McCreary County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 441 deer in McCreary County in the 2025-26 season: 340 antlered bucks and 86 does (KDFWR). That is 1 deer per square mile of land, 109th of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 12% below 2024-25 (503). 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.
McCreary CountyKDFWR public hunting areasNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 441 (340 antlered bucks, 86 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 1, 119th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 423 deer a season |
| Highest season | 507 in 2022-23 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 4 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Southeast region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 264 by firearms, 101 by crossbow, 53 by archery and 23 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 426.7 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 6 public hunting areas, 174,628 acres; 703 acres of national forest |
How many deer are killed in McCreary County each season?
KDFWR has reported McCreary County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 423 a season; the most was 507 in 2022-23 and the fewest 309 in 2017-18. 2025-26 was 12% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 441 | 340 | 86 | 1 | 287 | 154 |
| 2024-25 | 503 | 413 | 85 | 1.2 | 356 | 147 |
| 2023-24 | 458 | 348 | 101 | 1.1 | 311 | 147 |
| 2022-23 | 507 | 376 | 120 | 1.2 | 341 | 166 |
| 2021-22 | 336 | 260 | 70 | 0.8 | 218 | 118 |
| 2020-21 | 393 | 280 | 99 | 0.9 | 248 | 145 |
| 2019-20 | 343 | 264 | 70 | 0.8 | 257 | 86 |
| 2018-19 | 431 | 313 | 108 | 1 | 322 | 109 |
| 2017-18 | 309 | 204 | 88 | 0.7 | 192 | 117 |
| 2016-17 | 504 | 345 | 140 | 1.2 | 337 | 167 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 426.7 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in McCreary County for 2026-27?
McCreary 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 McCreary County?
| Area | Acres in McCreary County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Boone National Forest | 125,898 | 1,270 |
| Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area | 30,290 | 19 |
| Beaver Creek WMA | 17,216 | 25 |
| Lake Cumberland WMA | 470 | 155 |
| University of the Cumberlands WMA | 388 | 8 |
| RH Group WMA | 366 | 20 |
703 acres of national forest 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 McCreary County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McCreary County | 4 | 441 | 1 | -12% |
| Laurel County | 3 | 1,593 | 3.7 | 109% |
| Pulaski County | 3 | 2,359 | 3.6 | 61% |
| Wayne County | 3 | 1,057 | 2.3 | 24% |
| Whitley County | 4 | 1,086 | 2.5 | 11% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in McCreary County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 441 deer in McCreary County in the 2025-26 season: 340 antlered bucks, 15 button bucks and 86 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is McCreary County in?
McCreary 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 McCreary County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts Daniel Boone National Forest (125,898 acres in the county), Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (30,290 acres in the county), Beaver Creek WMA (17,216 acres in the county) and Lake Cumberland WMA (470 acres in the county) in McCreary County. The county also holds 703 acres of national forest.
Has the deer harvest in McCreary County gone up or down?
From 504 in 2016-17 to 441 in 2025-26, 12% lower. The high in that span was 507 (2022-23) and the low 309 (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.
Kentucky hunting Kentucky deer harvest by county Laurel County Pulaski County Wayne County Whitley County