Kentucky › Towns › Whitley City
Deer Zone 4
Whitley City, Kentucky hunting guide
10 listed areas lie within 25 miles of Whitley City; Daniel Boone National Forest is the closest, right at the edge of town.
Photo: Brian Stansberry (CC BY 3.0)
Whitley City to the nearest public hunting ground, mile by mile
The 10-mile ring of Whitley City takes in 6 hunting areas, and the wider 25-mile ring counts 10. Acreage around Whitley City: 113,673 within 10 miles and 295,549 within 25, summed from KDFWR, federal and Corps layers with big reservoirs removed.
First on the list without a warning tag is Daniel Boone National Forest, right at the edge of town, marked "open forest land". Daniel Boone National Forest, at town edge from the Census point of Whitley City, is why the town has its own page. Daniel Boone National Forest – London Ranger District, 22 mi out, is the last stop in the 25-mile table, which covers 4 kinds of public ground.
| Place | Category | From town | Circle | Zone no. | Rule summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National forest | at town edge | Within 10 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Open forest land | |
| River and rec area | 2.7 mi | Within 10 | 4 | Kentucky rules apply | |
| Ranger district | 6.0 mi | Within 10 | 3, 4 | Open forest land | |
| WMA | 7.4 mi | Within 10 | 4 | Chart exceptions | |
| WMA | 7.6 mi | Within 10 | 3, 4 | Chart exceptions | |
| WMA | 7.9 mi | Within 10 | 3, 4 | Chart exceptions | |
| WMA | 10 mi | Within 25 | 2, 3, 4 | Chart exceptions | |
| WMA | 19 mi | Within 25 | 3 | Statewide rules | |
| WMA | 22 mi | Within 25 | 3 | Chart exceptions | |
| Ranger district | 22 mi | Within 25 | 3, 4 | Open forest land |
Rings and distances from places.json (lands.json boundaries to the Census point of Whitley City); 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 Whitley City
Whitley City close-in hunting places
The three nearest public areas to Whitley City, with size, deer zone and what their own records say.
Daniel Boone National Forest
Hunt it on a Kentucky license, with the forest motor vehicle map for gated roads.
Big South Fork
State seasons apply here, with no hunting in the posted safety zones near visitor facilities.
Daniel Boone NF, – Stearns district
Daniel Boone National Forest land follows Kentucky seasons; campgrounds and trailheads are not hunting spots.
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.
What Zone 4 means for Whitley City deer hunters
Deer Zone 4 covers McCreary County and so the ground around Whitley City; the zone takes in 15 counties in all. The Zone 4 gun season opens November 14 and closes November 29, 2026; late muzzleloader follows December 12 to December 20, 2026.
Plan on a check station: McCreary County deer taken November 14 to November 16, 2026 are part of the mandatory CWD sampling.
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.
Whitley City hunting dates by zone
Whitley City hunters see split seasons as one line: the first and last day show here, and the Splits cell counts the separate windows KDFWR set.
| Species | Hunt | Applies in | Paperwork | First day | Last day | Pieces | Status | Cite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 hunt | Quota permit | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | One | KDFWR page | |
| Deer | Modern gun | Zone 4 | Permit | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | One | Guide p. 12 | |
| Deer | Late Muzzleloader | Zone 4 | 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 | Archery, crossbow | Elk zone | Quota permit | Sep 12, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | 2 parts | Guide p. 22 | |
| Elk | Youth quota | Elk zone | Quota permit | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | One | Guide p. 22 | |
| Elk | Bull, firearms | Elk zone | Quota permit | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 7, 2026 | 2 parts | Guide p. 22 | |
| Elk | Cow, firearms | Elk zone | Quota permit | Nov 28, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | 2 parts | Guide p. 22 | |
| Black bear | Chase only | Bear Zone 1 | Permit | Jun 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 2 parts | Guide p. 18 | |
| Black bear | With dogs | Bear Zone 1 | Permit | Oct 19, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | One | Guide p. 18 | |
| Black bear | Archery, crossbow | Bear Zone 1 | Permit | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 | One | Guide p. 18 | |
| Black bear | Firearm | Bear Zone 1 | Permit | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | One | Guide p. 18 | |
| 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 | |
| Grouse | Grouse | Grouse Zone | License | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 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 | |
| River otter | Zone 2 sub-limit | Otter Zone 2 | License | Nov 16, 2026 | Mar 31, 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.
Other KDFWR zones covering Whitley City
KDFWR lists McCreary County in Bear Zone 1, so the December 12 to December 14, 2026 firearm bear season applies here. McCreary County is one of the 16 elk zone counties, where 500 drawn permits cover bull, cow, archery and youth hunts.
McCreary County is a Eastern zone county for rabbit and quail; ruffed grouse are open there too. The September goose map places McCreary County in the Eastern zone.
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.
Drawn deer hunts around Whitley City
Quota hunts near Whitley City number 3 this season, spread over 2 properties.
| Hunt no. | Property | From town | Dates | Permits | Point cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 7.6 mi | Nov. 7-8 | 330 | 0 | |
| 5 | 22 mi | Oct. 25- Nov. 30 | 30 | – | |
| 6 | 22 mi | Nov. 7-8 | 22 | – |
Hunts, dates, slots and 2025 preference point minimums from the KDFWR Quota Hunts page; distances from places.json. Checked November 10, 2026.
