Kentucky Hunting Laws Licensing & Regulations

Kentucky Hunting

Kentucky hunting consists of big games like bears, deer, and elks, as well as various small games. The state has plenty of hunting opportunities because of its woodlands. Hunters that have licenses for games they want to take will be granted access to take the animals.

Kentucky Hunting Regulation

There are hunting laws, requirements, and regulations for hunters to abide by while taking games in Kentucky. Some of these laws apply to only specific hunting seasons, while others are general laws regardless of the game season.

Some of the most important hunting laws in Kentucky include the following:

Hunter’s Clothing Requirements

It is compulsory for all hunters and their assistance to wear an outer garment cloth with an orange color. The color must be visible from the head, chest, and back region during the daylight hunting of games in firearm seasons, muzzleloader firearm seasons, or elk and bear firearm seasons.

However, you do not have to follow the dressing requirements for dove and waterfowl hunting seasons.

You can make use of mesh material for your hunter clothing, but the condition is that your mesh weave should not be larger than ¼ of the measurements. If you are wearing an orange garment, then a small pattern of other colors may be displayed.

Some of the violations against Kentucky Hunter orange clothing include the following:

It is a prohibition to wear an orange garment that contains camouflage patterns and has no other orange color on the chest, head, or back regions.
It is a prohibition to wear your hunter clothing to a stand then remove it when you reach the stand.
It is a prohibition to hunt rabbits, quails, and squirrels without the dressing requirement.
It is a prohibition to hunt deer and elk firearms seasons without the hunter’s orange dressing requirement.
It is a prohibition for hunters making use of archery or crossbow equipment to hunt during firearm seasons without the required orange cloth.

For hunting deer with a firearm in WMAs like the Otter Creek recreational area, anyone hunting from a blind must make sure that the blind has hunter’s orange material attached, and it is visible from every side. Also, hunters in the blind must stick to the orange clothing requirement. For WMA or Kentucky public hunting lands where the taking of games like bears, elks, and deer is prohibited, hunters are not allowed to set up hunting blinds or wear orange clothing during the firearm seasons.

Kentucky Shooting Hours

The shooting hours for most game species in Kentucky are usually during daylight hours, between 30 minutes prior to sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset. Notwithstanding, hunters are allowed to be on hunting fields and stand before the shooting hours. However, there are exceptions to these shooting hours for games like opossums, frogs, coyotes, and raccoons.

Hunters can take opossums and raccoons during the day or at night, with the exception of modern firearm deer hunting season, where you may only take opossums and raccoons at night.

Prohibited hunting methods

Hunting practices that are illegal in Kentucky include the following:

It is a prohibition to discharge firearms, archery devices, or a similar hunting weapon or device across a major road or public highway in the state in the name of hunting.
It is a prohibition to take or attempt to take games and wildlife with a vehicle or automobile, regardless of if they are protected or unprotected by the state hunting department. There is an exception for hunting from boats.
It is a prohibition to chase games like turkey, elk, and deer with hunting dogs, or with the aid of a horse while on the horseback. An exception to this prohibition is the use of dogs to locate turkeys during the fall turkey season.
It is a prohibition to take bears, elks, and deer when they are swimming.
It is a prohibition to give bears food either directly or indirectly, regardless of the reason for doing so.
It is a prohibition to take game or wildlife with explosives, fire, smoke, chemicals, or gas.
It is a prohibition to bait game animals in all wildlife management areas of Kentucky.
It is a prohibition for elks and deer hunters to make use of electronically generated calls or any form of decoy to draw the animals out.
It is a prohibition to take turkeys while they are roosting. Roost refers to any place a turkey spends the night, but this is mostly on trees.
It is a prohibition to use live turkeys as a form of decoy to hunt wild turkeys in Kentucky.

Baiting Games

It is a prohibition to hunt bears and wild turkeys with bait or try to hunt them in areas where bait is already present. This prohibition also covers the baiting of games on Kentucky private hunting lands. Under this law, any area that has been previously baited will still be considered baited until 30 days after the baits are removed.

Baited areas are lands or places where substances that can attract games like grains or feeds have been placed to draw games like turkeys, deer, and bears out.

However, areas where grains or other feed substances exist due to farm practices or growing crops for wildlife management are not prohibited for hunting.

Game Calling Devices and Restriction

For game calling in Kentucky, the following are allowed:

You can make use of hand or mouth-operated calls to draw out all the game species you want to take.
You can make use of electronic calling devices to draw out furbearer games during their legal hunting season.
You can make use of electronic or mechanical calls to take crows during their hunting seasons.

However, it is a prohibition to use electronic calls or possess the devices during hunting seasons for elk, deer, and turkeys.

Open Carry While Hunting

Kentucky gun law allows anyone to open carry while hunting in the state, with the firearm handled according to gun laws.

The state also has hunter harassment laws for the protection of hunting activities.

The law states that on no account should anyone deliberately interfere or disturb hunting activities in the state that have to do with fishing, trapping, and the like.

Kentucky Hunting License, Permits, and Tags

There are various types of hunting licenses issued in Kentucky based on the residency and age of a hunter. Hunting permits are usually game-specific, and you will need the combination of a hunting license and a game permit to hunt some animals during their specific season.

