Adair County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 1,923 deer in Adair County in the 2025-26 season: 1,027 antlered bucks and 813 does (KDFWR). That is 4.7 deer per square mile of land, 19th of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was within 1% of 2024-25 (1,929). The county is in deer Zone 1.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: KDFWR Telecheck reports to the 2025-26 season. Zones and seasons: KDFWR's 2026-27 guide.
Adair CountyKDFWR public hunting areasLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 1,923 (1,027 antlered bucks, 813 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.7, 36th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,491 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,929 in 2024-25 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 1 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Southeast region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 1,435 by firearms, 203 by crossbow, 190 by archery and 95 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 405.3 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 3 public hunting areas, 13,104 acres |
| Towns | Columbia |
How many deer are killed in Adair County each season?
KDFWR has reported Adair County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,491 a season; the most was 1,929 in 2024-25 and the fewest 1,032 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 86% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,923 | 1,027 | 813 | 4.7 | 1,530 | 393 |
| 2024-25 | 1,929 | 1,069 | 779 | 4.8 | 1,500 | 429 |
| 2023-24 | 1,523 | 847 | 620 | 3.8 | 1,205 | 318 |
| 2022-23 | 1,599 | 825 | 686 | 3.9 | 1,233 | 366 |
| 2021-22 | 1,336 | 734 | 534 | 3.3 | 1,029 | 307 |
| 2020-21 | 1,412 | 764 | 588 | 3.5 | 1,140 | 272 |
| 2019-20 | 1,566 | 835 | 662 | 3.9 | 1,287 | 279 |
| 2018-19 | 1,432 | 766 | 600 | 3.5 | 1,219 | 213 |
| 2017-18 | 1,155 | 660 | 460 | 2.8 | 966 | 189 |
| 2016-17 | 1,032 | 582 | 399 | 2.5 | 900 | 132 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 405.3 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Adair County for 2026-27?
Adair County is in Zone 1: Unlimited number of antlerless deer using the statewide deer permit plus additional deer permits. Only one antlered deer may be taken statewide.
| Season | Dates |
|---|---|
| Archery | September 5, 2026 to January 18, 2027 |
| Youth and senior crossbow | September 5, 2026 to January 18, 2027 |
| Crossbow | September 19, 2026 to January 18, 2027 |
| CWD antlerless season (Zone 1 to 3 counties in the CWD Surveillance Zone) | September 25 to 28, 2026 |
| Youth-only modern firearms | October 10 to 18, 2026 |
| Early muzzleloader | October 17 to 18, 2026 |
| Modern firearms | November 14 to 29, 2026 |
| Late muzzleloader | December 12 to 20, 2026 |
| Free youth weekend | December 26 to 27, 2026 |
Source: 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide, page 10; county zones: KDFWR current deer zones. KDFWR's guide notes proposed regulations, still pending when it was printed, that would add antlerless firearm seasons in some counties and on some WMAs (page 11). Check fw.ky.gov for their status.
Where is the public hunting land in Adair County?
| Area | Acres in Adair County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Green River Lake WMA | 12,088 | 234 |
| R. F. Tarter WMA | 914 | 3 |
| Dennis-Gray WMA | 102 | 6 |
Acres measured by FilledTag on KDFWR public hunting area boundaries, U.S. Forest Service national forest ownership and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries.
How does Adair County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adair County | 1 | 1,923 | 4.7 | 86% |
| Casey County | 2 | 1,428 | 3.2 | 55% |
| Cumberland County | 2 | 998 | 3.3 | 9% |
| Green County | 1 | 2,116 | 7.4 | 37% |
| Metcalfe County | 1 | 1,545 | 5.3 | 51% |
| Russell County | 3 | 597 | 2.4 | 90% |
| Taylor County | 1 | 1,481 | 5.6 | 60% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Adair County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 1,923 deer in Adair County in the 2025-26 season: 1,027 antlered bucks, 83 button bucks and 813 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Adair County in?
Adair County is in Zone 1 for 2026-27. Unlimited number of antlerless deer using the statewide deer permit plus additional deer permits. Only one antlered deer may be taken statewide (KDFWR 2026-27 guide, page 10).
Is there public hunting land in Adair County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts Green River Lake WMA (12,088 acres in the county), R. F. Tarter WMA (914 acres in the county) and Dennis-Gray WMA (102 acres in the county) in Adair County.
Has the deer harvest in Adair County gone up or down?
From 1,032 in 2016-17 to 1,923 in 2025-26, 86% higher. The high in that span was 1,929 (2024-25) and the low 1,032 (2016-17).
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Where these numbers come from
- Deer and elk harvest: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county; KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), elk.
- Deer zones and seasons: 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide, page 10; KDFWR current deer zones.
- Public land: KDFWR public hunting area boundaries; U.S. Forest Service national forest ownership; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries. County land area: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries. Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer.
FilledTag is not part of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. Numbers are copied from KDFWR and the Census Bureau or measured from public maps; nothing here is estimated by FilledTag.
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