velvet-buck-in-field-fws-Lamar-Gor

Deer Hunting Statistics

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​

DEER HUNTING STATISTICS


Interested in learning more about hunting deer in Kentucky? This page has a variety of statewide statistics about harvest results in 2024-25​. It includes reports of whitetail population growth from 2011 to the present and hunter-reported data covering all 120 counties. Check out more statistics on our Deer Hunting on Public lands page for more data about the 2024-25 Harvest. You can discover real-time harvest data through our Harvest Reports page.


Deer-buck-in-field.jpg 

​​

DEER HARVEST MAPS FROM THE ​2024-2025 SEASON​

2024-25-Antlered-Deer-Harvest-Chart.pngFigure Caption:Chart showing the 2024-25 Kentucky Antlered Deer Harvest for the different Wildlife Management Regions. Buck Age classes organize the information with the following dataset: 
  • Hunters in the Bluegrass Region deer harvest was 11% Buck Fawns, 17% Yearlings (1.5 years old), and 72% Adult Bucks.
  • Hunters in the Green River Region deer harvest was 10% Buck Fawns, 18% Yearlings, and 72% Adult Bucks.
  • Hunters in the Purchase Region deer harvest was 16% Buck Fawns, 16% Yearlings, and 69% Adult Bucks. 
  • Hunters in the Southeast Region deer harvest was 5% Buck Fawns, 27% Yearlings, and 68% Adult Bucks.
  • Hunters in the Northeast Region deer harvest was 7% Buck Fawns, 22% Yearlings, 71% Adult Bucks. 


 

​​COMMON QUESTIONS


HUNTER OBSERVATION SURVEY

Observed interesting wildlife, such as a Bobcat, while out deer hunting? Use the Hunter Observation Survey to record your wildlife sightings during Kentucky's deer hunting season (Sept. 6, 2025 - Jan. 19, 2026).​

OBSERVATION SURVEY


TEST YOUR DEER​​

Drop off the head of your harvest for free CWD testing at designated drop-off sites located across the state.​


The following maps the different types of harvest for the 2024-2025 Hunting season across the state. Click on the map to download a printable PDF created by the Deer Management program.

2024-25-Buck-Harvest-by-Square-Mile.png

Figure Caption:  Kentucky Map showing the 2024-25 Buck Harvest by Square Mile of Habitat. Click to download a map​.

2024-25-Buck-Harvest-by-Square-Mile.png

Figure Caption:  Kentucky Map showing the 2024-25 Doe Harvest by Square Mile of Habitat. Click to download a map.

2024-25-Buck-Harvest-by-Square-Mile.png

Figure Caption:  Kentucky Map showing the Successful Kentucky Hunters in 2024-25 by County. Click to download a map​.

2024-25-Buck-Harvest-by-Square-Mile.png

Figure Caption: Kentucky Map showing the Successful Kentucky Hunters in 2024-25 by Square Mile of Habitat. Click to download a map​.

2024-25-Buck-Harvest-by-Square-Mile.png

Figure Caption: Kentucky Map showing the 2024-25 Total Kentucky Deer Harvest by County. Click to download a map​.


2024-25-Buck-Harvest-by-Square-Mile.png

Figure Caption: Kentucky Map showing the 2024-25 Total Kentucky Deer Harvest by Square Mile of Habitat. Click to download a map​.


2024-25 DEER HARVEST RESULTS BY COUNTY​

Click to learn more information on the deer harvest stats for each county.​
Please Note: *Statistics include quota hunt harvest | **Statistics include male fawn havest.​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​STATEWIDE ​​SQ Miles of
​​Suitable ​Habitat
Total Harvest* Successful Hunters​ ​Successful Hunters per SQ Mile Deer Harvested Per Successfu​l Hunter Doe Harvest ​Buck Harvest** ​Buck Harvest ​​per SQ Mile ​​Doe Harvest per SQ Mile
​TOTALS 39,063​
149,868
108,320
2.8
1.3 63,797
86,071
2.25
1.69


