Jackson County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 930 deer in Jackson County in the 2025-26 season: 690 antlered bucks and 212 does (KDFWR). That is 2.7 deer per square mile of land, 67th of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 2% below 2024-25 (947). The county is in deer Zone 3.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: KDFWR Telecheck reports to the 2025-26 season. Zones and seasons: KDFWR's 2026-27 guide.
Jackson CountyKDFWR public hunting areasNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 930 (690 antlered bucks, 212 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 2.7, 76th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 716 deer a season |
| Highest season | 947 in 2024-25 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 3 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Southeast region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 651 by firearms, 119 by crossbow, 97 by archery and 63 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 345.2 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 3 public hunting areas, 59,769 acres; 290 acres of national forest |
| Towns | McKee |
How many deer are killed in Jackson County each season?
KDFWR has reported Jackson County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 716 a season; the most was 947 in 2024-25 and the fewest 544 in 2017-18. 2025-26 was 38% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 930 | 690 | 212 | 2.7 | 714 | 216 |
| 2024-25 | 947 | 713 | 204 | 2.7 | 745 | 202 |
| 2023-24 | 747 | 579 | 144 | 2.2 | 595 | 152 |
| 2022-23 | 763 | 568 | 181 | 2.2 | 602 | 161 |
| 2021-22 | 618 | 479 | 122 | 1.8 | 470 | 148 |
| 2020-21 | 621 | 448 | 156 | 1.8 | 446 | 175 |
| 2019-20 | 634 | 512 | 109 | 1.8 | 517 | 117 |
| 2018-19 | 680 | 506 | 161 | 2 | 546 | 134 |
| 2017-18 | 544 | 381 | 149 | 1.6 | 428 | 116 |
| 2016-17 | 674 | 462 | 195 | 2 | 513 | 161 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 345.2 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Jackson County for 2026-27?
Jackson County is in Zone 3: Up to four deer. Only one antlerless deer with a firearm or air gun. 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 Jackson County?
| Area | Acres in Jackson County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Boone National Forest | 46,254 | 1,270 |
| Mill Creek WMA | 13,011 | 10 |
| Little Sexton Creek WMA | 504 | 5 |
290 acres of national forest 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 Jackson County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | 3 | 930 | 2.7 | 38% |
| Clay County | 4 | 926 | 2 | 10% |
| Estill County | 3 | 643 | 2.5 | 24% |
| Laurel County | 3 | 1,593 | 3.7 | 109% |
| Lee County | 4 | 311 | 1.5 | -13% |
| Madison County | 2 | 958 | 2.2 | 43% |
| Owsley County | 4 | 283 | 1.4 | -13% |
| Rockcastle County | 3 | 737 | 2.3 | 66% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Jackson County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 930 deer in Jackson County in the 2025-26 season: 690 antlered bucks, 28 button bucks and 212 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Jackson County in?
Jackson County is in Zone 3 for 2026-27. Up to four deer. Only one antlerless deer with a firearm or air gun. Only one antlered deer may be taken statewide (KDFWR 2026-27 guide, page 10).
Is there public hunting land in Jackson County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts Daniel Boone National Forest (46,254 acres in the county), Mill Creek WMA (13,011 acres in the county) and Little Sexton Creek WMA (504 acres in the county) in Jackson County. The county also holds 290 acres of national forest.
Has the deer harvest in Jackson County gone up or down?
From 674 in 2016-17 to 930 in 2025-26, 38% higher. The high in that span was 947 (2024-25) and the low 544 (2017-18).
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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.
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