An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is the most abundant deer species and is common across most of the U.S., including throughout Kentucky. In areas where they are not properly managed through hunting, abundant deer can damage crops and ornamental plantings and increase the risk of deer-vehicle collisions.
Utilizing deer hunters is the most effective and cost-efficient way to control deer numbers. Allowing deer hunters to access your land during the deer season and encouraging them to take antlerless deer will help reduce both the number of deer and the amount of deer damage in your area. Kentucky law provides important liability protections for landowners who allow hunting on their property.
Hunters can be very effective in reducing the deer herd, so if they run out of room in their freezers, they can donate their deer to Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry. Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry is a statewide hunger relief program dedicated to providing a healthy source of protein to needy Kentuckians by processing and distributing donated venison.
Visit Hunting Deer in Kentucky for more information on hunting deer in Kentucky.
Harvested a deer without the room to store it in your freezer? Consider donating an extra harvest to Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry.
In places where deer are abundant or crops are highly valuable, fencing may be the only effective way to minimize deer damage. Several fencing designs are available to meet specific needs. Temporary electric fences are simple and inexpensive for protecting garden and field crops during snow-free periods. For more information, visit the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management.
While a wide variety of repellents are on the market today, most are considered to be of limited effectiveness when used on their own. However, they can be effective if used in conjunction with other control methods. Repellents may prove to be more effective on minimal crops or landscaping. For more information about repellents, visit the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management.
Scare devices can effectively keep deer away from small and large cultivated areas. These devices often produce short-term results but may be more effective when combined with other damage-control techniques. Some examples of scare tactics are propane cannons, a dog on a long tether, fireworks, and gunfire. Success can be improved by taking action at the first sign of a deer problem.
If you are a landowner experiencing severe damage from deer, you may contact your local Regional Biologist or Game Warden to request a site visit. During the site visit, the biologist or Game Warden will recommend various solutions to mitigate the damage, such as exclusion, repellents, hunting, in-season Control Tags, and, if necessary, out-of-season Destruction Tags.
To find your local contact, visit Find My Local Contact.
Deer Control Permits (301 KAR 2:176) may be issued to landowners who are experiencing damage to their property. These permits are issued to landowners who need additional deer permits during the hunting season and are for antlerless deer only.
The purpose of deer control tags is to help mitigate damage in areas where the number of antlerless deer legal for harvest is limited due to zone restrictions.
Each control tag issued has a unique identifying number that is used to report a single harvested deer via KDFWR's Telecheck system.
If damage is extreme and outside the hunting season framework, landowners may be issued permits to take deer out of season. These tags can be for antlerless or either-sex deer that may be taken by methods and at times outside the typical hunting season framework.
Each Destruction Tag issued has a unique identifying number that is used to report a single harvested deer via KDFWR's Telecheck system.
Call 800-245-4263 to report your harvest.
Use Online Telecheck to log in to "My Profile" and report your harvest online.
Landowners, their spouses or dependent children, or their designees who must be approved by the department, may kill or trap wildlife causing damage to their land or personal property. Upon the destruction of any wildlife, they shall report it to KDFWR using this online reporting form.
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