WQXE NEWS

Deer hunters across the commonwealth contributed to another strong season despite the doe harvest coming in short of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s goals.

Hunters harvested 145,433 deer in Kentucky during the 2025-2026 hunting season, marking the fifth-highest reported total in the state’s history. 72 percent of harvested deer were taken using modern guns. KFW says the season included a newly-expanded October youth-only season, impressive numbers for hunters on public lands, and a high percentage of harvested bucks estimated to be 2.5 years old or older.

The state did not, however, meet its doe harvest goals, which KFW says plays a part in maintaining a healthy and quality deer herd in the commonwealth. Only 43.5 percent of harvested deer were does, and only one county in the state-designated hunting zones where the state was looking to reduce population numbers met its goal for the season. KFW is looking into ways to encourage a higher doe harvest, as an overabundance of deer can result in increased vehicle collisions and damage to crops and landscaping.

KFW continues to monitor for chronic wasting disease and is enforcing restrictions in counties located within the state’s CWD Surveillance Zone. Learn more about CWD and find additional statistics on deer hunting season at fw.ky.gov.

The National Weather Service in Louisville has issued a Winter Storm Warning for southern Indiana and central Kentucky, in effect from 1 a.m. Saturday through 7 a.m. Monday.

The NWS says widespread heavy snowfall and ice is expected. Area residents should anticipate power outages, impassable roads, impacts to other utilities, and downed trees.

Confidence in a winter storm is high, with models projecting one inch per hour snowfall rates. Parts of Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, Hart, Meade, LaRue, and Nelson counties are projected to see 8 to 12 inches, and additional portions of Bullitt, Hardin, Meade, and Nelson counties could see 12 to 15 inches. Southern Kentucky is expected to see more ice accumulation, but portions of the area could see between a .1 and .25 inches of ice through Monday morning.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency ahead of the storms, activating the state’s emergency response and price gouging laws. The state’s Emergency Operations Center is preparing to activate to level three.

The Elizabethtown Police Department says the cities of Elizabethtown, Radcliff, and Vine Grove have collectively established a consistent procedure to assist those without adequate shelter. Citizens displaced and in need of assistance may contact the Elizabethtown (270-765-4125), Radcliff (270-351-4477), and Vine Grove (270-877-2252) police departments. County residents outside of city limits may contact the police department in the city closest to them.

The City of Elizabethtown is asking residents to have their vehicles removed from city streets by 5 p.m. Friday in order to allow snow plows to navigate the streets more efficiently.

Follow the National Weather Service in Louisville for updates.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet encourages aspiring engineers and construction managers to apply for their college scholarships.

The KYTC offers three types of higher education scholarships for current or upcoming Kentucky university and college students. Up to 25 scholarships will be awarded for the 2026-2027 academic year in civil engineering, engineering technology, and construction management.

According to the KYTC, the annual scholarships come with a paid summer job and guaranteed employment with the KYTC upon graduation. More than 2,000 students have received about $20 million since the scholarship program began in 1948.

The Civil Engineering Scholarship is for students studying for a four-year degree at Murray State University, the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, or Western Kentucky University. The Civil Engineering Technology Scholarship is for students completing an associate degree at Big Sandy Community and Technical College. The Construction Management Scholarship is for students studying for a four-year degree at Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State, Northern Kentucky, or Western Kentucky universities. 

The deadline to apply is February 1. Recipients will be notified in April. Visit transportation.ky.gov/education for more information.