Lewis County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 1,289 deer in Lewis County in the 2025-26 season: 741 antlered bucks and 477 does (KDFWR). That is 2.7 deer per square mile of land, 45th of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was within 1% of 2024-25 (1,292). 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.
Lewis CountyKDFWR public hunting areasNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 1,289 (741 antlered bucks, 477 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 2.7, 77th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,230 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,458 in 2016-17 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 1 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Northeast region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 1,037 by firearms, 105 by archery, 84 by crossbow and 63 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 482.9 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 3 public hunting areas, 1,177 acres; 379 acres of national wildlife refuge |
| Towns | Vanceburg and Concord |
How many deer are killed in Lewis County each season?
KDFWR has reported Lewis County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,230 a season; the most was 1,458 in 2016-17 and the fewest 1,011 in 2020-21. 2025-26 was 12% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,289 | 741 | 477 | 2.7 | 1,100 | 189 |
| 2024-25 | 1,292 | 741 | 480 | 2.7 | 1,083 | 209 |
| 2023-24 | 1,171 | 644 | 464 | 2.4 | 1,002 | 169 |
| 2022-23 | 1,344 | 721 | 546 | 2.8 | 1,137 | 207 |
| 2021-22 | 1,104 | 630 | 414 | 2.3 | 893 | 211 |
| 2020-21 | 1,011 | 558 | 411 | 2.1 | 827 | 184 |
| 2019-20 | 1,081 | 580 | 441 | 2.2 | 952 | 129 |
| 2018-19 | 1,344 | 610 | 622 | 2.8 | 1,200 | 144 |
| 2017-18 | 1,204 | 640 | 489 | 2.5 | 1,063 | 141 |
| 2016-17 | 1,458 | 734 | 641 | 3 | 1,290 | 168 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 482.9 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Lewis County for 2026-27?
Lewis 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 Lewis County?
| Area | Acres in Lewis County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Old Trace Creek WMA | 769 | 6 |
| Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge | 376 | 0 |
| Daniel Boone National Forest | 32 | 1,270 |
379 acres of national wildlife refuge 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 Lewis County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis County | 1 | 1,289 | 2.7 | -12% |
| Carter County | 1 | 1,240 | 3 | -26% |
| Fleming County | 2 | 1,051 | 3 | 7% |
| Greenup County | 1 | 1,007 | 2.9 | -15% |
| Mason County | 1 | 990 | 4.1 | -3% |
| Rowan County | 2 | 543 | 1.9 | -2% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Lewis County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 1,289 deer in Lewis County in the 2025-26 season: 741 antlered bucks, 71 button bucks and 477 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Lewis County in?
Lewis 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 Lewis County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts Old Trace Creek WMA (769 acres in the county), Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge (376 acres in the county) and Daniel Boone National Forest (32 acres in the county) in Lewis County.
Has the deer harvest in Lewis County gone up or down?
From 1,458 in 2016-17 to 1,289 in 2025-26, 12% lower. The high in that span was 1,458 (2016-17) and the low 1,011 (2020-21).
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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 Carter County Fleming County Greenup County Mason County