Modern gun deer season opens Nov. 14, 2026

Boasting strong deer populations across the state, Kentucky offers many hunting opportunities for new and experienced hunters to provide a sustainable source of lean protein for the table or for food banks. Hunters reported harvesting more than 145,000 deer last year, down slightly from nearly 150,000 in 2024-2025, with modern gun season accounting for the most deer harvested annually.

“The opening weekend of modern firearms deer season is one of the most anticipated times of the year for many hunters across Kentucky,” said Ben Robinson, director of the Wildlife Division for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “The 2026 calendar has the season opening later than normal but we still anticipate a strong harvest statewide.”

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife offers a wealth of resources to assist new and experienced hunters alike. Learn about public lands available for hunting, season dates, licenses needed and more by going online to fw.ky.gov and searching under the keywords, “Deer Hunting​.” View the 2026-2027 Fall Hunting and Trapping Guide online and download or print the guide as a resource to use in the field.

Following are tips for making the most of a trip afield:

Hunting licenses and permits may be purchased online at Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s website (fw.ky.gov) and at authorized license agents throughout the state. Licenses are available for residents and non-residents, youth and senior/disabled. A statewide or youth deer permit is also required for all license types. For season dates, detailed license requirements and other hunting regulations, visit the Deer Hunting section of the department’s website or view and download the 2026-2027 Fall Hunting and Trapping Guide.

Kentucky is divided into four deer zones, based predominantly on the deer density of the counties in each region. Each zone has different method of take restrictions and harvest limits for antlerless deer, however a hunter may take only one buck a year in the state, regardless of zone. Consult the 2026-2027 hunting guide for more information on the zone being hunted.

Hunters are encouraged to harvest more does this season, particularly in Zone 1 and 2 counties, to help improve overall herd health. A hunter may harvest an unlimited number of antlerless deer in Zone 1 using the statewide permit and additional deer permits. A hunter may harvest up to four antlerless deer in Zone 2.

Adequate doe harvests are critical for maintaining balanced, healthy deer populations. A balanced buck-to-doe ratio means a more intense rut chasing bucks that are more likely to reach their potential. Fawns are born in a more concentrated window improving recruitment. A balanced deer population helps reduce over-browsing, agricultural issues, and keeps roadways safer.

Immediately upon recovery of a harvested deer, a hunter must fill out a harvest log consisting of game species, sex, county and date on the back of the hunting license or elsewhere and kept in their possession. Before midnight, each harvest must be reported to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, even if the hunter is license exempt. Hunters can report their harvest​by calling the department’s telecheck number at 1-800-245-4263, or by using the onlineMy Profile portal at fw.ky.gov.

Special restrictions apply to deer harvested in the CWD Surveillance Zone. Ballard, Breckinridge, Calloway, Carlisle, Casey, Fulton, Graves, Hardin, Henderson, Hickman, Laurel, Lincoln, Marshall, McCracken, McCreary, Meade, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Union, Wayne, Webster and Whitley counties are under carcass transportation and baiting restrictions in an effort to monitor and contain CWD. Hunters in Henderson, McCreary, Pulaski and Wayne counties also must take their harvested deer to a staffed check station or use a CWD Sample Drop-Off Site the first three days of modern gun season, Nov. 14-16.

Deer hunters outside the CWD Surveillance Zone can aid Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s monitoring efforts by donating the heads of legally harvested and telechecked deer for free testing and aging through the voluntary CWD Sample Drop-Off Sites or CWD Sample Mail-In Kits.

Valid proof of hunter education certification is required for hunters born in 1975 or later. For new hunters without hunter education certification, a free one-year exemption permit is available. This permit allows a person to hunt as long as they are accompanied in the field by an adult who is hunter education-certified or born before 1975. Learn more on the department’s Hunter Education webpage.

Introduced to Kentucky’s deer and elk hunters last year, the Kentucky Deer & Elk App allows users to see public land property boundaries, locate local processors and taxidermists, keep a digital copy of their license and get more information about the county they are hunting. This app is available for free download from the Apple App and Google Play stores.

Until Jan. 18, 2027, every hunter who submits samples for CWD testing through a CWD Sample Drop-off Site or through a CWD Sample Mail-in Kit will be entered into the Shoot for Samples Giveaway. Hunters can enter the giveaway as many times as the bag limits allow. Prizes range from gift cards to gear thanks to the following sponsors – Copperhead Guns and Range, FirstChoice Firearms, and the Kentucky Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.

Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry and Boone Brothers are excellent options for hunters who want to contribute to conservation and harvest additional does, but don’t need the meat themselves. Both organizations process and distribute venison to people in need in the communities where the deer were harvested.

Suspected illegal activity may be anonymously reported to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement by using the “KFWLaw” smartphone app available for free download from the Apple App and Google Play stores. Tips can also be submitted by texting the keyword “KFWLaw” along with a message to 847411 (tip 411) or by calling 800-25-ALERT.

More information on any of these subjects may be found by visiting the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website (fw.ky.gov). For questions, contact the department’s Information Center at 800-858-1549, or atinfo.center@ky.gov, weekdays 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (ET), except holidays.