Hardin County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 3,545 deer in Hardin County in the 2025-26 season: 1,548 antlered bucks and 1,733 does (KDFWR). That is 5.7 deer per square mile of land, 1st of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 10% above 2024-25 (3,228). 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.
Hardin CountyKDFWR public hunting areasLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 3,545 (1,548 antlered bucks, 1,733 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 5.7, 19th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 3,332 deer a season |
| Highest season | 3,879 in 2019-20 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 1 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Green River region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 2,501 by firearms, 398 by archery, 354 by crossbow and 292 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 623.9 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 public hunting areas, 58,816 acres |
| Towns | Elizabethtown, Radcliff, Vine Grove, West Point and Sonora |
How many deer are killed in Hardin County each season?
KDFWR has reported Hardin County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 3,332 a season; the most was 3,879 in 2019-20 and the fewest 2,480 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 43% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 3,545 | 1,548 | 1,733 | 5.7 | 2,793 | 752 |
| 2024-25 | 3,228 | 1,614 | 1,395 | 5.2 | 2,554 | 674 |
| 2023-24 | 3,450 | 1,681 | 1,546 | 5.5 | 2,717 | 733 |
| 2022-23 | 3,393 | 1,530 | 1,612 | 5.4 | 2,634 | 759 |
| 2021-22 | 3,172 | 1,482 | 1,472 | 5.1 | 2,479 | 693 |
| 2020-21 | 3,478 | 1,602 | 1,651 | 5.6 | 2,641 | 837 |
| 2019-20 | 3,879 | 1,635 | 1,925 | 6.2 | 3,093 | 786 |
| 2018-19 | 3,318 | 1,479 | 1,634 | 5.3 | 2,716 | 602 |
| 2017-18 | 3,374 | 1,563 | 1,584 | 5.4 | 2,796 | 578 |
| 2016-17 | 2,480 | 1,156 | 1,164 | 4 | 2,118 | 362 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 623.9 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Hardin County for 2026-27?
Hardin 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 Hardin County?
| Area | Acres in Hardin County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Knox Military Reservation | 58,716 | 812 |
| Rough River Lake WMA | 100 | 49 |
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 Hardin County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardin County | 1 | 3,545 | 5.7 | 43% |
| Breckinridge County | 1 | 3,091 | 5.4 | 18% |
| Bullitt County | 1 | 1,732 | 5.8 | 52% |
| Grayson County | 1 | 2,318 | 4.6 | 7% |
| Hart County | 1 | 2,817 | 6.8 | 44% |
| Jefferson County | 1 | 1,169 | 3.1 | 10% |
| LaRue County | 1 | 1,059 | 4.1 | 13% |
| Meade County | 1 | 1,575 | 5.2 | 35% |
| Nelson County | 1 | 2,591 | 6.2 | 33% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Hardin County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 3,545 deer in Hardin County in the 2025-26 season: 1,548 antlered bucks, 264 button bucks and 1,733 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Hardin County in?
Hardin 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 Hardin County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts Fort Knox Military Reservation (58,716 acres in the county) and Rough River Lake WMA (100 acres in the county) in Hardin County.
Has the deer harvest in Hardin County gone up or down?
From 2,480 in 2016-17 to 3,545 in 2025-26, 43% higher. The high in that span was 3,879 (2019-20) and the low 2,480 (2016-17).
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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 Breckinridge County Bullitt County Grayson County Hart County