Wayne County deer harvest: Kentucky Telecheck, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters telechecked 1,057 deer in Wayne County in the 2025-26 season: 582 antlered bucks and 421 does (KDFWR). That is 2.3 deer per square mile of land, 57th of Kentucky's 120 counties by total. The count was 17% below 2024-25 (1,275). 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.
Wayne CountyKDFWR public hunting areasNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 1,057 (582 antlered bucks, 421 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 2.3, 93rd of 120 |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,058 deer a season |
| Highest season | 1,280 in 2018-19 |
| Deer zone, 2026-27 | Zone 3 (KDFWR) |
| KDFWR region | Southeast region |
| How the 2025-26 deer were taken | 722 by firearms, 146 by crossbow, 129 by archery and 60 by muzzleloader |
| Land area | 458 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 3 public hunting areas, 13,777 acres |
| Elk telechecked | 2 in 2022-23 |
| Towns | Monticello |
How many deer are killed in Wayne County each season?
KDFWR has reported Wayne County's deer for 10 seasons. The average was 1,058 a season; the most was 1,280 in 2018-19 and the fewest 770 in 2017-18. 2025-26 was 24% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Per square mile | Firearms | Archery and crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,057 | 582 | 421 | 2.3 | 782 | 275 |
| 2024-25 | 1,275 | 756 | 474 | 2.8 | 985 | 290 |
| 2023-24 | 1,000 | 563 | 392 | 2.2 | 784 | 216 |
| 2022-23 | 1,105 | 632 | 427 | 2.4 | 815 | 290 |
| 2021-22 | 939 | 519 | 394 | 2.1 | 735 | 204 |
| 2020-21 | 1,182 | 606 | 532 | 2.6 | 886 | 296 |
| 2019-20 | 1,116 | 592 | 469 | 2.4 | 901 | 215 |
| 2018-19 | 1,280 | 694 | 534 | 2.8 | 1,056 | 224 |
| 2017-18 | 770 | 557 | 196 | 1.7 | 585 | 185 |
| 2016-17 | 853 | 589 | 240 | 1.9 | 651 | 202 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Firearms adds modern gun and muzzleloader deer. Per square mile uses the county's 458 square miles of land (Census).
What are the deer rules in Wayne County for 2026-27?
Wayne 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 Wayne County?
| Area | Acres in Wayne County | Deer on the whole area, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Cumberland WMA | 12,391 | 155 |
| Daniel Boone National Forest | 1,154 | 1,270 |
| Meadow Creek WMA | 232 | 8 |
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 Wayne County?
KDFWR's Telecheck reports show elk taken in Wayne County in 1 of the last 10 seasons, 2 in 2022-23.
| Season | Elk telechecked | Bulls | Cows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), elk. See Kentucky elk hunting.
How does Wayne County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | 3 | 1,057 | 2.3 | 24% |
| Clinton County | 3 | 483 | 2.5 | 29% |
| McCreary County | 4 | 441 | 1 | -12% |
| Pulaski County | 3 | 2,359 | 3.6 | 61% |
| Russell County | 3 | 597 | 2.4 | 90% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Wayne County, Kentucky last season?
Hunters telechecked 1,057 deer in Wayne County in the 2025-26 season: 582 antlered bucks, 54 button bucks and 421 does, by KDFWR's Harvest Data reports.
What deer zone is Wayne County in?
Wayne 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 Wayne County?
Yes. KDFWR's map puts Lake Cumberland WMA (12,391 acres in the county), Daniel Boone National Forest (1,154 acres in the county) and Meadow Creek WMA (232 acres in the county) in Wayne County.
Has the deer harvest in Wayne County gone up or down?
From 853 in 2016-17 to 1,057 in 2025-26, 24% higher. The high in that span was 1,280 (2018-19) and the low 770 (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 Clinton County McCreary County Pulaski County Russell County