Hunters harvested almost 145,500 deer in Kentucky during the 2025-26 season, which is the fifth-highest reported total in history.
The recently completed 136-day season was noteworthy for a newly expanded October youth-only season, impressive success of hunters on public land, and a high percentage of harvested bucks estimated to be 2½ years old or older.
But doe harvest goals, aimed at maintaining a healthy and quality herd, were not met.
The 145,433 deer total was down over 4,000 from last year, but well above the five year average.
The vast majority of deer were harvested during the 16-day modern gun season in November.
In all, 72-percent of deer were killed with modern guns, 11-percent with bows, 10-percent with crossbows and six-percent with muzzleloaders.
