Jefferson County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 1,169 deer in Jefferson County in the 2025-26 season: 522 antlered bucks and 571 does (KDFWR). That is 3.1 deer per square mile of land, 52nd of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 1% above 2024-25 (1,160). 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.
Jefferson CountyKDFWR public hunting areasLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 1,169 (522 antlered bucks, 571 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.1, 67th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,166 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,318 in 2017-18 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 1 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Bluegrass region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 619 by firearms, 251 by archery, 215 by crossbow and 84 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 380.8 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | No KDFWR public hunting area |
| Towns | Louisville/Jefferson County, Louisville, Jeffersontown, Middletown and Shively |
How many deer are killed in Jefferson County each season?
KDFWR has reported Jefferson County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,166 a season; the most was 1,318 in 2017-18 and the fewest 1,059 in 2023-24. 2025-26 was 10% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,169 | 522 | 571 | 3.1 | 703 | 466 |
| 2024-25 | 1,160 | 561 | 530 | 3 | 705 | 455 |
| 2023-24 | 1,059 | 479 | 517 | 2.8 | 640 | 419 |
| 2022-23 | 1,234 | 526 | 614 | 3.2 | 713 | 521 |
| 2021-22 | 1,131 | 525 | 528 | 3 | 644 | 487 |
| 2020-21 | 1,156 | 509 | 547 | 3 | 604 | 552 |
| 2019-20 | 1,214 | 492 | 621 | 3.2 | 717 | 497 |
| 2018-19 | 1,151 | 474 | 604 | 3 | 758 | 393 |
| 2017-18 | 1,318 | 558 | 670 | 3.5 | 827 | 491 |
| 2016-17 | 1,067 | 457 | 517 | 2.8 | 741 | 326 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 380.8 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Jefferson County for 2026-27?
Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?
No KDFWR public hunting area boundary falls in Jefferson County. The closest with a page here: Knobs State Forest and WMA (about 21 miles), Fort Knox Military Reservation (about 23 miles) and Taylorsville Lake State Park (about 24 miles).
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 Jefferson County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 1 | 1,169 | 3.1 | 10% |
| Bullitt County | 1 | 1,732 | 5.8 | 52% |
| Hardin County | 1 | 3,545 | 5.7 | 43% |
| Oldham County | 1 | 819 | 4.4 | -18% |
| Shelby County | 1 | 2,692 | 7.1 | 3% |
| Spencer County | 1 | 1,986 | 10.6 | 37% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Jefferson County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 1,169 deer in Jefferson County in the 2025-26 season: 522 antlered bucks, 76 button bucks and 571 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Jefferson County in?
Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?
No KDFWR public hunting area boundary falls in Jefferson County. The closest with a page here: Knobs State Forest and WMA (about 21 miles), Fort Knox Military Reservation (about 23 miles) and Taylorsville Lake State Park (about 24 miles).
Has the deer harvest in Jefferson County gone up or down?
From 1,067 in 2016-17 to 1,169 in 2025-26, 10% higher. The high in that span was 1,318 (2017-18) and the low 1,059 (2023-24).
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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 Bullitt County Hardin County Oldham County Shelby County