Hopkins County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 2,486 deer in Hopkins County in the 2025-26 season: 1,265 antlered bucks and 1,103 does (KDFWR). That is 4.6 deer per square mile of land, 10th of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 3% below 2024-25 (2,563). 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.
Hopkins CountyKDFWR public hunting areasLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 2,486 (1,265 antlered bucks, 1,103 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.6, 39th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,633 deer a season |
| Highest season | 2,990 in 2019-20 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 1 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Green River region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 1,695 by firearms, 360 by archery, 305 by crossbow and 126 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 542.2 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 4 public hunting areas, 8,259 acres |
| Towns | Madisonville, Dawson Springs, White Plains, Earlington and Hanson |
How many deer are killed in Hopkins County each season?
KDFWR has reported Hopkins County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 2,633 a season; the most was 2,990 in 2019-20 and the fewest 2,266 in 2021-22. 2025-26 was 3% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,486 | 1,265 | 1,103 | 4.6 | 1,821 | 665 |
| 2024-25 | 2,563 | 1,253 | 1,189 | 4.7 | 1,946 | 617 |
| 2023-24 | 2,491 | 1,210 | 1,156 | 4.6 | 1,880 | 611 |
| 2022-23 | 2,611 | 1,216 | 1,259 | 4.8 | 1,994 | 617 |
| 2021-22 | 2,266 | 1,072 | 1,089 | 4.2 | 1,707 | 559 |
| 2020-21 | 2,741 | 1,188 | 1,413 | 5.1 | 2,000 | 741 |
| 2019-20 | 2,990 | 1,292 | 1,533 | 5.5 | 2,321 | 669 |
| 2018-19 | 2,800 | 1,263 | 1,371 | 5.2 | 2,299 | 501 |
| 2017-18 | 2,833 | 1,269 | 1,406 | 5.2 | 2,251 | 582 |
| 2016-17 | 2,553 | 1,194 | 1,203 | 4.7 | 2,070 | 483 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 542.2 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Hopkins County for 2026-27?
Hopkins 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 Hopkins County?
| Area | Acres in Hopkins County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Peabody WMA | 5,315 | 575 |
| Harris-Dickerson WMA | 1,805 | 19 |
| Clear Creek WMA | 858 | 2 |
| Tradewater WMA | 281 | 2 |
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 Hopkins County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hopkins County | 1 | 2,486 | 4.6 | -3% |
| Caldwell County | 1 | 1,698 | 4.9 | 0% |
| Christian County | 1 | 3,002 | 4.2 | 8% |
| McLean County | 1 | 883 | 3.5 | -11% |
| Muhlenberg County | 1 | 1,986 | 4.2 | 3% |
| Webster County | 1 | 1,629 | 4.9 | -30% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Hopkins County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 2,486 deer in Hopkins County in the 2025-26 season: 1,265 antlered bucks, 118 button bucks and 1,103 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Hopkins County in?
Hopkins 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 Hopkins County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts Peabody WMA (5,315 acres in the county), Harris-Dickerson WMA (1,805 acres in the county), Clear Creek WMA (858 acres in the county) and Tradewater WMA (281 acres in the county) in Hopkins County.
Has the deer harvest in Hopkins County gone up or down?
From 2,553 in 2016-17 to 2,486 in 2025-26, 3% lower. The high in that span was 2,990 (2019-20) and the low 2,266 (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 Caldwell County Christian County McLean County Muhlenberg County