Deer season will open Saturday

Modern gun deer hunting season opens Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 29. Deer hunters have been afield since September with the opening of archery and crossbow seasons, but these 16 days comprise Kentucky’s biggest hunting season annually. Boasting strong deer populations across the state, Kentucky offers many hunting opportunities for new and experienced hunters to provide a sustainable source of lean protein for the table or for food banks. Hunters reported harvesting more than 145,000 deer last year, down slightly from nearly 150,000 in 2024-2025, with modern gun season accounting for the most deer harvested annually. Hunting licenses and permits may be purchased online at Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s website (fw.ky.gov) and at authorized license agents throughout the state. HARVEST LIMITS Kentucky is divided into four deer zones, based predominantly on the deer density of the counties in each region.

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