FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky hunters will be heading into the woods this Saturday, Sept. 6, as archery deer season officially opens statewide. The 2025-26 deer season offers a wide range of opportunities for hunters of all ages and skill levels, with dates stretching into January.
Licenses and permits are available at fw.ky.gov, and officials are reminding hunters to make sure they are prepared and up to date on this year’s changes.
Archery: Sept. 6, 2025 – Jan. 19, 2026
Youth/Senior Crossbow: Sept. 20, 2025 – Jan. 19, 2026
Crossbow: Sept. 20, 2025 – Jan. 19, 2026
Youth-Only Gun: Oct. 11 – 19, 2025
Muzzleloader: Oct. 18 – 19, 2025 and Dec. 13 – 21, 2025
Modern Gun: Nov. 8 – 23, 2025
Free Youth Weekend: Dec. 27 – 28, 2025
Special Season (CWD Zone only): Sept. 27 – 28, 2025
There are two significant changes for the 2025-26 season.
Extended Youth Season: Hunters 15 years old and under will now enjoy a longer firearm season, running Oct. 11-19. The extension gives youth an extra seven days afield, and it overlaps with the early muzzleloader weekend (Oct. 18-19), allowing mentors to hunt with a muzzleloader while their youth hunter uses a modern gun side by side.
Special Season in CWD Zone: On Sept. 27-28, hunters in the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Surveillance Zone may use any equipment, including modern gun, but only antlerless deer may be harvested. Hunters must also drop off the head of any deer taken during this special weekend at a CWD sample station within the zone.
The CWD Surveillance Zone includes Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hardin, Henderson, Hickman, Marshall, McCracken, Meade, Union, and Webster counties.
Wildlife officials say the changes are designed to give youth more opportunities in the field while also increasing monitoring efforts for CWD in western Kentucky.
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