Deer

PLEASE NOTE:

  • A hunter is limited to one (1) deer with visible antlers (excluding button bucks) per license year, regardless of what zone it is taken. The one-antlered deer can be taken under the statewide deer permit or the Deer Management Permit.
  • Bag limits by zone are listed below.
  • Hunters shall abide by the equipment restrictions in place for each season.

RESTRICTIONS BY ZONE:


Zone 1

  • Unlimited antlerless deer may be taken with the proper permits.

Zone 2

  • A hunter may take no more than four (4) deer.
  • All four (4) deer may be taken with any weapon.

Zone 3

  • A hunter may take no more than four (4) deer.
  • A hunter may take no more than one (1) antlerless deer with a firearm. Firearm means a breech or muzzle-loading rifle, shotgun or handgun.
  • All four (4) deer may be taken with archery or crossbow equipment.

Zone 4

  • A hunter may take no more than two (2) deer.
  • A hunter may take no more than one (1) antlerless deer.
  • Antlerless deer may be taken during the archery season, crossbow season, both youth seasons or the last three days of the December muzzleloader season.

For more information, click exemptions and requirements or check our current Hunting Guide. Buy or renew your license here.




Archery

Location: Statewide
Season Dates:
either sex


Crossbow

Location: Statewide
Season Dates:
either sex
General crossbow season: Senior/youth crossbow season is Sept. 7, 2025, through Jan. 20, 2025. Hunters may use archery equipment during this season. Exceptions for Zone 4: Antlerless deer (does) cannot be harvested during the modern gun season, Nov. 9-24, 2024, during the early muzzleloader season, Oct. 19-20, 2024, or during the first six days of muzzleloader season, Dec. 14-19, 2025.


Modern Gun

Location: Zone 1, 2 and 3
Season Dates:
either sex
Hunters may use any method legal for deer hunting during modern firearms season, including muzzleloading firearms, archery and crossbow equipment. Blaze orange requirements for deer hunters still apply regardless of method. See Zone 4 listing for separate harvest regulations.

Location: Zone 4
Season Dates:
either sex
Hunters may use any method legal for deer hunting during modern firearms season, including muzzleloading firearms, archery and crossbow equipment. In Zone 4, which includes much of southeastern Kentucky, hunters may not harvest antlerless deer (does) during modern gun season, regardless of hunting method.


Muzzle-loader

Location: Statewide
Season Dates:
either sex
Early Muzzleloader season: Zones 1, 2 and 3: Open to either sex. Zone 4: Antlered Deer Only.

Location: Statewide
Season Dates:
either sex
Late muzzleloader season. In Zone 4, antlerless deer may not be taken from 12-14-24 through 12-19-24. From 12-20-24 through 12-22-24, hunters may harvest an antlerless deer. Hunters may use archery equipment or crossbows during this season. Blaze orange requirements for deer hunters still apply regardless of method.


Youth-Free

Location: Statewide
Season Dates:
either sex


Youth-Only

Location: Statewide
Season Dates:
either sex