Breckinridge County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 3,091 deer in Breckinridge County in the 2025-26 season: 1,353 antlered bucks and 1,505 does (KDFWR). That is 5.4 deer per square mile of land, 2nd of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 6% above 2024-25 (2,917). 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.
Breckinridge CountyKDFWR public hunting areasNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 3,091 (1,353 antlered bucks, 1,505 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 5.4, 24th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,959 deer a season |
| Highest season | 3,291 in 2019-20 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 1 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Green River region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 2,333 by firearms, 333 by archery, 238 by crossbow and 187 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 569.7 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 public hunting areas, 10,125 acres |
| Towns | Hardinsburg, Cloverport and Irvington |
How many deer are killed in Breckinridge County each season?
KDFWR has reported Breckinridge County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 2,959 a season; the most was 3,291 in 2019-20 and the fewest 2,626 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 18% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 3,091 | 1,353 | 1,505 | 5.4 | 2,520 | 571 |
| 2024-25 | 2,917 | 1,402 | 1,325 | 5.1 | 2,425 | 492 |
| 2023-24 | 3,019 | 1,377 | 1,453 | 5.3 | 2,504 | 515 |
| 2022-23 | 2,864 | 1,332 | 1,336 | 5 | 2,419 | 445 |
| 2021-22 | 2,748 | 1,337 | 1,253 | 4.8 | 2,299 | 449 |
| 2020-21 | 2,942 | 1,368 | 1,384 | 5.2 | 2,371 | 571 |
| 2019-20 | 3,291 | 1,357 | 1,731 | 5.8 | 2,739 | 552 |
| 2018-19 | 3,209 | 1,495 | 1,538 | 5.6 | 2,749 | 460 |
| 2017-18 | 2,884 | 1,472 | 1,257 | 5.1 | 2,382 | 502 |
| 2016-17 | 2,626 | 1,378 | 1,080 | 4.6 | 2,193 | 433 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 569.7 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Breckinridge County for 2026-27?
Breckinridge 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 Breckinridge County?
| Area | Acres in Breckinridge County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowbank WMA | 7,556 | 94 |
| Rough River Lake WMA | 2,569 | 49 |
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 Breckinridge County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breckinridge County | 1 | 3,091 | 5.4 | 18% |
| Grayson County | 1 | 2,318 | 4.6 | 7% |
| Hancock County | 1 | 684 | 3.6 | -14% |
| Hardin County | 1 | 3,545 | 5.7 | 43% |
| Meade County | 1 | 1,575 | 5.2 | 35% |
| Ohio County | 1 | 1,878 | 3.2 | -20% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Breckinridge County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 3,091 deer in Breckinridge County in the 2025-26 season: 1,353 antlered bucks, 233 button bucks and 1,505 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Breckinridge County in?
Breckinridge 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 Breckinridge County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts Yellowbank WMA (7,556 acres in the county) and Rough River Lake WMA (2,569 acres in the county) in Breckinridge County.
Has the deer harvest in Breckinridge County gone up or down?
From 2,626 in 2016-17 to 3,091 in 2025-26, 18% higher. The high in that span was 3,291 (2019-20) and the low 2,626 (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 Grayson County Hancock County Hardin County Meade County