Jessamine County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 548 deer in Jessamine County in the 2025-26 season: 314 antlered bucks and 204 does (KDFWR). That is 3.2 deer per square mile of land, 101st of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 14% above 2024-25 (482). The county is in deer Zone 2.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: KDFWR Telecheck reports to the 2025-26 season. Zones and seasons: KDFWR's 2026-27 guide.
Jessamine CountyLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 548 (314 antlered bucks, 204 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.2, 64th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 455 deer a season |
| Highest season | 548 in 2025-26 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 2 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Bluegrass region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 338 by firearms, 96 by crossbow, 84 by archery and 30 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 172.1 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | No KDFWR public hunting area |
| Towns | Nicholasville, Wilmore and Keene |
How many deer are killed in Jessamine County each season?
KDFWR has reported Jessamine County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 455 a season; the most was 548 in 2025-26 and the fewest 421 in 2022-23. 2025-26 was 27% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 548 | 314 | 204 | 3.2 | 368 | 180 |
| 2024-25 | 482 | 261 | 199 | 2.8 | 365 | 117 |
| 2023-24 | 454 | 245 | 193 | 2.6 | 323 | 131 |
| 2022-23 | 421 | 217 | 180 | 2.4 | 305 | 116 |
| 2021-22 | 447 | 220 | 201 | 2.6 | 322 | 125 |
| 2020-21 | 425 | 214 | 192 | 2.5 | 309 | 116 |
| 2019-20 | 465 | 237 | 207 | 2.7 | 369 | 96 |
| 2018-19 | 440 | 238 | 178 | 2.6 | 359 | 81 |
| 2017-18 | 436 | 241 | 176 | 2.5 | 350 | 86 |
| 2016-17 | 433 | 232 | 169 | 2.5 | 363 | 70 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 172.1 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Jessamine County for 2026-27?
Jessamine County is in Zone 2: Up to four deer. 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 Jessamine County?
No KDFWR public hunting area boundary falls in Jessamine County. The closest with a page here: Blue Grass Army Depot (about 23 miles), Dix River WMA (about 27 miles) and Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA (about 27 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 Jessamine County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jessamine County | 2 | 548 | 3.2 | 27% |
| Fayette County | 2 | 246 | 0.9 | 0% |
| Garrard County | 2 | 673 | 2.9 | 74% |
| Madison County | 2 | 958 | 2.2 | 43% |
| Mercer County | 1 | 1,373 | 5.5 | 30% |
| Woodford County | 1 | 618 | 3.3 | -15% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Jessamine County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 548 deer in Jessamine County in the 2025-26 season: 314 antlered bucks, 30 button bucks and 204 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Jessamine County in?
Jessamine County is in Zone 2 for 2026-27. Up to four deer. Only one antlered deer may be taken statewide (KDFWR 2026-27 guide, page 10).
Is there public hunting land in Jessamine County?
No KDFWR public hunting area boundary falls in Jessamine County. The closest with a page here: Blue Grass Army Depot (about 23 miles), Dix River WMA (about 27 miles) and Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA (about 27 miles).
Has the deer harvest in Jessamine County gone up or down?
From 433 in 2016-17 to 548 in 2025-26, 27% higher. The high in that span was 548 (2025-26) and the low 421 (2022-23).
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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 Fayette County Garrard County Madison County Mercer County