Deer Hunting Statistics

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History of Deer Management

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 SEASON REPORTS:

OTHER REPORTS

DEER HARVEST MAPS FROM THE 2024-2025 SEASON

Figure 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

When can you hunt?
No place to hunt?
How many deer can you harvest?
What can you hunt deer with?
What license do you need?
Where can you buy a license?
What are the hunter education requirements and how do I get certified?
Where do I learn to hunt deer?
Learn to process deer with Field to Fork class.
Deer Season FAQs
Can’t find the answers to your questions? (Email: info.center@ky.gov)

DOWNLOAD THE PRINT!

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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 Successful 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

COUNTY: ADAIR - BUTLER

COUNTY	SQ Miles of Suitable Habitat	Total Harvest*	Successful Hunters	Successful Hunters per SQ Mile	Deer Harvested per Successful Hunter	Doe Harvest	Buck Harvest*	Buck Harvest per SQ Mile	Doe Harvest per SQ Mile
Adair	404	1929	1455	3.6	1.3	779	1150	2.84	1.93
Allen	344	1773	1242	3.6	1.4	745	1028	2.99	2.16
Anderson	201	1850	1300	6.5	1.4	811	1039	5.16	4.03
Ballard	251	530	411	1.6	1.3	228	302	1.20	0.91
Barren	487	1529	1099	2.3	1.4	681	848	1.74	1.40
Bath	278	876	699	2.5	1.3	342	534	1.92	1.23
Bell	351	634	557	1.6	1.1	127	507	1.44	0.36
Boone	231	1308	905	3.9	1.4	629	679	2.93	2.72
Bourbon	289	318	251	0.9	1.3	107	211	0.73	0.37
Boyd	151	771	578	3.8	1.3	331	440	2.91	2.19
Boyle	179	474	359	2.0	1.3	194	280	1.56	1.08
Bracken	202	1666	1155	5.7	1.4	761	905	4.48	3.77
Breathitt	485	593	529	1.1	1.1	97	496	1.02	0.20
Breckinridge	571	2916	2042	3.6	1.4	1325	1591	2.79	2.32
Bullitt	292	2095	1362	4.7	1.5	938	1157	3.96	3.21
Butler	427	1702	1279	3.0	1.3	747	955	2.24	1.75

COUNTY: CALDWELL - ESTILL

COUNTY	SQ Miles of Suitable Habitat	Total Harvest*	Successful Hunters	Successful Hunters per SQ Mile	Deer Harvested per Successful Hunter	Doe Harvest	Buck Harvest*	Buck Harvest per SQ Mile	Doe Harvest per SQ Mile
Caldwell	345	1774	1143	3.3	1.6	873	901	2.61	2.53
Calloway	384	1856	1147	3.0	1.6	920	936	2.44	2.40
Campbell	143	960	670	4.7	1.4	468	492	3.43	3.26
Carlisle	190	588	437	2.3	1.3	263	325	1.71	1.39
Carroll	128	622	447	3.5	1.4	266	356	2.79	2.08
Carter	405	1324	1017	2.5	1.3	530	794	1.96	1.31
Casey	445	1345	1011	2.3	1.3	515	830	1.87	1.16
Christian	692	3092	2062	3.0	1.5	1424	1668	2.41	2.06
Clark	250	430	346	1.4	1.2	148	282	1.13	0.59
Clay	466	846	764	1.6	1.1	153	693	1.49	0.33
Clinton	196	536	436	2.2	1.2	139	397	2.02	0.71
Crittenden	361	2611	1732	4.8	1.5	1280	1331	3.69	3.55
Cumberland	306	1041	784	2.6	1.3	416	625	2.04	1.36
Daviess	453	1043	780	1.7	1.3	475	568	1.25	1.05
Edmonson	302	752	595	2.0	1.3	251	501	1.66	0.83
Elliott	234	522	426	1.8	1.2	175	347	1.48	0.75
Estill	252	637	519	2.1	1.2	220	417	1.65	0.87

COUNTY: FAYETTE - GREENUP

COUNTY	SQ Miles of Suitable Habitat	Total Harvest*	Successful Hunters	Successful Hunters per SQ Mile	Deer Harvested per Successful Hunter	Doe Harvest	Buck Harvest*	Buck Harvest per SQ Mile	Doe Harvest per SQ Mile
Fayette	259	224	176	0.7	1.3	94	130	0.50	0.36
Fleming	349	1005	752	2.2	1.3	423	582	1.67	1.21
Floyd	381	774	689	1.8	1.1	150	624	1.64	0.39
Franklin	205	1260	848	4.1	1.5	598	662	3.23	2.91
Fulton	204	391	265	1.3	1.5	195	196	0.96	0.96
Gallatin	96	653	454	4.7	1.4	303	350	3.63	3.14
Garrard	231	715	593	2.6	1.2	241	474	2.06	1.04
Grant	258	1554	1167	4.5	1.3	721	833	3.23	2.79
Graves	553	2495	1622	2.9	1.5	1263	1232	2.23	2.29
Grayson	502	2834	1989	4.0	1.4	1260	1574	3.14	2.51
Green	286	2115	1375	4.8	1.5	1013	1102	3.85	3.54
Greenup	340	1114	866	2.6	1.3	444	670	1.97	1.31

