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



2025 License Year

Season Dates: Sep 06 2025 - Jan 19 2026
Location: Statewide


Crossbow


2025 License Year

Season Dates: Sep 20 2025 - Jan 19 2026
Location: Statewide


Notes:
General crossbow season: Senior/youth crossbow season is Sept. 6, 2025, through Jan. 19, 2026. Hunters may use archery equipment during this season. Exceptions for Zone 4: Antlerless deer (does) cannot be harvested during the modern gun season, Nov. 8-23, 2025, during the early muzzleloader season, Oct. 18-19, 2025, or during the first six days of muzzleloader season, Dec. 13-18, 2025.


Modern Gun



2025 License Year

Season Dates: Nov 08 2025 - Nov 23 2025
Location: Zone 1, 2 and 3
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.

Season Dates: Nov 08 2025 - Nov 23 2025
Location: Zone 4
Antlered
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



2025 License Year

Season Dates: Oct 18 2025 - Oct 19 2025
Location: Statewide
Early Muzzleloader season: Zones 1, 2 and 3: Open to either sex. Zone 4: Antlered Deer Only.

Season Dates: Dec 13 2025 - Dec 21 2025
Location: Statewide
Late muzzleloader season. In Zone 4, antlerless deer may not be taken Dec. 13, 2025 through Dec. 18, 2025. From Dec. 19, 2025 through Dec. 21, 2025, 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



2025 License Year

Season Dates: Dec 27 2025 - Dec 28 2025
Location: Statewide


Youth-Only


2025 License Year

*** Proposed Season Date

Season Dates: Oct 11 2025 - Oct 12 2025
Location: Statewide


Notes:
Potential change to the season dates. Please check back for future updates.