Bourbon County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 329 deer in Bourbon County in the 2025-26 season: 175 antlered bucks and 131 does (KDFWR). That is 1.1 deer per square mile of land, 116th of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 3% above 2024-25 (318). 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.
Bourbon CountyKDFWR public hunting areasLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 329 (175 antlered bucks, 131 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 1.1, 116th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 293 deer a season |
| Highest season | 329 in 2025-26 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 2 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Bluegrass region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 235 by firearms, 43 by archery, 29 by muzzleloader and 22 by crossbow |
| Land area | 289.7 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | No KDFWR public hunting area |
| Towns | Paris, Millersburg and North Middletown |
How many deer are killed in Bourbon County each season?
KDFWR has reported Bourbon County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 293 a season; the most was 329 in 2025-26 and the fewest 260 in 2019-20. 2025-26 was 5% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 329 | 175 | 131 | 1.1 | 264 | 65 |
| 2024-25 | 318 | 193 | 107 | 1.1 | 258 | 60 |
| 2023-24 | 312 | 194 | 110 | 1.1 | 256 | 56 |
| 2022-23 | 274 | 172 | 96 | 0.9 | 224 | 50 |
| 2021-22 | 261 | 167 | 86 | 0.9 | 220 | 41 |
| 2020-21 | 301 | 179 | 109 | 1 | 238 | 63 |
| 2019-20 | 260 | 144 | 104 | 0.9 | 219 | 41 |
| 2018-19 | 265 | 160 | 96 | 0.9 | 231 | 34 |
| 2017-18 | 291 | 166 | 108 | 1 | 238 | 53 |
| 2016-17 | 314 | 160 | 139 | 1.1 | 265 | 49 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 289.7 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Bourbon County for 2026-27?
Bourbon 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 Bourbon County?
No KDFWR public hunting area boundary falls in Bourbon County. The closest with a page here: Griffith Woods WMA (about 11 miles), Clay WMA (about 19 miles) and Veterans Memorial WMA (about 20 miles).
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 Bourbon County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bourbon County | 2 | 329 | 1.1 | 5% |
| Bath County | 2 | 821 | 3 | 19% |
| Clark County | 2 | 464 | 1.8 | 10% |
| Fayette County | 2 | 246 | 0.9 | 0% |
| Harrison County | 1 | 1,813 | 5.9 | -1% |
| Montgomery County | 2 | 450 | 2.3 | 22% |
| Nicholas County | 2 | 984 | 5 | 31% |
| Scott County | 1 | 972 | 3.4 | -37% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Bourbon County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 329 deer in Bourbon County in the 2025-26 season: 175 antlered bucks, 23 button bucks and 131 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Bourbon County in?
Bourbon 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 Bourbon County?
No KDFWR public hunting area boundary falls in Bourbon County. The closest with a page here: Griffith Woods WMA (about 11 miles), Clay WMA (about 19 miles) and Veterans Memorial WMA (about 20 miles).
Has the deer harvest in Bourbon County gone up or down?
From 314 in 2016-17 to 329 in 2025-26, 5% higher. The high in that span was 329 (2025-26) and the low 260 (2019-20).
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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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