Kentucky Hunters record fifth-highest deer harvest despite doe shortfall

Kentucky hunters wrapped up the 2025-26 deer season with a total harvest of 145,433 deer, marking the fifth-highest season on record and finishing about 3,000 deer above the state’s 10 year average.

Joe McDermott, deer program coordinator for Fish and Wildlife, says the 136-day season was successful due to strong hunter participation, an expanded October youth firearms season and continued success on public lands. Nearly 105,000 hunters harvested at least one deer this season.

McDermott says modern gun season accounted for most of the harvest, with 72% of deer taken during the 16-day November season and that about 80% of successful hunters were Kentucky residents and nearly 7,400 deer were harvested on public lands, the second-highest total recorded.

McDermott says nearly 70% of male deer taken were estimated to be two and a half years old or older, which encouraged biologists.

Hardin County led the state with 3,543 deer harvested, followed by Breckinridge (3,090), Christian (2,998), Hart (2,814), Graves (2,698), Shelby (2,692), Washington (2,662), Pendleton (2,642), Nelson (2,590) and Hopkins (2,484).

The expanded nine-day youth firearms season resulted in 5,645 deer being harvested by young hunters, which McDermott says is about 2,000 more than previous years. He also says doe harvest goals were not met, with females making up only 43.5 % of the total harvest.

McDermott says increasing doe harvest remains a priority to help control deer populations, reduce vehicle collisions and limit crop damage. He adds that fewer deer on the landscape allow the remaining animals to reach their full potential.

Hunters with extra venison are encouraged to donate through Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry or Boone Brothers to help fight food insecurity across the state.