Fulton County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 372 deer in Fulton County in the 2025-26 season: 188 antlered bucks and 165 does (KDFWR). That is 1.8 deer per square mile of land, 115th of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 5% below 2024-25 (391). 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.
Fulton CountyKDFWR public hunting areasNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 372 (188 antlered bucks, 165 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 1.8, 107th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 407 deer a season |
| Highest season | 539 in 2016-17 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 1 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Purchase region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 307 by firearms, 44 by muzzleloader, 11 by archery and 10 by crossbow |
| Land area | 205.9 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 public hunting areas, 5,124 acres; 2,053 acres of national wildlife refuge |
| Towns | Hickman and Fulton |
How many deer are killed in Fulton County each season?
KDFWR has reported Fulton County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 407 a season; the most was 539 in 2016-17 and the fewest 300 in 2021-22. 2025-26 was 31% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 372 | 188 | 165 | 1.8 | 351 | 21 |
| 2024-25 | 391 | 178 | 195 | 1.9 | 373 | 18 |
| 2023-24 | 388 | 189 | 186 | 1.9 | 369 | 19 |
| 2022-23 | 347 | 184 | 144 | 1.7 | 330 | 17 |
| 2021-22 | 300 | 161 | 121 | 1.5 | 276 | 24 |
| 2020-21 | 404 | 208 | 175 | 2 | 370 | 34 |
| 2019-20 | 372 | 186 | 174 | 1.8 | 332 | 40 |
| 2018-19 | 449 | 215 | 211 | 2.2 | 416 | 33 |
| 2017-18 | 505 | 237 | 249 | 2.5 | 465 | 40 |
| 2016-17 | 539 | 271 | 243 | 2.6 | 507 | 32 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 205.9 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Fulton County for 2026-27?
Fulton 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 Fulton County?
| Area | Acres in Fulton County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Obion Creek WMA | 3,082 | 35 |
| Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge | 2,042 | 1 |
2,053 acres of national wildlife refuge 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.
How does Fulton County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulton County | 1 | 372 | 1.8 | -31% |
| Hickman County | 1 | 552 | 2.3 | -30% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Fulton County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 372 deer in Fulton County in the 2025-26 season: 188 antlered bucks, 19 button bucks and 165 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Fulton County in?
Fulton 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 Fulton County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts Obion Creek WMA (3,082 acres in the county) and Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge (2,042 acres in the county) in Fulton County.
Has the deer harvest in Fulton County gone up or down?
From 539 in 2016-17 to 372 in 2025-26, 31% lower. The high in that span was 539 (2016-17) and the low 300 (2021-22).
Get a Kentucky hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Kentucky are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Kentucky included.
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 Hickman County