0).