COUNTY: HANCOCK - KNOX

COUNTY	SQ Miles of Suitable Habitat	Total Harvest*	Successful Hunters	Successful Hunters per SQ Mile	Deer Harvested per Successful Hunter	Doe Harvest	Buck Harvest*	Buck Harvest per SQ Mile	Doe Harvest per SQ Mile
Hancock	187	793	607	3.3	1.3	329	464	2.49	1.76
Hardin	3228	2082	3.4	1.6	1395	1833	2.97	2.26
Harlan	455	460	400	0.9	1.2	93	367	0.81	0.20
Harrison	308	1641	1149	3.7	1.4	771	870	2.83	2.51
Hart	413	2816	1942	4.7	1.5	1274	1542	3.73	3.08
Henderson	433	1511	1045	2.4	1.4	758	753	1.74	1.75
Henry	289	1692	1182	4.1	1.4	806	886	3.07	2.79
Hickman	244	537	384	1.6	1.4	226	311	1.28	0.93
Hopkins	542	2562	1775	3.3	1.4	1189	1373	2.54	2.20
Jackson	344	947	808	2.3	1.2	204	743	2.16	0.59
Jefferson	316	1160	758	2.4	1.5	530	630	1.99	1.68
Jessamine	169	484	370	2.2	1.3	200	284	1.68	1.18
Johnson	258	686	563	2.2	1.2	249	437	1.70	0.97
Kenton	152	882	631	4.1	1.4	437	445	2.93	2.87
Knott	337	749	647	1.9	1.2	156	593	1.76	0.46
Knox	381	968	815	2.1	1.2	216	752	1.97	0.57

COUNTY: LARUE - MUHLENBERG

COUNTY	SQ Miles of Suitable Habitat	Total Harvest*	Successful Hunters	Successful Hunters per SQ Mile	Deer Harvested per Successful Hunter	Doe Harvest	Buck Harvest*	Buck Harvest per SQ Mile	Doe Harvest per SQ Mile
LaRue	262	1078	777	3.0	1.4	477	601	2.29	1.82
Laurel	425	1576	1249	2.9	1.3	703	873	2.06	1.65
Lawrence	411	1110	891	2.2	1.2	404	706	1.72	0.98
Lee	209	369	342	1.6	1.1	46	323	1.55	0.22
Leslie	392	478	433	1.1	1.1	76	402	1.03	0.19
Letcher	325	552	484	1.5	1.1	116	436	1.34	0.36
Lewis	482	1292	1028	2.1	1.3	480	812	1.68	1.00
Lincoln	334	1473	1059	3.2	1.4	684	789	2.36	2.05
Livingston	311	1629	1084	3.5	1.5	806	823	2.64	2.59
Logan	553	1926	1374	2.5	1.4	883	1043	1.89	1.60
Lyon	214	1241	829	3.9	1.5	604	637	2.97	2.82
Madison	432	929	717	1.7	1.3	362	567	1.31	0.84
Magoffin	305	505	447	1.5	1.1	83	422	1.38	0.27
Marion	345	1593	1154	3.3	1.4	672	921	2.67	1.95
Marshall	292	1127	789	2.7	1.4	508	619	2.12	1.74
Martin	219	328	293	1.3	1.1	45	283	1.29	0.21
Mason	238	1056	720	3.0	1.5	499	557	2.34	2.10
McCracken	244	780	574	2.4	1.4	362	418	1.71	1.48
McCreary	426	502	432	1.0	1.2	85	417	0.98	0.20
McLean	253	894	592	2.3	1.5	470	424	1.67	1.86
Meade	305	1401	980	3.2	1.4	586	815	2.67	1.92
Menifee	203	241	219	1.1	1.1	27	214	1.06	0.13
Mercer	249	1384	965	3.9	1.4	652	732	2.93	2.61
Metcalfe	291	1595	1106	3.8	1.4	730	865	2.98	2.51
Monroe	330	1308	898	2.7	1.5	552	756	2.29	1.67
Montgomery	196	460	361	1.8	1.3	177	283	1.45	0.90
Morgan	380	720	615	1.6	1.2	225	495	1.30	0.59
Muhlenberg	464	2254	1526	3.3	1.5	1095	1159	2.50	2.36

