Hickman County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 552 deer in Hickman County in the 2025-26 season: 280 antlered bucks and 251 does (KDFWR). That is 2.3 deer per square mile of land, 99th of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 3% above 2024-25 (537). 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.
Hickman CountyKDFWR public hunting areasLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 552 (280 antlered bucks, 251 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 2.3, 90th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 649 deer a season |
| Highest season | 864 in 2018-19 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 1 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Purchase region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 478 by firearms, 39 by muzzleloader, 25 by archery and 10 by crossbow |
| Land area | 242.3 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 public hunting areas, 2,567 acres |
| Towns | Clinton and Columbus |
How many deer are killed in Hickman County each season?
KDFWR has reported Hickman County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 649 a season; the most was 864 in 2018-19 and the fewest 463 in 2021-22. 2025-26 was 30% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 552 | 280 | 251 | 2.3 | 517 | 35 |
| 2024-25 | 537 | 280 | 226 | 2.2 | 492 | 45 |
| 2023-24 | 509 | 247 | 239 | 2.1 | 462 | 47 |
| 2022-23 | 505 | 222 | 254 | 2.1 | 463 | 42 |
| 2021-22 | 463 | 235 | 209 | 1.9 | 418 | 45 |
| 2020-21 | 704 | 343 | 338 | 2.9 | 601 | 103 |
| 2019-20 | 797 | 353 | 417 | 3.3 | 715 | 82 |
| 2018-19 | 864 | 341 | 473 | 3.6 | 787 | 77 |
| 2017-18 | 765 | 339 | 375 | 3.2 | 693 | 72 |
| 2016-17 | 791 | 362 | 394 | 3.3 | 721 | 70 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 242.3 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Hickman County for 2026-27?
Hickman 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 Hickman County?
| Area | Acres in Hickman County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Obion Creek WMA | 2,059 | 35 |
| Doug Travis WMA | 508 | 21 |
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 Hickman County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickman County | 1 | 552 | 2.3 | -30% |
| Carlisle County | 1 | 628 | 3.3 | -10% |
| Fulton County | 1 | 372 | 1.8 | -31% |
| Graves County | 1 | 2,698 | 4.9 | -6% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Hickman County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 552 deer in Hickman County in the 2025-26 season: 280 antlered bucks, 21 button bucks and 251 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Hickman County in?
Hickman 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 Hickman County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts Obion Creek WMA (2,059 acres in the county) and Doug Travis WMA (508 acres in the county) in Hickman County.
Has the deer harvest in Hickman County gone up or down?
From 791 in 2016-17 to 552 in 2025-26, 30% lower. The high in that span was 864 (2018-19) and the low 463 (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 Carlisle County Fulton County Graves County