An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Public involvement in citizen science is vital for effective deer management in Kentucky. When individuals actively participate by reporting deer sightings, gathering data, and supporting conservation efforts, we enhance our understanding and ability to protect deer populations, ensuring their sustainable management and the preservation of their habitats. Here is how you can contribute.
HUNTER OBSERVATION SURVEY
OBSERVATION SURVEY
JAWBONE SUBMISSION SURVEY
Help us understand our deer population better! We want to age your harvested female deer. Please upload images of the lower LEFT SIDE of the jawbone of your harvested doe.
JAWBONE SURVEY
REPORT A SICK DEER
Help Kentucky Fish and Wildlife monitor the health of the state’s deer herd by reporting animals acting strangely or appearing ill.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal neurologic disease that affects deer, elk, and other species in the deer family. It is caused by a prion, a type of protein that attacks the brain and nervous system of infected animals. There is currently no known cure for CWD. Highly contaigous, the disease has spread extensively among deer and elk populations across North American over the past two decades.
View more info on our CWD page here.
If you plan to hunt outside the state of Kentucky for cervids (white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, caribou or moose) please know that state law prohibits bringing whole carcasses of a deer, elk, moose and caribou into Kentucky from other states. The brain and spinal column must be removed. Hunters can only bring back the following:
Taxidermists and processors who receive whole carcasses of white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, caribou, or moose from out of state should call 1-800-25-ALERT (1-800-252-5378) to contact their local conservation officer. For further information please review KAR 2:095 Importation of Cervid Carcasses and Parts.
CWD Series Episode 1 - IntroductionCredit: MSU Deer Lab TV
Two Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Surveillance Zones are in effect:
CWD Surveillance Zone With Mandatory Check Stations: Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall, and McCracken,
CWD Surveillance Zone Without Mandatory Check Stations: Breckinridge, Hardin, and Meade counties
Drop off the head of your harvest for free CWD testing at designated drop-off sites located across the state.
Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry (KHFH) is a charitable volunteer-run organization comprised of responsible hunters and conservationists who encourage hunters to harvest and donate deer each season. KHFH is a statewide hunger relief program dedicated to providing a healthy source of protein to needy Kentuckians with a mission to alleviate hunger and malnutrition in Kentucky by processing and distributing donated venison to those in need. Additionally, this program provides an outlet for hunters to help their communities and promote environmental stewardship through wildlife management. An estimated 684,000 people live in poverty in the Commonwealth, and one in every four Kentucky children lives in poverty.
After the harvest of your deer, a hunter must complete their harvest log and successfully record their telecheck number (1-800-245-4263). The deer needs to be properly field dressed. If the temperature is above 40 degrees, please put two large bags of ice in the deer; one in the chest cavity and one in between the hind quarters. This will help prevent the meat from spoilage before donation.
Contact a Hunters for the Hungry affiliated deer processor before donation to ensure their shop hours and which deer seasons they accept. Approved processors are independently owned and operated and are not under KHFH control.
All Kentucky hunters can participate in the Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry Program. This program is a completely free service for hunters to donate harvested deer. Funding is essential, and without support and charitable donations, the program could not exist. To donate, see the Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry donation page. Additionally, you can also donate $2 when renewing your vehicle registration. Your donation will help pay the cost of turning venison into a nutritious meal for the less fortunate in communities across Kentucky!
Take your shot against Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) for a chance to win prizes!LEARN MORE