Daniel Boone National Forest: deer harvest, 2026-27 rules and access
Daniel Boone National Forest is 710,288 acres of public hunting land in McCreary, Clay, Rowan, Laurel, Whitley, Jackson, Menifee, Pulaski, Leslie, Rockcastle, Owsley, Wolfe, Powell, Bath, Morgan, Lee, Estill, Perry, Wayne, Harlan, Knox and Lewis counties, in KDFWR's Southeast region. Hunters telechecked 1,270 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season, 882 antlered bucks among them. KDFWR's 2026-27 rule for the area: Open under statewide rules and regulations in effect for the county.
Data updated October 2026. Rules: KDFWR's page for the area. Harvest: KDFWR Telecheck reports, 2016-17 to 2025-26.
Daniel Boone National ForestOther KDFWR public hunting areasNational forestNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 710,288 acres (KDFWR) |
|---|---|
| County | McCreary County, Clay County, Rowan County, Laurel County, Whitley County, Jackson County, Menifee County, Pulaski County, Leslie County, Rockcastle County, Owsley County, Wolfe County, Powell County, Bath County, Morgan County, Lee County, Estill County, Perry County, Wayne County, Harlan County, Knox County, Lewis County |
| KDFWR region | Southeast region |
| Deer zone of the county | Zone 4, Zone 2, Zone 3, Zone 1 |
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 1,270 (882 antlered bucks, 334 does) |
| Elk | In the Elk Management Zone, hunting units 2, 3 and 4; unit 1 is closed to elk hunting |
| Elevation | Minimum feet, maximum feet |
| Contact | (859) 745-3100 |
| Nearest towns | Livingston (next to it), Morehead (next to it) and McKee (next to it) |
What are the 2026-27 hunting rules on Daniel Boone National Forest?
KDFWR lists these rules for the area. Where it says the area is open under statewide seasons, the county's zone rules apply.
Fall Hunting Season
- Open under statewide rules and regulations in effect for the county.
Exceptions
- Portions of the forest are open during quota elk hunts to persons who possess the appropriate elk hunting permit.
- The CWD Antlerless Season (Sept. 25-28) is open on Daniel Boone National Forest in areas located within Laurel, Rockcastle, Pulaski and Wayne counties only. Areas of the DBNF located in any other county are not open for the special antlerless season.
Source: KDFWR's page for Daniel Boone National Forest, read October 2026. Statewide seasons: 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide, page 10.
How many deer are taken on Daniel Boone National Forest?
Hunters telechecked 1,270 deer on Daniel Boone National Forest in the 2025-26 season: 882 antlered bucks, 54 button bucks and 334 does. Over the 10 seasons KDFWR reports, the area averaged 1,067 deer a season, from 724 in 2017-18 to 1,270 in 2025-26.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Firearms | Archery | Crossbow | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,270 | 882 | 334 | 943 | 126 | 121 | 80 |
| 2024-25 | 1,179 | 856 | 291 | 871 | 117 | 97 | 94 |
| 2023-24 | 1,153 | 809 | 299 | 847 | 117 | 88 | 101 |
| 2022-23 | 1,098 | 730 | 327 | 805 | 108 | 93 | 92 |
| 2021-22 | 996 | 674 | 286 | 700 | 107 | 117 | 72 |
| 2020-21 | 1,012 | 669 | 298 | 743 | 102 | 81 | 86 |
| 2019-20 | 1,030 | 688 | 307 | 774 | 95 | 65 | 96 |
| 2018-19 | 1,098 | 732 | 329 | 799 | 124 | 41 | 134 |
| 2017-18 | 724 | 517 | 181 | 495 | 102 | 29 | 98 |
| 2016-17 | 1,109 | 799 | 271 | 777 | 170 | 56 | 106 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by public land. Antlered bucks are KDFWR's count of males with visible antlers; the rest of the males are button bucks.
Spring turkey telechecked on the area: 670 in 2025, 641 in 2024, 630 in 2023 and 371 in 2022 (KDFWR Harvest Data, spring season).
Elk telechecked on the area: 5 in 2025-26 (4 bulls, 1 cow), 1 in 2024-25 (1 bull, 0 cows), 3 in 2023-24 (1 bull, 2 cows), 5 in 2022-23 (2 bulls, 3 cows) and 10 in 2021-22 (7 bulls, 3 cows). See Kentucky elk hunting.
What kind of ground is Daniel Boone National Forest?
KDFWR describes the area's habitat as 95.4% forest, 2.34% open land, 2.22% open water and 0.03% wetland. Elevation runs from feet to feet.
