Clay County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 926 deer in Clay County in the 2025-26 season: 760 antlered bucks and 149 does (KDFWR). That is 2 deer per square mile of land, 68th of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 9% above 2024-25 (846). The county is in deer Zone 4.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: KDFWR Telecheck reports to the 2025-26 season. Zones and seasons: KDFWR's 2026-27 guide.
Clay CountyKDFWR public hunting areasNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 926 (760 antlered bucks, 149 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 2, 99th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 724 deer a season |
| Highest season | 926 in 2025-26 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 4 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Southeast region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 673 by firearms, 113 by archery, 112 by crossbow and 28 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 469.3 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 6 public hunting areas, 83,971 acres; 482 acres of national forest |
| Elk telechecked | 4 in 2024-25 |
| Towns | Manchester |
How many deer are killed in Clay County each season?
KDFWR has reported Clay County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 724 a season; the most was 926 in 2025-26 and the fewest 514 in 2017-18. 2025-26 was 10% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 926 | 760 | 149 | 2 | 701 | 225 |
| 2024-25 | 846 | 685 | 153 | 1.8 | 626 | 220 |
| 2023-24 | 741 | 591 | 132 | 1.6 | 579 | 162 |
| 2022-23 | 725 | 574 | 135 | 1.5 | 551 | 174 |
| 2021-22 | 661 | 526 | 125 | 1.4 | 493 | 168 |
| 2020-21 | 722 | 548 | 158 | 1.5 | 538 | 184 |
| 2019-20 | 603 | 490 | 107 | 1.3 | 483 | 120 |
| 2018-19 | 657 | 533 | 112 | 1.4 | 535 | 122 |
| 2017-18 | 514 | 373 | 119 | 1.1 | 380 | 134 |
| 2016-17 | 845 | 591 | 220 | 1.8 | 631 | 214 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 469.3 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Clay County for 2026-27?
Clay County is in Zone 4: Up to two deer, only one of which can be antlerless. Antlerless deer cannot be taken during the modern gun season, the early muzzleloader season or the first six days of the late muzzleloader season. 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 |
| 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 Clay County?
| Area | Acres in Clay County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Boone National Forest | 74,350 | 1,270 |
| Elk Forest WMA | 4,865 | 16 |
| Redbird WMA | 2,315 | 34 |
| Burchell-Beech Creek WMA | 1,241 | 3 |
| Little Sexton Creek WMA | 609 | 5 |
| Boone Forestlands WMA | 591 | 72 |
482 acres of national forest lie in the county, measured on the federal maps.
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.
Are elk taken in Clay County?
KDFWR's Telecheck reports show elk taken in Clay County in 9 of the last 10 seasons, 4 in 2024-25. The county lies in elk hunting units 2, 3 and 4.
| Season | Elk telechecked | Bulls | Cows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 2023-24 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 2022-23 | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| 2021-22 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 2020-21 | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| 2019-20 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| 2018-19 | 17 | 7 | 10 |
| 2017-18 | 18 | 6 | 12 |
| 2016-17 | 19 | 8 | 11 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), elk. See Kentucky elk hunting.
How does Clay County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | 4 | 926 | 2 | 10% |
| Bell County | 4 | 661 | 1.8 | -7% |
| Jackson County | 3 | 930 | 2.7 | 38% |
| Knox County | 4 | 804 | 2.1 | -10% |
| Laurel County | 3 | 1,593 | 3.7 | 109% |
| Leslie County | 4 | 565 | 1.4 | 21% |
| Owsley County | 4 | 283 | 1.4 | -13% |
| Perry County | 4 | 818 | 2.4 | 27% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Clay County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 926 deer in Clay County in the 2025-26 season: 760 antlered bucks, 17 button bucks and 149 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Clay County in?
Clay County is in Zone 4 for 2026-27. Up to two deer, only one of which can be antlerless. Antlerless deer cannot be taken during the modern gun season, the early muzzleloader season or the first six days of the late muzzleloader season. Only one antlered deer may be taken statewide (KDFWR 2026-27 guide, page 10).
Is there public hunting land in Clay County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts Daniel Boone National Forest (74,350 acres in the county), Elk Forest WMA (4,865 acres in the county), Redbird WMA (2,315 acres in the county) and Burchell-Beech Creek WMA (1,241 acres in the county) in Clay County. The county also holds 482 acres of national forest.
Has the deer harvest in Clay County gone up or down?
From 845 in 2016-17 to 926 in 2025-26, 10% higher. The high in that span was 926 (2025-26) and the low 514 (2017-18).
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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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