Whitley City area harvest, county figures
McCreary County hunters checked 441 deer in 2025-26, ranking 109th of 120 counties. The split was 340 antlered, 15 button bucks and 86 does.
The spring 2026 turkey check in McCreary County came to 200. In 2025-26 the county added 0 elk and 1 bears to Telecheck.
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.
Public sites near Whitley City where hunting stops
Not all public ground near Whitley City is open: Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, 11 mi away, is closed to hunting. Nature preserves follow 400 KAR 2:090, state parks 301 KAR 2:178, and national park units 36 CFR 2.2.
| Name | Category | From town | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| State park | 11 mi | Closed | |
| State park | 19 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.
Phone numbers a Whitley City hunter should keep
Call (606) 344-0585 for the Southeast Region coordinator, the KDFWR contact for Whitley City. In person, KDFWR Southeastern Fisheries District Office (Williamsburg, 18 miles) is the nearest KDFWR stop. Report deer and turkeys from Whitley City to Telecheck at 1-800-245-4263 or online.
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.
Whitley City trade for hunters, from shells to shoulder mounts
Whitley City hunters can shop 9 stores for gear, with 8 taxidermists also inside 25 miles. Listings were not each confirmed as open, so call ahead.
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.
Whitley City: ranges within a drive
Appletree Shooting Range is the quickest range run from Whitley City, about 2 miles.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 10, 2026.
Whitley City sun table for opening days
Whitley City clocks fall back on November 1, 2026 and spring ahead on March 14, 2027, shifting every time in this table by an hour across those dates.
| Day | Why it matters | Sun up | Sun down | Deer and turkey | Ducks and doves | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Deer archery opens | 7:11 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 8:32 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 8:02 p.m. | EDT |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Deer crossbow opens | 7:22 a.m. | 7:41 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 8:11 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 7:41 p.m. | EDT |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Bull elk week | 7:28 a.m. | 7:31 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 8:01 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth gun opens | 7:40 a.m. | 7:10 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 7:40 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Early muzzleloader | 7:46 a.m. | 7:00 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Bear Zone 1 archery | 7:53 a.m. | 6:51 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 7:21 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. | EDT |
| Nov 14, 2026 | CWD check begins; Zone 4 gun opener | 7:14 a.m. | 5:31 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 6:01 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | EST |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:27 a.m. | 5:24 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:54 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | EST |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Zone 4 gun closes | 7:30 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Bear Zone 1 firearm; late muzzleloader | 7:41 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:46 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Free youth weekend | 7:49 a.m. | 5:28 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 5:58 p.m. | 7:19 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.
What rides along in Whitley City
Whitley City shoppers see no product until they choose one.
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Cow call
Elk permits are hard to draw, so a cow call that works the first time is worth having.
Climbing stand
Plenty of Kentucky deer hunters would not head to the stand without a climbing stand.
Skinning knife
A December bear hunt in steep country goes smoother with a skinning knife.
Before you hunt out of Whitley City
Is camo orange enough near Whitley City?
No. Camouflage orange alone does not qualify; it must be solid, unbroken orange.
Do Whitley City hunters need hunter education?
Yes, if born on or after January 1, 1975, unless using the free one-time exemption permit.
Is there a statewide list of hunting services for Whitley City hunters?
Yes, the services directory covers processors, taxidermists and stores across Kentucky.
How many miles separate Whitley City from a KDFWR building?
Roughly 18 miles, to KDFWR Southeastern Fisheries District Office in Williamsburg.
How many public hunting areas lie within 25 miles of Whitley City?
10 in all, 6 of them inside 10 miles, with Daniel Boone National Forest the closest open choice.
What zone rules cover deer around Whitley City?
Those of Deer Zone 4, one of 15 counties: 2 deer, 1 antlerless, with one antlered deer statewide.
How long is gun season near Whitley City?
Sixteen days, November 14 to November 29, 2026, in Zone 4 as in every zone.
Do CWD rules apply to deer shot near Whitley City?
Yes, McCreary County is in the CWD Surveillance Zone; see the CWD zone page for carcass rules.
When is bear season near Whitley City?
Archery and crossbow October 24 to October 26, 2026; firearm December 12 to December 14, 2026 in Bear Zone 1.
How do Whitley City hunters get an elk permit?
Through the KDFWR elk draw, which issued 500 permits for 2026.
What does a quota hunt application cost for Whitley City hunters?
September 1-30, 2026 online only, $3 per hunt.
When do duck hunters stop at Whitley City in December?
At sunset: on December 21, 2026 that is 5:25 p.m. EST, with shooting from 7:16 a.m. EST.
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: Daniel McFeeters (CC BY-SA 2.0); Murray Lee (U.S. Department of Agriculture) (CC BY-SA 2.0); Doug Kerr (CC BY-SA 2.0); Patrick Mueller (CC BY 2.0).