Carroll County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 726 deer in Carroll County in the 2025-26 season: 353 antlered bucks and 326 does (KDFWR). That is 5.6 deer per square mile of land, 84th of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 17% above 2024-25 (622). 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.
Carroll CountyKDFWR public hunting areasLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 726 (353 antlered bucks, 326 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 5.6, 21st of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 698 deer a season |
| Highest season | 849 in 2017-18 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 1 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Bluegrass region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 527 by firearms, 76 by crossbow, 66 by archery and 57 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 128.7 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | No KDFWR public hunting area |
| Towns | Carrollton, Ghent, Sanders, Worthville and Prestonville |
How many deer are killed in Carroll County each season?
KDFWR has reported Carroll County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 698 a season; the most was 849 in 2017-18 and the fewest 583 in 2020-21. 2025-26 was 9% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 726 | 353 | 326 | 5.6 | 584 | 142 |
| 2024-25 | 622 | 311 | 266 | 4.8 | 530 | 92 |
| 2023-24 | 650 | 288 | 324 | 5.1 | 559 | 91 |
| 2022-23 | 720 | 309 | 360 | 5.6 | 589 | 131 |
| 2021-22 | 642 | 335 | 276 | 5 | 539 | 103 |
| 2020-21 | 583 | 257 | 290 | 4.5 | 474 | 109 |
| 2019-20 | 634 | 278 | 307 | 4.9 | 530 | 104 |
| 2018-19 | 754 | 353 | 369 | 5.9 | 640 | 114 |
| 2017-18 | 849 | 394 | 414 | 6.6 | 705 | 144 |
| 2016-17 | 800 | 375 | 368 | 6.2 | 674 | 126 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 128.7 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Carroll County for 2026-27?
Carroll 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 Carroll County?
No KDFWR public hunting area boundary falls in Carroll County. The closest with a page here: Twin Eagle WMA (about 8 miles), Stephens Creek WMA (about 9 miles) and Kentucky River 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 Carroll County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll County | 1 | 726 | 5.6 | -9% |
| Gallatin County | 1 | 425 | 4.3 | -53% |
| Henry County | 1 | 1,799 | 6.3 | -6% |
| Owen County | 1 | 2,214 | 6.3 | -29% |
| Trimble County | 1 | 774 | 5.2 | -5% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Carroll County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 726 deer in Carroll County in the 2025-26 season: 353 antlered bucks, 47 button bucks and 326 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Carroll County in?
Carroll 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 Carroll County?
No KDFWR public hunting area boundary falls in Carroll County. The closest with a page here: Twin Eagle WMA (about 8 miles), Stephens Creek WMA (about 9 miles) and Kentucky River WMA (about 20 miles).
Has the deer harvest in Carroll County gone up or down?
From 800 in 2016-17 to 726 in 2025-26, 9% lower. The high in that span was 849 (2017-18) and the low 583 (2020-21).
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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 Gallatin County Henry County Owen County Trimble County