Owen County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 2,214 deer in Owen County in the 2025-26 season: 903 antlered bucks and 1,128 does (KDFWR). That is 6.3 deer per square mile of land, 14th of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 3% below 2024-25 (2,285). 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.
Owen CountyKDFWR public hunting areasLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 2,214 (903 antlered bucks, 1,128 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 6.3, 15th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,584 deer a season |
| Highest season | 3,124 in 2017-18 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 1 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Bluegrass region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 1,684 by firearms, 190 by crossbow, 180 by archery and 160 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 350.5 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 4 public hunting areas, 7,311 acres |
| Towns | Owenton, Gratz and Monterey |
How many deer are killed in Owen County each season?
KDFWR has reported Owen County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 2,584 a season; the most was 3,124 in 2017-18 and the fewest 2,214 in 2025-26. 2025-26 was 29% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,214 | 903 | 1,128 | 6.3 | 1,844 | 370 |
| 2024-25 | 2,285 | 1,039 | 1,088 | 6.5 | 1,956 | 329 |
| 2023-24 | 2,373 | 1,061 | 1,174 | 6.8 | 2,018 | 355 |
| 2022-23 | 2,283 | 961 | 1,163 | 6.5 | 1,953 | 330 |
| 2021-22 | 2,458 | 1,068 | 1,221 | 7 | 2,033 | 425 |
| 2020-21 | 2,450 | 1,006 | 1,286 | 7 | 2,021 | 429 |
| 2019-20 | 2,710 | 1,106 | 1,413 | 7.7 | 2,350 | 360 |
| 2018-19 | 2,832 | 1,165 | 1,449 | 8.1 | 2,506 | 326 |
| 2017-18 | 3,124 | 1,297 | 1,600 | 8.9 | 2,753 | 371 |
| 2016-17 | 3,106 | 1,348 | 1,527 | 8.9 | 2,692 | 414 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 350.5 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Owen County for 2026-27?
Owen 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 Owen County?
| Area | Acres in Owen County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| John A. Kleber WMA | 3,550 | 61 |
| Dr. James R. Rich WMA | 2,265 | 10 |
| Kentucky River WMA | 1,326 | 69 |
| Twin Eagle WMA | 170 | 3 |
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 Owen County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owen County | 1 | 2,214 | 6.3 | -29% |
| Carroll County | 1 | 726 | 5.6 | -9% |
| Franklin County | 1 | 1,379 | 6.6 | -7% |
| Gallatin County | 1 | 425 | 4.3 | -53% |
| Grant County | 1 | 1,850 | 7.2 | -21% |
| Henry County | 1 | 1,799 | 6.3 | -6% |
| Scott County | 1 | 972 | 3.4 | -37% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Owen County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 2,214 deer in Owen County in the 2025-26 season: 903 antlered bucks, 183 button bucks and 1,128 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Owen County in?
Owen 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 Owen County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts John A. Kleber WMA (3,550 acres in the county), Dr. James R. Rich WMA (2,265 acres in the county), Kentucky River WMA (1,326 acres in the county) and Twin Eagle WMA (170 acres in the county) in Owen County.
Has the deer harvest in Owen County gone up or down?
From 3,106 in 2016-17 to 2,214 in 2025-26, 29% lower. The high in that span was 3,124 (2017-18) and the low 2,214 (2025-26).
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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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