Nicholas County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 984 deer in Nicholas County in the 2025-26 season: 515 antlered bucks and 413 does (KDFWR). That is 5 deer per square mile of land, 63rd of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 14% above 2024-25 (865). 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.
Nicholas CountyKDFWR public hunting areasLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 984 (515 antlered bucks, 413 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 5, 30th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 826 deer a season |
| Highest season | 984 in 2025-26 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 2 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Northeast region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 710 by firearms, 117 by archery, 83 by crossbow and 74 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 195.3 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 public hunting area, 6,671 acres |
| Towns | Carlisle |
How many deer are killed in Nicholas County each season?
KDFWR has reported Nicholas County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 826 a season; the most was 984 in 2025-26 and the fewest 738 in 2019-20. 2025-26 was 31% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 984 | 515 | 413 | 5 | 784 | 200 |
| 2024-25 | 865 | 465 | 353 | 4.4 | 688 | 177 |
| 2023-24 | 826 | 445 | 345 | 4.2 | 691 | 135 |
| 2022-23 | 794 | 408 | 344 | 4.1 | 642 | 152 |
| 2021-22 | 742 | 426 | 285 | 3.8 | 584 | 158 |
| 2020-21 | 834 | 459 | 354 | 4.3 | 658 | 176 |
| 2019-20 | 738 | 356 | 344 | 3.8 | 631 | 107 |
| 2018-19 | 872 | 444 | 378 | 4.5 | 739 | 133 |
| 2017-18 | 849 | 460 | 331 | 4.3 | 722 | 127 |
| 2016-17 | 751 | 424 | 289 | 3.8 | 649 | 102 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 195.3 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Nicholas County for 2026-27?
Nicholas 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 Nicholas County?
| Area | Acres in Nicholas County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Clay WMA | 6,671 | 211 |
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 Nicholas County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas County | 2 | 984 | 5 | 31% |
| Bath County | 2 | 821 | 3 | 19% |
| Bourbon County | 2 | 329 | 1.1 | 5% |
| Fleming County | 2 | 1,051 | 3 | 7% |
| Harrison County | 1 | 1,813 | 5.9 | -1% |
| Montgomery County | 2 | 450 | 2.3 | 22% |
| Robertson County | 1 | 795 | 8 | -1% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Nicholas County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 984 deer in Nicholas County in the 2025-26 season: 515 antlered bucks, 56 button bucks and 413 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Nicholas County in?
Nicholas 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 Nicholas County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts Clay WMA (6,671 acres in the county) in Nicholas County.
Has the deer harvest in Nicholas County gone up or down?
From 751 in 2016-17 to 984 in 2025-26, 31% higher. The high in that span was 984 (2025-26) and the low 738 (2019-20).
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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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