LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Deer season begins Sept. 7 in Kentucky.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources said in a news release Tuesday that the statewide deer permit allows hunters to take only one antlered deer, per season, but the restrictions on anterless deer varies based upon county. For all of northern Kentucky as well as Jefferson County and all counties surrounding it, hunters can harvest as many anterless deer as they'd like "using the statewide deer permit and additional deer permits."
To see a statewide map showing the restrictions in each area, click here.
During the 2023-24 season, officials said hunters took more than 140,000 deer, the seventh-highest number on record.
"We expect the deer harvest for the 2024-25 season to be around 140,000 deer, similar to previous years," Joe McDermott, deer program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, said in a news release Tuesday. "Kentucky holds about 25 deer per square mile statewide, providing tremendous opportunity in both the quantity and quality of deer. Kentucky remains a top state for Boone and Crockett record bucks."
Below are the key dates or the upcoming season:
- Archery: Sept. 7, 2024, to Jan. 20, 2025
- Crossbow: Sept. 21, 2024, to Jan. 20, 2025
- Youth-only: Oct. 12-13, 2024
- Muzzleloader: Oct. 19-20, 2024, and Dec. 14-22, 2024
- Modern gun: Nov. 9-24, 2024
- Free Youth Weekend: Dec. 28-29, 2024
There are a number of requirements for each hunting season and participants must know and follow. For more information on the requirements, click here.
To purchase a hunting license and permits, click here. Children under 12 do not need a license or permit to hunt deer but must be accompanied by an adult.
Deer hunting season in Indiana
Indiana has a deer population of close to 700,000. The Hoosier state's deer season starts statewide with archery hunting on Oct. 1. Gun hunting starts in November.
Deer hunting seasons in Indiana for the 2024-25 year are listed below:
- Reduction Zone: Sept. 15, 2024 - Jan. 31, 2025 (where open)
- Youth Season: Sept. 28-29, 2024
- Archery: Oct. 1, 2024 - Jan. 5, 2025
- Firearm: Nov. 16 - Dec. 1, 2024
- Muzzleloader: Dec. 7-22, 2024
You must have a license to hunt. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources said a resident youth hunt/trap, deer hunting, or comprehensive lifetime hunting license is required to hunt for deer in the state, unless you meet one of the license exemptions.
All deer harvested in the Hoosier state have to be reported within 48 hours at an on-site check station, online, or through an Indiana Fish & Wildlife Account.
DNR officials said Indiana is the "No. 1 Big Buck State," based on Boone & Crockett Records. Officials said the state has been the top trophy white-tailed deer state per square mile since 2016, citing a large and healthy deer population and "successful population management methods."
To look at regulations for deer hunting season in Indiana, click here.
To purchase a hunting license, or learn more about them, click here.
For more information about hunting seasons and dates in Indiana, click here.
For more resources, click here.
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