Kentucky publishes deer harvest in a form FDR could rank for 92 public hunting areas. Lake Barkley WMA is highest at 50.1 deer harvested per square mile in 2025. Green River State Forest has 21.7 in 2025 and Griffith Woods WMA has 16.3 in 2025. The rankings describe reported harvest and do not measure access or hunting pressure.
KEY FINDINGS
- Lake Barkley WMA has the highest harvest per square mile at 50.1. The agency reported 71 deer on 907 acres in 2025.
- 92 public hunting areas are ranked. Ranks compare areas measured between 2023 and 2025 and each row shows its own newest year.
- 4 federal areas are ranked on their own. Jefferson National Forest has the highest harvest per square mile at 9.0 in 2025.
Kentucky public land rankings
Best public land in Kentucky
Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Seasons measured 2023 through 2025. Captured October 18, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.
Download all ranked rows (CSV)
Public hunting areas
Top 15 of 92 ranked public hunting areas by deer harvest per square mile. Each row shows its own newest year.
15 of 92 areas shown
| 1 | Lake Barkley WMA | Lyon, Trigg | 907 | 2025 | 71 | 50.1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Green River State Forest | Henderson | 1,093 | 2025 | 37 | 21.7 |
| 3 | Griffith Woods WMA | Harrison | 746 | 2025 | 19 | 16.3 |
| 4 | Taylorsville Lake WMA | Anderson, Nelson, Spencer | 9,419 | 2025 | 239 | 16.2 |
| 5 | Clay WMA | Bath, Fleming, Nicholas | 8,980 | 2025 | 211 | 15.0 |
| 6 | Simon Kenton WMA | Mason | 982 | 2025 | 22 | 14.3 |
| 7 | Kentucky Lake WMA | Calloway, Marshall | 4,043 | 2025 | 89 | 14.1 |
| 8 | Barren River Lake WMA | Allen, Barren | 8,731 | 2025 | 192 | 14.1 |
| 9 | Big Rivers WMA & State Forest | Crittenden, Union | 7,575 | 2025 | 161 | 13.6 |
| 10 | Fleming WMA | Fleming | 1,907 | 2025 | 38 | 12.8 |
| 11 | Kentucky River WMA | Henry, Owen | 3,643 | 2025 | 69 | 12.1 |
| 12 | Tygarts State Forest | Carter | 1,176 | 2025 | 21 | 11.4 |
| 13 | Cedar Creek Lake WMA | Lincoln | 796 | 2025 | 14 | 11.3 |
| 14 | Martins Fork Lake WMA | Harlan | 764 | 2025 | 13 | 10.9 |
| 15 | Rolling Fork WMA | Larue, Nelson | 2,897 | 2025 | 46 | 10.2 |
Federal areas
Top 4 of 4 ranked federal areas by deer harvest per square mile. Each row shows its own newest year.
4 of 4 federal areas shown
| 1 | Jefferson National Forest | Letcher, Pike | 857 | 2025 | 12 | 9.0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Blue Grass Army Depot | Madison | 14,519 | 2025 | 115 | 5.1 |
| 3 | Fort Knox Military Reservation | Bullitt, Hardin, Meade | 108,639 | 2025 | 812 | 4.8 |
| 4 | Daniel Boone National Forest | Bath, Breathitt, Carter, Clay, Estill, Fleming, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Lee, Leslie, Lewis, Madison, McCreary, Menifee, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, Wayne, Whitley, Wolfe | 638,505 | 2025 | 1,270 | 1.3 |
01Public hunting areas
92 areas ranked on harvest per square mile
Lake Barkley WMA has the most deer harvested per square mile at 50.1 in 2025. Green River State Forest has 21.7 in 2025 and Griffith Woods WMA has 16.3 in 2025.
The top 15 run from 50.1 down to 10.2 deer harvested per square mile.
02Federal areas
4 federal areas ranked on harvest per square mile
Jefferson National Forest has the most deer harvested per square mile at 9.0 in 2025. Blue Grass Army Depot has 5.1 in 2025 and Fort Knox Military Reservation has 4.8 in 2025.
03Basis of this report
Sources and method
FDR divided the agency's deer harvest by the area's size to get harvest per square mile. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Ranks compare areas measured between 2023 and 2025 and each row shows its own newest year.
Success rate is the agency's published figure or harvest divided by hunters. Tied values share a rank and the order uses the unrounded values.
A ranking does not evaluate an individual property and does not confirm that it is open to hunting for you.
Sources
NOTES AND SOURCES
- Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Seasons measured 2023 through 2025. Captured October 18, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.
Fully Drawn Research is an independent data analysis desk, not affiliated with any state wildlife agency, transportation agency, mapping provider or outfitter. FDR rankings are independent analysis of state agency numbers. A ranking does not evaluate an individual property.
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