Martin County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 392 deer in Martin County in the 2025-26 season: 326 antlered bucks and 64 does (KDFWR). That is 1.7 deer per square mile of land, 112th of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 20% above 2024-25 (328). 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.
Martin CountyKDFWR public hunting areasLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 392 (326 antlered bucks, 64 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 1.7, 108th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 286 deer a season |
| Highest season | 396 in 2023-24 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 3 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Northeast region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 277 by firearms, 41 by crossbow, 40 by archery and 34 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 229.6 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 public hunting areas, 35,000 acres |
| Elk telechecked | 12 in 2025-26 |
| Towns | Inez and Warfield |
How many deer are killed in Martin County each season?
KDFWR has reported Martin County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 286 a season; the most was 396 in 2023-24 and the fewest 122 in 2017-18. 2025-26 was 20% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 392 | 326 | 64 | 1.7 | 311 | 81 |
| 2024-25 | 328 | 275 | 45 | 1.4 | 271 | 57 |
| 2023-24 | 396 | 327 | 64 | 1.7 | 332 | 64 |
| 2022-23 | 273 | 229 | 42 | 1.2 | 227 | 46 |
| 2021-22 | 320 | 267 | 46 | 1.4 | 263 | 57 |
| 2020-21 | 253 | 214 | 33 | 1.1 | 213 | 40 |
| 2019-20 | 183 | 168 | 14 | 0.8 | 154 | 29 |
| 2018-19 | 265 | 231 | 29 | 1.2 | 232 | 33 |
| 2017-18 | 122 | 95 | 24 | 0.5 | 102 | 20 |
| 2016-17 | 327 | 249 | 68 | 1.4 | 279 | 48 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 229.6 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Martin County for 2026-27?
Martin 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 Martin County?
| Area | Acres in Martin County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Pocahontas WMA | 23,173 | 38 |
| Legacy WMA | 11,827 | 18 |
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 Martin County?
KDFWR's Telecheck reports show elk taken in Martin County in 10 of the last 10 seasons, 12 in 2025-26. The county lies in elk hunting unit 6.
| Season | Elk telechecked | Bulls | Cows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 12 | 6 | 6 |
| 2024-25 | 29 | 17 | 12 |
| 2023-24 | 35 | 19 | 16 |
| 2022-23 | 22 | 18 | 4 |
| 2021-22 | 29 | 18 | 11 |
| 2020-21 | 26 | 14 | 12 |
| 2019-20 | 29 | 19 | 10 |
| 2018-19 | 50 | 33 | 17 |
| 2017-18 | 42 | 25 | 17 |
| 2016-17 | 53 | 24 | 29 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), elk. See Kentucky elk hunting.
How does Martin County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin County | 3 | 392 | 1.7 | 20% |
| Floyd County | 4 | 881 | 2.2 | -1% |
| Johnson County | 2 | 737 | 2.8 | -18% |
| Lawrence County | 1 | 978 | 2.4 | -37% |
| Pike County | 3 | 1,632 | 2.1 | 8% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Martin County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 392 deer in Martin County in the 2025-26 season: 326 antlered bucks, 2 button bucks and 64 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Martin County in?
Martin 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 Martin County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts Pocahontas WMA (23,173 acres in the county) and Legacy WMA (11,827 acres in the county) in Martin County.
Has the deer harvest in Martin County gone up or down?
From 327 in 2016-17 to 392 in 2025-26, 20% higher. The high in that span was 396 (2023-24) and the low 122 (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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