Laurel County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 1,593 deer in Laurel County in the 2025-26 season: 763 antlered bucks and 741 does (KDFWR). That is 3.7 deer per square mile of land, 35th of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 1% above 2024-25 (1,576). 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.
Laurel CountyKDFWR public hunting areasNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 1,593 (763 antlered bucks, 741 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.7, 52nd of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,243 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,593 in 2025-26 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 3 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Southeast region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 1,053 by firearms, 244 by archery, 217 by crossbow and 79 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 433.7 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 public hunting areas, 63,363 acres; 208 acres of national forest |
| Elk telechecked | 1 in 2021-22 |
| Towns | London |
How many deer are killed in Laurel County each season?
KDFWR has reported Laurel County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,243 a season; the most was 1,593 in 2025-26 and the fewest 710 in 2017-18. 2025-26 was 109% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,593 | 763 | 741 | 3.7 | 1,132 | 461 |
| 2024-25 | 1,576 | 777 | 703 | 3.6 | 1,124 | 452 |
| 2023-24 | 1,367 | 685 | 627 | 3.2 | 985 | 382 |
| 2022-23 | 1,375 | 655 | 632 | 3.2 | 957 | 418 |
| 2021-22 | 1,146 | 544 | 537 | 2.6 | 840 | 306 |
| 2020-21 | 1,260 | 517 | 662 | 2.9 | 907 | 353 |
| 2019-20 | 1,232 | 564 | 603 | 2.8 | 940 | 292 |
| 2018-19 | 1,410 | 660 | 697 | 3.3 | 1,118 | 292 |
| 2017-18 | 710 | 457 | 227 | 1.6 | 483 | 227 |
| 2016-17 | 762 | 512 | 216 | 1.8 | 515 | 247 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 433.7 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Laurel County for 2026-27?
Laurel 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 Laurel County?
| Area | Acres in Laurel County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Boone National Forest | 56,687 | 1,270 |
| Cane Creek WMA | 6,676 | 21 |
208 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.
Are elk taken in Laurel County?
KDFWR's Telecheck reports show elk taken in Laurel County in 1 of the last 10 seasons, 1 in 2021-22.
| Season | Elk telechecked | Bulls | Cows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), elk. See Kentucky elk hunting.
How does Laurel County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel County | 3 | 1,593 | 3.7 | 109% |
| Clay County | 4 | 926 | 2 | 10% |
| Jackson County | 3 | 930 | 2.7 | 38% |
| Knox County | 4 | 804 | 2.1 | -10% |
| McCreary County | 4 | 441 | 1 | -12% |
| Pulaski County | 3 | 2,359 | 3.6 | 61% |
| Rockcastle County | 3 | 737 | 2.3 | 66% |
| Whitley County | 4 | 1,086 | 2.5 | 11% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Laurel County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 1,593 deer in Laurel County in the 2025-26 season: 763 antlered bucks, 89 button bucks and 741 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Laurel County in?
Laurel 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 Laurel County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts Daniel Boone National Forest (56,687 acres in the county) and Cane Creek WMA (6,676 acres in the county) in Laurel County. The county also holds 208 acres of national forest.
Has the deer harvest in Laurel County gone up or down?
From 762 in 2016-17 to 1,593 in 2025-26, 109% higher. The high in that span was 1,593 (2025-26) and the low 710 (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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