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Kentucky Deer Forecast: Big Whitetail Bucks Live Here

With a big deer herd, trophy potential and a decent crack at a velvet buck, Bluegrass State hunting is on a roll.

Kentucky Deer Forecast: Big Whitetail Bucks Live Here
Expect whitetails to be on the move to find food this season in Kentucky. (Photo by Honeycutt Creative)
  • This whitetail hunting forecast for Kentucky is part of Game & Fish’s “Great States" project identifying the best deer-hunting states in the country. Read more: America's Top Whitetail States

Buck Hunting You're Looking For

Kentucky is one of the best deer-hunting states in the nation, particularly in the South. Of course, with a big deer herd, trophy buck potential and more, what’s not to love? Plus, bowhunters get a crack at a velvet buck, and rifle hunters can experience the rut.

The Bluegrass State stands up well in comparison with other top whitetail states. Kentucky is tied for 10th (with Minnesota) in Game & Fish’s "America’s Top Whitetail States” rankings, with high marks for trophy potential and season length.

According to Joe McDermott, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ acting deer program coordinator, the state’s deer herd is doing just fine. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) was detected in western Kentucky in early 2024, but it doesn’t appear to be widespread.

  • Did You Know? According to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, the Bluegrass State ranks sixth all-time for Boone and Crockett bucks.

Looking to the overall deer herd, it’s nearly 1 million strong, according to the state. This season, projections show approximately 300,000 deer hunters heading afield. The deer population has been stable to slightly increasing in recent years. The 2023 statewide estimate was 985,386 deer at the start of the season, which was a one-percent decrease from 2022-23 (994,356).

The 2023-24 deer harvest was 140,811, the seventh highest harvest on record, but a 6.3-percent decrease from the record 2022-23 season (144,493).

It’s still a one-buck state, and that’s why big deer live here. For those seeking the biggest bucks, focus on the first and second “rows” of counties that run along the Ohio River from north-central to southwestern Kentucky.

Kentucky Buck
The author with a trophy Kentucky whitetail. (Photo by Honeycutt Creative)

According to Tommy Apostolopoulos, a wildlife biologist with the agency’s deer program, the CWD Surveillance Zone was expanded from five to eight counties following a detection in Ballard County. Previously, the Zone was a result of a CWD detection in northwestern Tennessee. Apostolopoulos says all counties west of Kentucky Lake and the Tennessee River are within the CWD Surveillance Zone.

Kentucky deer map
EHD in Kentucky. (Courtesy of Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources)

As for epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), it’s hitting other states hard this year. Fortunately, only isolated cases have been reported in the Bluegrass State. This year, most cases are confined to local levels in western and north-central counties.

  • That’s a Fact: Kentucky’s antlered deer harvest in 2023-24 was 72,521, four-percent higher than the 10-year average (69,753), according to state statistics.

Apostolopoulos expects a great 2024 deer season. With a less-than-average acorn crop, expect deer to move greater distances to find food. Generally, if history repeats itself, this preludes and predicts a large deer harvest.

Get more info: Buy your hunting licenses, deer permits, etc. here. Check out the 2024 deer season dates here.





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