Washington County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 2,663 deer in Washington County in the 2025-26 season: 1,166 antlered bucks and 1,365 does (KDFWR). That is 9 deer per square mile of land, 7th of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 4% above 2024-25 (2,559). 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.
Washington CountyLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 2,663 (1,166 antlered bucks, 1,365 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 9, 4th of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,329 deer a season |
| Highest season | 2,700 in 2022-23 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 1 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Bluegrass region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 1,897 by firearms, 327 by archery, 227 by crossbow and 212 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 297.3 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | No KDFWR public hunting area |
| Towns | Springfield, Willisburg and Mackville |
How many deer are killed in Washington County each season?
KDFWR has reported Washington County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 2,329 a season; the most was 2,700 in 2022-23 and the fewest 1,963 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 36% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,663 | 1,166 | 1,365 | 9 | 2,109 | 554 |
| 2024-25 | 2,559 | 1,210 | 1,204 | 8.6 | 2,079 | 480 |
| 2023-24 | 2,362 | 1,083 | 1,149 | 7.9 | 1,937 | 425 |
| 2022-23 | 2,700 | 1,169 | 1,385 | 9.1 | 2,172 | 528 |
| 2021-22 | 2,279 | 1,052 | 1,094 | 7.7 | 1,847 | 432 |
| 2020-21 | 2,199 | 993 | 1,088 | 7.4 | 1,747 | 452 |
| 2019-20 | 2,480 | 1,077 | 1,254 | 8.3 | 2,054 | 426 |
| 2018-19 | 2,088 | 860 | 1,072 | 7 | 1,825 | 263 |
| 2017-18 | 2,000 | 861 | 1,014 | 6.7 | 1,736 | 264 |
| 2016-17 | 1,963 | 923 | 935 | 6.6 | 1,699 | 264 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 297.3 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Washington County for 2026-27?
Washington 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 Washington County?
No KDFWR public hunting area boundary falls in Washington County. The closest with a page here: Marion County WMA and State Forest (about 16 miles), Taylorsville Lake WMA (about 16 miles) and Taylorsville Lake State Park (about 18 miles).
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 Washington County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 1 | 2,663 | 9 | 36% |
| Anderson County | 1 | 2,040 | 10.1 | 14% |
| Boyle County | 2 | 521 | 2.9 | 49% |
| Marion County | 1 | 1,673 | 4.9 | 56% |
| Mercer County | 1 | 1,373 | 5.5 | 30% |
| Nelson County | 1 | 2,591 | 6.2 | 33% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Washington County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 2,663 deer in Washington County in the 2025-26 season: 1,166 antlered bucks, 132 button bucks and 1,365 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Washington County in?
Washington 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 Washington County?
No KDFWR public hunting area boundary falls in Washington County. The closest with a page here: Marion County WMA and State Forest (about 16 miles), Taylorsville Lake WMA (about 16 miles) and Taylorsville Lake State Park (about 18 miles).
Has the deer harvest in Washington County gone up or down?
From 1,963 in 2016-17 to 2,663 in 2025-26, 36% higher. The high in that span was 2,700 (2022-23) and the low 1,963 (2016-17).
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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 Anderson County Boyle County Marion County Mercer County