Clinton County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 483 deer in Clinton County in the 2025-26 season: 377 antlered bucks and 100 does (KDFWR). That is 2.5 deer per square mile of land, 105th of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 10% below 2024-25 (536). The county is in deer Zone 3.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: KDFWR Telecheck reports to the 2025-26 season. Zones and seasons: KDFWR's 2026-27 guide.
Clinton CountyKDFWR public hunting areasNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 483 (377 antlered bucks, 100 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 2.5, 81st of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 410 deer a season |
| Highest season | 536 in 2024-25 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 3 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Southeast region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 349 by firearms, 60 by archery, 45 by crossbow and 29 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 197.1 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 3 public hunting areas, 8,592 acres |
| Elk telechecked | 1 in 2023-24 |
| Towns | Albany |
How many deer are killed in Clinton County each season?
KDFWR has reported Clinton County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 410 a season; the most was 536 in 2024-25 and the fewest 305 in 2021-22. 2025-26 was 29% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 483 | 377 | 100 | 2.5 | 378 | 105 |
| 2024-25 | 536 | 387 | 139 | 2.7 | 391 | 145 |
| 2023-24 | 396 | 300 | 88 | 2 | 281 | 115 |
| 2022-23 | 466 | 323 | 137 | 2.4 | 318 | 148 |
| 2021-22 | 305 | 241 | 62 | 1.5 | 237 | 68 |
| 2020-21 | 422 | 304 | 110 | 2.1 | 316 | 106 |
| 2019-20 | 347 | 283 | 60 | 1.8 | 290 | 57 |
| 2018-19 | 381 | 302 | 73 | 1.9 | 299 | 82 |
| 2017-18 | 387 | 269 | 105 | 2 | 277 | 110 |
| 2016-17 | 375 | 277 | 89 | 1.9 | 271 | 104 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 197.1 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Clinton County for 2026-27?
Clinton County is in Zone 3: Up to four deer. Only one antlerless deer with a firearm or air gun. 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 Clinton County?
| Area | Acres in Clinton County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Cumberland WMA | 4,745 | 155 |
| Dale Hollow Lake WMA | 2,939 | 11 |
| Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park | 908 | 27 |
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 Clinton County?
KDFWR's Telecheck reports show elk taken in Clinton County in 1 of the last 10 seasons, 1 in 2023-24.
| Season | Elk telechecked | Bulls | Cows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), elk. See Kentucky elk hunting.
How does Clinton County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton County | 3 | 483 | 2.5 | 29% |
| Cumberland County | 2 | 998 | 3.3 | 9% |
| Russell County | 3 | 597 | 2.4 | 90% |
| Wayne County | 3 | 1,057 | 2.3 | 24% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Clinton County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 483 deer in Clinton County in the 2025-26 season: 377 antlered bucks, 6 button bucks and 100 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Clinton County in?
Clinton County is in Zone 3 for 2026-27. Up to four deer. Only one antlerless deer with a firearm or air gun. Only one antlered deer may be taken statewide (KDFWR 2026-27 guide, page 10).
Is there public hunting land in Clinton County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts Lake Cumberland WMA (4,745 acres in the county), Dale Hollow Lake WMA (2,939 acres in the county) and Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park (908 acres in the county) in Clinton County.
Has the deer harvest in Clinton County gone up or down?
From 375 in 2016-17 to 483 in 2025-26, 29% higher. The high in that span was 536 (2024-25) and the low 305 (2021-22).
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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 Cumberland County Russell County Wayne County