Lincoln County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 1,491 deer in Lincoln County in the 2025-26 season: 746 antlered bucks and 653 does (KDFWR). That is 4.5 deer per square mile of land, 38th of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 1% above 2024-25 (1,473). 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.
Lincoln CountyKDFWR public hunting areasLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 1,491 (746 antlered bucks, 653 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.5, 40th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,216 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,491 in 2025-26 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 2 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Southeast region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 1,103 by firearms, 157 by archery, 135 by crossbow and 96 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 332.9 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 public hunting areas, 1,197 acres |
| Elk telechecked | 1 in 2024-25 |
| Towns | Stanford, Crab Orchard and Hustonville |
How many deer are killed in Lincoln County each season?
KDFWR has reported Lincoln County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,216 a season; the most was 1,491 in 2025-26 and the fewest 942 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 58% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,491 | 746 | 653 | 4.5 | 1,199 | 292 |
| 2024-25 | 1,473 | 695 | 684 | 4.4 | 1,127 | 346 |
| 2023-24 | 1,320 | 632 | 621 | 4 | 1,086 | 234 |
| 2022-23 | 1,288 | 591 | 602 | 3.9 | 1,019 | 269 |
| 2021-22 | 1,018 | 447 | 485 | 3.1 | 811 | 207 |
| 2020-21 | 1,153 | 501 | 598 | 3.5 | 896 | 257 |
| 2019-20 | 1,272 | 562 | 635 | 3.8 | 1,074 | 198 |
| 2018-19 | 1,153 | 539 | 548 | 3.5 | 949 | 204 |
| 2017-18 | 1,053 | 509 | 489 | 3.2 | 857 | 196 |
| 2016-17 | 942 | 448 | 442 | 2.8 | 762 | 180 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 332.9 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Lincoln County for 2026-27?
Lincoln 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 Lincoln County?
| Area | Acres in Lincoln County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Creek Lake WMA | 796 | 14 |
| Dix River WMA | 401 | 13 |
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 Lincoln County?
KDFWR's Telecheck reports show elk taken in Lincoln County in 1 of the last 10 seasons, 1 in 2024-25.
| Season | Elk telechecked | Bulls | Cows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), elk. See Kentucky elk hunting.
How does Lincoln County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | 2 | 1,491 | 4.5 | 58% |
| Boyle County | 2 | 521 | 2.9 | 49% |
| Casey County | 2 | 1,428 | 3.2 | 55% |
| Garrard County | 2 | 673 | 2.9 | 74% |
| Pulaski County | 3 | 2,359 | 3.6 | 61% |
| Rockcastle County | 3 | 737 | 2.3 | 66% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Lincoln County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 1,491 deer in Lincoln County in the 2025-26 season: 746 antlered bucks, 92 button bucks and 653 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Lincoln County in?
Lincoln 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 Lincoln County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts Cedar Creek Lake WMA (796 acres in the county) and Dix River WMA (401 acres in the county) in Lincoln County.
Has the deer harvest in Lincoln County gone up or down?
From 942 in 2016-17 to 1,491 in 2025-26, 58% higher. The high in that span was 1,491 (2025-26) and the low 942 (2016-17).
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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 Boyle County Casey County Garrard County Pulaski County