COUNTY: NELSON - RUSSELL

COUNTY	SQ Miles of Suitable Habitat	Total Harvest*	Successful Hunters	Successful Hunters per SQ Mile	Deer Harvested per Successful Hunter	Doe Harvest	Buck Harvest*	Buck Harvest per SQ Mile	Doe Harvest per SQ Mile
Nelson	419	2796	1863	4.4	1.5	1403	1393	3.33	3.35
Nicholas	196	864	678	3.5	1.3	352	512	2.62	1.80
Ohio	586	2388	1757	3.0	1.4	1078	1310	2.24	1.84
Oldham	186	772	519	2.8	1.5	386	386	2.07	2.07
Owen	351	2284	1583	4.5	1.4	1088	1196	3.40	3.10
Owsley	197	309	277	1.4	1.1	55	254	1.29	0.28
Pendleton	277	2399	1657	6.0	1.4	1223	1176	4.24	4.41
Perry	317	844	726	2.3	1.2	172	672	2.12	0.54
Pike	749	1580	1410	1.9	1.1	318	1262	1.69	0.42
Powell	178	382	314	1.8	1.2	147	235	1.32	0.82
Pulaski	653	2511	1965	3.0	1.3	1009	1502	2.30	1.55
Robertson	100	765	509	5.1	1.5	371	394	3.95	3.72
Rockcastle	315	758	672	2.1	1.1	131	627	1.99	0.42
Rowan	277	525	443	1.6	1.2	153	372	1.34	0.55
Russell	249	585	508	2.0	1.2	115	470	1.89	0.46

COUNTY: SCOTT - WOODFORD

COUNTY	SQ Miles of Suitable Habitat	Total Harvest*	Successful Hunters	Successful Hunters per SQ Mile	Deer Harvested per Successful Hunter	Doe Harvest	Buck Harvest*	Buck Harvest per SQ Mile	Doe Harvest per SQ Mile
Scott	280	1123	827	3.0	1.4	516	607	2.17	1.84
Shelby	381	2725	1788	4.7	1.5	1308	1417	3.72	3.43
Simpson	235	783	541	2.3	1.4	319	464	1.98	1.36
Spencer	187	1882	1249	6.7	1.5	884	998	5.35	4.74
Taylor	267	1440	1020	3.8	1.4	655	785	2.94	2.45
Todd	375	1507	1021	2.7	1.5	710	797	2.12	1.89
Trigg	443	2175	1479	3.3	1.5	1050	1125	2.54	2.37
Trimble	148	700	505	3.4	1.4	306	394	2.67	2.07
Union	343	1068	713	2.1	1.5	564	504	1.47	1.65
Warren	536	1616	1179	2.2	1.4	704	912	1.70	1.31
Washington	299	2558	1656	5.5	1.5	1204	1354	4.53	4.02
Wayne	456	1274	1013	2.2	1.3	474	800	1.75	1.04
Webster	332	2090	1243	3.7	1.7	1145	945	2.85	3.45
Whitley	433	1159	1011	2.3	1.1	257	902	2.08	0.59
Wolfe	221	386	332	1.5	1.2	111	275	1.25	0.50
Woodford	189	626	431	2.3	1.5	284	342	1.81	1.50

KENTUCKY'S TOP BUCKS

BOONE & CROCKETT/ POPE & YOUNG 2023 SEASON - TYPICAL
SCORE	Hunter	County	Method
183 6/8	Terry G. Allen	Marion	Modern Gun
180 3/8	Neil Raizor	Shelby	Archery
180 2/8	Robert Byler	Anderson	Modern Gun
177 6/8	Eddie Todd	Rockcastle	Muzzleloader
176 2/8	Tanner Harp	Hardin	Modern Gun
174 3/8	Walter L Davis	Clark	Archery
173 2/8	Justin P Neace	Breathitt	Muzzleloader
172	Jamie Davis	Fayette	Archery
170 5/8	Timothy D Fox Jr	Lee	Modern Gun
169 2/8 (velvet)	Austin Waters	Hardin	Archery
167 7/8	Dylan W. Hill	Woodford	Modern Gun
167 5/8	William Hale	Wayne	Crossbow
167 3/8	John L Starks	Christian	Modern Gun
167	Josh Durbin	Meade	Modern Gun
166 6/8	Bobby Wales	Hardin	Archery
166 5/8	Stephen Roark	Bracken	Archery
165 1/8	James Clayton Smith	Marion	Archery
164 4/8	Isaac Brown	Robertson	Archery
163 5/8 (velvet)	Travis Mays	Clark	Archery
162 2/8 (velvet)	Donnie Stinson	Wayne	Archery
161 3/8	John H Miller	Hart	Modern Gun
160 4/8	Howard Gleason	Hardin	Modern Gun

BOONE & CROCKETT/ POPE & YOUNG 2023 SEASON - NON-TYPICAL
SCORE	Hunter	County	Method
214 3/8	Robert L Farris	Henderson	Crossbow
207 7/8	Kaylee M Rogers	Nelson	Modern Gun
205	Ray D Chaney	Rockcastle	Modern Gun
194 7/8	Ryan Ederer	Grant	Archery
194	Brandon Epperson	Grant	Archery
192 1/8	James A Link	Lawrence	Modern Gun
191 2/8 (velvet)	Steve M McMichael	Ohio	Archery
189 5/8	Richard Soyk	Todd	Modern Gun
187 3/8	Jeff Cornett	Owen	Modern Gun
187 2/8	Jeff Deberry	Breckinridge	Modern Gun
185 6/8	Joey Porter	Grayson	Modern Gun
185 5/8	William C Payton	Trimble	Archery
185 3/8	Robert Ervin	Crittenden	Archery

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.

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.

Deer Hunting Statistics