McCracken County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 863 deer in McCracken County in the 2025-26 season: 400 antlered bucks and 417 does (KDFWR). That is 3.5 deer per square mile of land, 73rd of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 11% above 2024-25 (780). 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.
McCracken CountyKDFWR public hunting areasNational forestNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 863 (400 antlered bucks, 417 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.5, 55th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 876 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,030 in 2022-23 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 1 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Purchase region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 623 by firearms, 105 by archery, 94 by crossbow and 41 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 248.8 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 public hunting areas, 8,039 acres; 3,502 acres of national wildlife refuge |
| Towns | Paducah |
How many deer are killed in McCracken County each season?
KDFWR has reported McCracken County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 876 a season; the most was 1,030 in 2022-23 and the fewest 780 in 2024-25. 2025-26 was 7% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 863 | 400 | 417 | 3.5 | 664 | 199 |
| 2024-25 | 780 | 365 | 362 | 3.1 | 630 | 150 |
| 2023-24 | 953 | 442 | 458 | 3.8 | 744 | 209 |
| 2022-23 | 1,030 | 434 | 526 | 4.1 | 818 | 212 |
| 2021-22 | 832 | 369 | 408 | 3.3 | 654 | 178 |
| 2020-21 | 898 | 408 | 439 | 3.6 | 666 | 232 |
| 2019-20 | 919 | 397 | 471 | 3.7 | 725 | 194 |
| 2018-19 | 854 | 375 | 429 | 3.4 | 691 | 163 |
| 2017-18 | 818 | 365 | 401 | 3.3 | 641 | 177 |
| 2016-17 | 809 | 386 | 390 | 3.3 | 656 | 153 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 248.8 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in McCracken County for 2026-27?
McCracken 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 McCracken County?
| Area | Acres in McCracken County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| West Kentucky WMA | 4,495 | 54 |
| Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge | 3,544 | 119 |
3,502 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 McCracken County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McCracken County | 1 | 863 | 3.5 | 7% |
| Ballard County | 1 | 575 | 2.3 | -17% |
| Carlisle County | 1 | 628 | 3.3 | -10% |
| Graves County | 1 | 2,698 | 4.9 | -6% |
| Livingston County | 1 | 1,597 | 5.1 | -9% |
| Marshall County | 1 | 1,201 | 4 | -1% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in McCracken County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 863 deer in McCracken County in the 2025-26 season: 400 antlered bucks, 46 button bucks and 417 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is McCracken County in?
McCracken 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 McCracken County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts West Kentucky WMA (4,495 acres in the county) and Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge (3,544 acres in the county) in McCracken County.
Has the deer harvest in McCracken County gone up or down?
From 809 in 2016-17 to 863 in 2025-26, 7% higher. The high in that span was 1,030 (2022-23) and the low 780 (2024-25).
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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 Ballard County Carlisle County Graves County Livingston County