Pulaski County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 2,359 deer in Pulaski County in the 2025-26 season: 1,307 antlered bucks and 927 does (KDFWR). That is 3.6 deer per square mile of land, 12th of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 6% below 2024-25 (2,512). 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.
Pulaski CountyKDFWR public hunting areasNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 2,359 (1,307 antlered bucks, 927 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.6, 54th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,030 deer a season |
| Highest season | 2,512 in 2024-25 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 3 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Southeast region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 1,588 by firearms, 330 by crossbow, 318 by archery and 123 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 658.1 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 6 public hunting areas, 51,494 acres; 246 acres of national forest |
| Elk telechecked | 2 in 2023-24 |
| Towns | Somerset, Burnside, Ferguson, Eubank and Science Hill |
How many deer are killed in Pulaski County each season?
KDFWR has reported Pulaski County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 2,030 a season; the most was 2,512 in 2024-25 and the fewest 1,380 in 2017-18. 2025-26 was 61% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,359 | 1,307 | 927 | 3.6 | 1,711 | 648 |
| 2024-25 | 2,512 | 1,400 | 1,010 | 3.8 | 1,845 | 667 |
| 2023-24 | 1,992 | 1,065 | 836 | 3 | 1,481 | 511 |
| 2022-23 | 2,214 | 1,168 | 925 | 3.4 | 1,637 | 577 |
| 2021-22 | 1,841 | 962 | 784 | 2.8 | 1,383 | 458 |
| 2020-21 | 2,184 | 1,085 | 993 | 3.3 | 1,604 | 580 |
| 2019-20 | 2,098 | 1,076 | 935 | 3.2 | 1,634 | 464 |
| 2018-19 | 2,259 | 1,180 | 996 | 3.4 | 1,823 | 436 |
| 2017-18 | 1,380 | 961 | 361 | 2.1 | 957 | 423 |
| 2016-17 | 1,463 | 983 | 429 | 2.2 | 1,067 | 396 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 658.1 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Pulaski County for 2026-27?
Pulaski 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 Pulaski County?
| Area | Acres in Pulaski County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Boone National Forest | 37,872 | 1,270 |
| Lake Cumberland WMA | 8,508 | 155 |
| Rockcastle River WMA | 2,922 | 14 |
| Buck Creek WMA | 850 | 10 |
| Ping-Sinking Valley WMA | 806 | 9 |
| Beaver Creek WMA | 536 | 25 |
246 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.
Are elk taken in Pulaski County?
KDFWR's Telecheck reports show elk taken in Pulaski County in 2 of the last 10 seasons, 2 in 2023-24.
| Season | Elk telechecked | Bulls | Cows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2019-20 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), elk. See Kentucky elk hunting.
How does Pulaski County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulaski County | 3 | 2,359 | 3.6 | 61% |
| Casey County | 2 | 1,428 | 3.2 | 55% |
| Laurel County | 3 | 1,593 | 3.7 | 109% |
| Lincoln County | 2 | 1,491 | 4.5 | 58% |
| McCreary County | 4 | 441 | 1 | -12% |
| Rockcastle County | 3 | 737 | 2.3 | 66% |
| Russell County | 3 | 597 | 2.4 | 90% |
| Wayne County | 3 | 1,057 | 2.3 | 24% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Pulaski County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 2,359 deer in Pulaski County in the 2025-26 season: 1,307 antlered bucks, 125 button bucks and 927 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Pulaski County in?
Pulaski 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 Pulaski County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts Daniel Boone National Forest (37,872 acres in the county), Lake Cumberland WMA (8,508 acres in the county), Rockcastle River WMA (2,922 acres in the county) and Buck Creek WMA (850 acres in the county) in Pulaski County. The county also holds 246 acres of national forest.
Has the deer harvest in Pulaski County gone up or down?
From 1,463 in 2016-17 to 2,359 in 2025-26, 61% higher. The high in that span was 2,512 (2024-25) and the low 1,380 (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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