Barren County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 1,610 deer in Barren County in the 2025-26 season: 815 antlered bucks and 699 does (KDFWR). That is 3.3 deer per square mile of land, 33rd of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 5% above 2024-25 (1,529). The county is in deer Zone 2.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: KDFWR Telecheck reports to the 2025-26 season. Zones and seasons: KDFWR's 2026-27 guide.
Barren CountyKDFWR public hunting areasLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 1,610 (815 antlered bucks, 699 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.3, 59th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,332 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,610 in 2025-26 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 2 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Green River region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 1,215 by firearms, 160 by archery, 131 by crossbow and 104 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 487.4 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 public hunting area, 5,450 acres |
| Towns | Glasgow, Cave City and Park City |
How many deer are killed in Barren County each season?
KDFWR has reported Barren County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,332 a season; the most was 1,610 in 2025-26 and the fewest 980 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 64% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,610 | 815 | 699 | 3.3 | 1,319 | 291 |
| 2024-25 | 1,529 | 779 | 681 | 3.1 | 1,267 | 262 |
| 2023-24 | 1,439 | 723 | 651 | 3 | 1,217 | 222 |
| 2022-23 | 1,389 | 667 | 648 | 2.8 | 1,159 | 230 |
| 2021-22 | 1,209 | 621 | 540 | 2.5 | 1,020 | 189 |
| 2020-21 | 1,364 | 695 | 612 | 2.8 | 1,113 | 251 |
| 2019-20 | 1,431 | 721 | 660 | 2.9 | 1,245 | 186 |
| 2018-19 | 1,317 | 702 | 548 | 2.7 | 1,133 | 184 |
| 2017-18 | 1,047 | 578 | 423 | 2.1 | 844 | 203 |
| 2016-17 | 980 | 556 | 380 | 2 | 834 | 146 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 487.4 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Barren County for 2026-27?
Barren County is in Zone 2: Up to four deer. 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 Barren County?
| Area | Acres in Barren County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Barren River Lake WMA | 5,450 | 192 |
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 Barren County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barren County | 2 | 1,610 | 3.3 | 64% |
| Allen County | 2 | 1,670 | 4.9 | 51% |
| Edmonson County | 2 | 602 | 2 | 14% |
| Hart County | 1 | 2,817 | 6.8 | 44% |
| Metcalfe County | 1 | 1,545 | 5.3 | 51% |
| Monroe County | 2 | 1,262 | 3.8 | 55% |
| Warren County | 2 | 1,337 | 2.5 | 22% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Barren County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 1,610 deer in Barren County in the 2025-26 season: 815 antlered bucks, 96 button bucks and 699 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Barren County in?
Barren County is in Zone 2 for 2026-27. Up to four deer. Only one antlered deer may be taken statewide (KDFWR 2026-27 guide, page 10).
Is there public hunting land in Barren County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts Barren River Lake WMA (5,450 acres in the county) in Barren County.
Has the deer harvest in Barren County gone up or down?
From 980 in 2016-17 to 1,610 in 2025-26, 64% higher. The high in that span was 1,610 (2025-26) and the low 980 (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.
Kentucky hunting Kentucky deer harvest by county Allen County Edmonson County Hart County Metcalfe County