Which county is Daniel Boone National Forest in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | Deer zone | County deer, 2025-26 | Rank of 120 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McCreary County | 125,898 | 4 | 441 | 109th |
| Clay County | 74,350 | 4 | 926 | 68th |
| Rowan County | 62,886 | 2 | 543 | 102nd |
| Laurel County | 56,687 | 3 | 1,593 | 35th |
| Whitley County | 46,346 | 4 | 1,086 | 53rd |
| Jackson County | 46,254 | 3 | 930 | 67th |
| Menifee County | 43,787 | 3 | 218 | 120th |
| Pulaski County | 37,872 | 3 | 2,359 | 12th |
| Leslie County | 31,983 | 4 | 565 | 98th |
| Rockcastle County | 16,958 | 3 | 737 | 83rd |
| Owsley County | 16,679 | 4 | 283 | 118th |
| Wolfe County | 16,627 | 3 | 373 | 114th |
| Powell County | 15,790 | 3 | 381 | 113th |
| Bath County | 14,753 | 2 | 821 | 75th |
| Morgan County | 13,118 | 2 | 715 | 85th |
| Lee County | 8,520 | 4 | 311 | 117th |
| Estill County | 5,641 | 3 | 643 | 91st |
| Perry County | 2,180 | 4 | 818 | 77th |
| Wayne County | 1,154 | 3 | 1,057 | 57th |
| Harlan County | 831 | 4 | 509 | 104th |
| Knox County | 110 | 4 | 804 | 78th |
| Lewis County | 32 | 1 | 1,289 | 45th |
Acres measured by FilledTag on KDFWR public hunting area boundaries and the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries. County harvest: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Zones: KDFWR current deer zones.
How do you get to Daniel Boone National Forest?
From Tenn. line in McCreary County north to Fleming and Lewis counties. Many US, state and county roads lead into and across area; forest roads, marked hiking trails in many sections. Primarily mountainous with many sections quite steep and rugged, but with some fairly flat river and creek bottoms and ridge tops. Migratory waterfowl, bald eagles often seen around Cave Run and Laurel lakes. Many trout streams, small lakes throughout, several rivers offer float fishing. Several recreational areas maintained by U.S. Forest Service offer camping, picnicking, hiking, horseback trails, etc. Maps, additional information available from U. S. Forest Service,1700 Bypass Road, Winchester, KY 40391. NOTE: Much land within forest boundaries is still privately owned and permission should be obtained before entering these private holdings. Owned by U. S. Forest Service. This area is within a Limited Entry Area for elk hunting, please refer to the elk portion of our website.
From KDFWR's page for the area.
Highways through the area: KY 715, KY 478, KY 66 and KY 1363. Nearest towns: Livingston (next to it), Morehead (next to it), McKee (next to it) and Lakeview Heights (next to it).
The closest other public hunting areas with a page here: Beaver Creek WMA (next to it), Burchell-Beech Creek WMA (next to it), Betterment Wildlife Hunting Access Area (next to it) and Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (next to it).
Questions hunters ask
When can you hunt Daniel Boone National Forest in 2026-27?
KDFWR's 2026-27 rules for Daniel Boone National Forest: Open under statewide rules and regulations in effect for the county.
How many deer were killed on Daniel Boone National Forest last season?
Hunters telechecked 1,270 deer on Daniel Boone National Forest in the 2025-26 season: 882 antlered bucks and 334 does. The most taken with firearms (943).
What county is Daniel Boone National Forest in?
McCreary County (125,898 acres), Clay County (74,350 acres), Rowan County (62,886 acres), Laurel County (56,687 acres), Whitley County (46,346 acres), Jackson County (46,254 acres), Menifee County (43,787 acres), Pulaski County (37,872 acres), Leslie County (31,983 acres), Rockcastle County (16,958 acres), Owsley County (16,679 acres), Wolfe County (16,627 acres), Powell County (15,790 acres), Bath County (14,753 acres), Morgan County (13,118 acres), Lee County (8,520 acres), Estill County (5,641 acres), Perry County (2,180 acres), Wayne County (1,154 acres), Harlan County (831 acres), Knox County (110 acres) and Lewis County (32 acres), measured on KDFWR's boundary.
What deer zone is Daniel Boone National Forest in?
McCreary County is in Zone 4, Clay County is in Zone 4, Rowan County is in Zone 2, Laurel County is in Zone 3, Whitley County is in Zone 4, Jackson County is in Zone 3, Menifee County is in Zone 3, Pulaski County is in Zone 3, Leslie County is in Zone 4, Rockcastle County is in Zone 3, Owsley County is in Zone 4, Wolfe County is in Zone 3, Powell County is in Zone 3, Bath County is in Zone 2, Morgan County is in Zone 2, Lee County is in Zone 4, Estill County is in Zone 3, Perry County is in Zone 4, Wayne County is in Zone 3, Harlan County is in Zone 4, Knox County is in Zone 4 and Lewis County is in Zone 1. Area rules can be stricter than the zone's, as listed above.
Are elk taken on Daniel Boone National Forest?
Yes. KDFWR's Telecheck reports show 5 elk in 2025-26, 1 elk in 2024-25 and 3 elk in 2023-24 on the area. Elk hunting is by quota permit; see Kentucky elk hunting.
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Where these numbers come from
- Area rules, size, habitat, contact and directions: KDFWR, Daniel Boone National Forest.
- Deer, elk and turkey harvest on the area: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by public land. County harvest: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county.
- Boundary: KDFWR public hunting area boundaries. Counties, highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries; U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer. National forest and refuges: U.S. Forest Service national forest ownership; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries.
FilledTag is not part of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. Numbers are copied from KDFWR or measured from public maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
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