Gallatin County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 425 deer in Gallatin County in the 2025-26 season: 195 antlered bucks and 187 does (KDFWR). That is 4.3 deer per square mile of land, 111th of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 35% below 2024-25 (653). 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.
Gallatin CountyKDFWR public hunting areasNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 425 (195 antlered bucks, 187 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.3, 42nd of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 745 deer a season |
| Highest season | 902 in 2016-17 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 1 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Bluegrass region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 317 by firearms, 39 by archery, 36 by muzzleloader and 33 by crossbow |
| Land area | 98.3 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 public hunting area, 398 acres |
| Towns | Sparta, Glencoe and Warsaw |
How many deer are killed in Gallatin County each season?
KDFWR has reported Gallatin County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 745 a season; the most was 902 in 2016-17 and the fewest 425 in 2025-26. 2025-26 was 53% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 425 | 195 | 187 | 4.3 | 353 | 72 |
| 2024-25 | 653 | 307 | 303 | 6.6 | 529 | 124 |
| 2023-24 | 614 | 255 | 314 | 6.2 | 512 | 102 |
| 2022-23 | 776 | 325 | 394 | 7.9 | 647 | 129 |
| 2021-22 | 778 | 345 | 375 | 7.9 | 662 | 116 |
| 2020-21 | 717 | 254 | 401 | 7.3 | 586 | 131 |
| 2019-20 | 842 | 333 | 448 | 8.6 | 723 | 119 |
| 2018-19 | 864 | 353 | 444 | 8.8 | 739 | 125 |
| 2017-18 | 883 | 392 | 415 | 9 | 752 | 131 |
| 2016-17 | 902 | 391 | 439 | 9.2 | 762 | 140 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 98.3 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Gallatin County for 2026-27?
Gallatin 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 Gallatin County?
| Area | Acres in Gallatin County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Stephens Creek WMA | 398 | 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 Gallatin County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallatin County | 1 | 425 | 4.3 | -53% |
| Boone County | 1 | 1,256 | 5.1 | -37% |
| Carroll County | 1 | 726 | 5.6 | -9% |
| Grant County | 1 | 1,850 | 7.2 | -21% |
| Owen County | 1 | 2,214 | 6.3 | -29% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Gallatin County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 425 deer in Gallatin County in the 2025-26 season: 195 antlered bucks, 43 button bucks and 187 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Gallatin County in?
Gallatin 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 Gallatin County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts Stephens Creek WMA (398 acres in the county) in Gallatin County.
Has the deer harvest in Gallatin County gone up or down?
From 902 in 2016-17 to 425 in 2025-26, 53% lower. The high in that span was 902 (2016-17) and the low 425 (2025-26).
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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 Boone County Carroll County Grant County Owen County