Magoffin County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 450 deer in Magoffin County in the 2025-26 season: 377 antlered bucks and 70 does (KDFWR). That is 1.5 deer per square mile of land, 107th of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 11% below 2024-25 (505). The county is in deer Zone 4.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: KDFWR Telecheck reports to the 2025-26 season. Zones and seasons: KDFWR's 2026-27 guide.
Magoffin CountyKDFWR public hunting areasLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 450 (377 antlered bucks, 70 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 1.5, 112th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 365 deer a season |
| Highest season | 505 in 2024-25 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 4 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Northeast region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 344 by firearms, 43 by crossbow, 40 by archery and 23 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 308.4 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 public hunting area, 1,420 acres |
| Elk telechecked | 2 in 2024-25 |
| Towns | Salyersville |
How many deer are killed in Magoffin County each season?
KDFWR has reported Magoffin County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 365 a season; the most was 505 in 2024-25 and the fewest 156 in 2017-18. 2025-26 was 7% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 450 | 377 | 70 | 1.5 | 367 | 83 |
| 2024-25 | 505 | 419 | 83 | 1.6 | 407 | 98 |
| 2023-24 | 496 | 409 | 81 | 1.6 | 425 | 71 |
| 2022-23 | 301 | 238 | 57 | 1 | 255 | 46 |
| 2021-22 | 386 | 325 | 56 | 1.3 | 333 | 53 |
| 2020-21 | 312 | 249 | 54 | 1 | 251 | 61 |
| 2019-20 | 262 | 223 | 36 | 0.8 | 231 | 31 |
| 2018-19 | 358 | 310 | 43 | 1.2 | 321 | 37 |
| 2017-18 | 156 | 121 | 30 | 0.5 | 138 | 18 |
| 2016-17 | 422 | 292 | 118 | 1.4 | 350 | 72 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 308.4 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Magoffin County for 2026-27?
Magoffin County is in Zone 4: Up to two deer, only one of which can be antlerless. Antlerless deer cannot be taken during the modern gun season, the early muzzleloader season or the first six days of the late muzzleloader season. 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 |
| 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 Magoffin County?
| Area | Acres in Magoffin County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| RH Group WMA | 1,420 | 20 |
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 Magoffin County?
KDFWR's Telecheck reports show elk taken in Magoffin County in 6 of the last 10 seasons, 2 in 2024-25. The county lies in elk hunting units 4 and 6.
| Season | Elk telechecked | Bulls | Cows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 2022-23 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2021-22 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020-21 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | 7 | 3 | 4 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), elk. See Kentucky elk hunting.
How does Magoffin County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magoffin County | 4 | 450 | 1.5 | 7% |
| Breathitt County | 4 | 633 | 1.3 | -2% |
| Floyd County | 4 | 881 | 2.2 | -1% |
| Johnson County | 2 | 737 | 2.8 | -18% |
| Knott County | 4 | 714 | 2 | -13% |
| Morgan County | 2 | 715 | 1.9 | -34% |
| Wolfe County | 3 | 373 | 1.7 | -29% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Magoffin County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 450 deer in Magoffin County in the 2025-26 season: 377 antlered bucks, 3 button bucks and 70 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Magoffin County in?
Magoffin County is in Zone 4 for 2026-27. Up to two deer, only one of which can be antlerless. Antlerless deer cannot be taken during the modern gun season, the early muzzleloader season or the first six days of the late muzzleloader season. Only one antlered deer may be taken statewide (KDFWR 2026-27 guide, page 10).
Is there public hunting land in Magoffin County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts RH Group WMA (1,420 acres in the county) in Magoffin County.
Has the deer harvest in Magoffin County gone up or down?
From 422 in 2016-17 to 450 in 2025-26, 7% higher. The high in that span was 505 (2024-25) and the low 156 (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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