Elliott County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 429 deer in Elliott County in the 2025-26 season: 261 antlered bucks and 149 does (KDFWR). That is 1.8 deer per square mile of land, 110th of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 18% below 2024-25 (522). 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.
Elliott CountyKDFWR public hunting areasLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 429 (261 antlered bucks, 149 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 1.8, 106th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 454 deer a season |
| Highest season | 599 in 2016-17 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 2 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Northeast region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 348 by firearms, 37 by archery, 25 by crossbow and 19 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 234.3 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 public hunting areas, 3,216 acres |
| Towns | Sandy Hook |
How many deer are killed in Elliott County each season?
KDFWR has reported Elliott County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 454 a season; the most was 599 in 2016-17 and the fewest 294 in 2017-18. 2025-26 was 28% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 429 | 261 | 149 | 1.8 | 367 | 62 |
| 2024-25 | 522 | 335 | 175 | 2.2 | 430 | 92 |
| 2023-24 | 591 | 360 | 208 | 2.5 | 518 | 73 |
| 2022-23 | 406 | 251 | 141 | 1.7 | 350 | 56 |
| 2021-22 | 446 | 269 | 154 | 1.9 | 361 | 85 |
| 2020-21 | 415 | 247 | 139 | 1.8 | 331 | 84 |
| 2019-20 | 409 | 244 | 154 | 1.7 | 347 | 62 |
| 2018-19 | 433 | 259 | 163 | 1.8 | 386 | 47 |
| 2017-18 | 294 | 155 | 120 | 1.3 | 261 | 33 |
| 2016-17 | 599 | 349 | 230 | 2.6 | 537 | 62 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 234.3 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Elliott County for 2026-27?
Elliott 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 Elliott County?
| Area | Acres in Elliott County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Grayson Lake WMA | 1,730 | 23 |
| Ed Mabry - Laurel Gorge WMA | 1,486 | 6 |
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 Elliott County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elliott County | 2 | 429 | 1.8 | -28% |
| Carter County | 1 | 1,240 | 3 | -26% |
| Lawrence County | 1 | 978 | 2.4 | -37% |
| Morgan County | 2 | 715 | 1.9 | -34% |
| Rowan County | 2 | 543 | 1.9 | -2% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Elliott County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 429 deer in Elliott County in the 2025-26 season: 261 antlered bucks, 19 button bucks and 149 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Elliott County in?
Elliott 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 Elliott County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts Grayson Lake WMA (1,730 acres in the county) and Ed Mabry - Laurel Gorge WMA (1,486 acres in the county) in Elliott County.
Has the deer harvest in Elliott County gone up or down?
From 599 in 2016-17 to 429 in 2025-26, 28% lower. The high in that span was 599 (2016-17) and the low 294 (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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