​​​

KENTUCKY'S TOP BUCKS

BOONE & CROCKETT/ POPE & YOUNG
2024 SEASON - TYPICAL
​SCORE Hunter County Method
184 1/8
James Harden
Barren
Modern Gun
179
James Dyer
Cumberland
Modern Gun
175 3/8
Chase Higdon
Grayson
Muzzleloader​
174 3/8
Bryan D. Miller
Henderson
Archery
171 4/8
Charles R. Casciola
Shelby
Archery
171 2/8
Brandon Burman
Nelson
Archery
170
Andrew Farmer
Breathitt
Archery
168
Ross Burton
Pulaski
Crossbow
167 6/8
Anthony J. Cornelius
Lincoln
Modern Gun
166 4/8 (velvet)
Adam Patton
Montgomery
Archery
165 4/8
Jon Ross
Jackson
Modern Gun
163 5/8
Claryce A. Elgel
Franklin
Modern Gun
163 3/8
Drake S. Wright
Todd
Crossbow
163
Sean T. Cummins
Anderson
Crossbow
162 6/8
Peter P. May
Lincoln
Archery
162 5/8
Mike Anderson
Fayette
Crossbow
162 4/8
James Coffey
Wayne
Archery
162
William Deakins
Anderson
Modern Gun
161 5/8
Andrew R. Moore
Christian
Archery
160 6/8
Cody Cooper
Lawrence
Muzzleloader
160 3/8
Carlos Combs
Breathitt
Modern Gun
160 3/8
Terry "Red" Boarman
Daviess
Modern Gun
BOONE & CROCKETT/ POPE & YOUNG
2024 SEASON - NON-TYPICAL
SCORE Hunter County Method
241 3/8
Adam White
Perry
Pickup
236 6/8
Clint C. Stith
Scott
Modern Gun
219 6/8
Mark Peterson
Henry
Crossbow
214 3/8
Virgil Boggs
Laurel
Modern Gun
214
Tim Hannah
Hardin
Crossbow
212 2/8
Andrew J. Simmons
Hancock
Modern Gun
212 1/8
Jason A. Hunt
Mason
Crossbow
211 5/8
Ryan Doss
Adair
Crossbow
208 6/8
Andrew C. Morris
Nelson
Modern Gun
206 1/8 (velvet)
Kevin Cottrell
Hart
Archery
204 1/8
Douglas D. Ford
Oldham
Crossbow
203 5/8
Billy Keith Hunt
Mason
Crossbow
197 2/8
Herlie Joe Blanton
Grayson
Modern Gun
194 5/8 Gage Sargent Morgan Modern Gun
194 3/8 Steven W. Davis Hickman Archery
194 3/8 David Whitaker Jackson Modern Gun
191 7/8 Jeffrey Wade Barber Muhlenberg Modern Gun
190 3/8 Alex Hayes Christian Modern Gun
189 Keivn Cloyd Bourbon Crossbow
186 1/8 (velvet) Jake Bailey Perry Archery
185 5/8 Scott N. Kaufman Jefferson Crossbow
185 4/8 Frank A. Morrow Wayne Archery
185 3/8 (velvet) Bob McCabe Russell Archery
185 1/8 Michael "Tom" Robinson Garrard Modern Gun
185 Trey Benson Woodford Modern Gun
​​

NOTE: These lists include deer scored and reported to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. It is possible that unreported bucks taken last year in Kentucky may have scored 160 typical or 185 non-typical or higher.


Boone_and_Crockett_Club_(emblem).png

NEED YOUR DEER SCORED?

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife has about thirty employees across the state who are certified official Boone and Crockett Measurers. To find one, visit the Boone and Crockett Official Measurer Locator.


HOW TO GET ON NEXT YEAR'S TROPHY LIST

To be eligible for next year’s trophy list, a hunter must take a white-tailed deer in Kentucky this season that officially net scores 160 or higher typical, or net scores 185 or higher non-typical, as determined by the Boone & Crockett scoring system. Velvet deer scored under the Pope and Young Club system for bowhunters.

No later than May 1, send the completed and signed score sheet with a photo to Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide, #1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601. Include the county in which the deer was taken, and the equipment used to harvest the deer. Please send a copy as score sheets and photos will not be returned. Emailed submissions to info.center@ky.gov also will be accepted. To get a list of official Boone and Crockett Club scorers in Kentucky visit: www.boone-crockett.org.

Andrea-Davis-2009-B&C-buck.jpg​​




​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​