Hunting licenses, permits, and tags issued in Kentucky include the following:

Kentucky Annual Fishing License

Holders of this license can partake in Kentucky hunting seasons as long as they have the required permits to hunt. The license is available for residents and non-residents at a cost of $27 and $140, respectively.

One-Day Hunting License

This hunting license is only valid for one day. With this license, hunters can take part in various game animal hunting except for big game like turkeys, bears, elks, and deer. It is available for residents and non-residents at a cost of $7 and $15, respectively.

7-Day Hunting License

This hunting license is only valid for 7 days. With this license, hunters can take part in various game animal hunting except for big game like turkeys, bears, elks, and deer. It is available to only non-residents at a cost of $55.

Annual Youth Hunting License

Youth who want to hunt in Kentucky will need to purchase this license. However, for the taking of big game like deer and turkeys, additional permits will be required along with this license. The age requirement for a Kentucky youth hunting license is between the ages of 12 and 15, and the license will be valid for a year. It is available for residents and non-residents at a cost of $6 and $10, respectively.

Shooting Area License

This license is issued to hunters that want to take games with firearms in some areas of Kentucky. Hunters must obtain these licenses along with any other additional ones. It is available for residents and non-residents at a cost of $5.

Annual Trapping Licenses

To trap some games in Kentucky, you need a trapping license. It is available for residents and non-residents of the state at a cost of $20 and $130, respectively.

Landlord/Tenant Trapping Licenses

Hunters must obtain permission from private landowners before they set traps on their properties. They must also purchase the landlord/tenant trapping license. The license is only available to residents, and it costs $10.

Annual Youth Trapping License

Youths that want to trap games in Kentucky will need to purchase this license. The age requirement for a Kentucky youth trapping license is between the ages of 12 and 15, and the license will be valid for a year. It is available to only residents at a cost of $5.

Hunting and Fishing Combination License

Holders of this license will be able to hunt and fish in Kentucky. It is only available for residents of the state, and it is valid for one year. However, extra permits and tags will be required for the hunting of games like turkeys and deer. It costs $42.

Sportsman Hunting and Fishing License

This license is not only limited to the combination of hunting and fishing in Kentucky water bodies. It covers deer permits, turkey permits, migratory bird permits, waterfowl permits, and trout fishing permits. It is available to only residents of the state at a cost of $95.

Youth Sportsman Hunting and Fishing License

This license is not only limited to the combination of youth hunting and fishing in Kentucky water bodies. It covers deer permits, turkey permits, migratory bird permits, waterfowl permits, and trout fishing permits. It is available for only youth residents that are between the ages of 123 and 15 at a cost of $95.

Senior and Disabled Sportsman License

This license covers all the privileges of the Sportsman Hunting and Fishing License in Kentucky, but it is only available for senior and disabled residents. Seniors must be 65 and older before they can apply for this license. It costs $12.

Deer Permits

There are various types of deer permits issued in Kentucky. They include the following:

Deer Permit for the Entire State

This permit will allow hunters to take deer throughout the state. During the hunting season, there is a bag limit of four deer. It costs $35 for citizens and $120 for non-residents of the state, respectively.

Permit for Youth Deer Hunting

This deer ticket is available to youths aged 12 to 15. It has a four-deer bag limit. Residents and non-residents can purchase it for $10 and $15, respectively.

Additional deer licenses

This is a separate deer permit that is available to both residents and non-residents. The permit costs $15 and includes a bag limit of two deer.

Permits for Turkey

The following turkey permits are available in Kentucky:

Spring Turkey Permit for the Entire State

This permit will allow hunters to take turkeys throughout the state. During the hunting season, there is a bag limit of two turkeys. It is accessible for $35 and $75 for residents and non-residents of the state, respectively.

Permit for Youth Turkey Hunting

This turkey permit is available to youths aged 12 to 15. There is a bag limit of one turkey per season. Residents and non-residents can purchase it for $10 and $15, respectively.

Kentucky Fishing and Hunting Licenses, Permits, and Tags

The following hunting and fishing licenses, permits, and tags are available in Kentucky:

Annual Kentucky Fishing License

This license entitles the possessor to fish in numerous bodies of water within the state. Residents and non-residents can purchase it for $23 and $55, respectively.

Fishing License for a Married Couple

This fishing license can be shared by resident spouses. Non-residents are not permitted to use it. The price is $23.

One-Day Fishing Permit

This permit is only good for one day. This license allows you to catch fish in Kentucky’s bodies of water. It is available for $7 and $15 for locals and non-residents, respectively.

3 Day Fishing Permit

This license is only good for three days. It is exclusively available to locals and costs $55.

7-Day Fishing Permit

This hunting permit is only good for seven days. It is a $35 Kentucky out-of-state hunting license for non-residents.

Permit for Trout

The permit is solely valid for trout harvesting. It is available to both residents and non-residents and costs $10.

Kentucky Deer Season

The hunting season in Kentucky varies depending on the game and the weapons used to play the game. Hunters must be aware of the start and end dates for the game animals they intend to hunt.

Deer hunting in Kentuckyeason for various wildlife in 2020-21 includes the following:

Kentucky hunting seasons for deer

Archery Hunting Season (September 5th to January 18th)
Crossbow hunting season begins on September 19th and ends on January 18th.
Muzzleloader Hunting Season (October 17th to October 18th and December 12th to December 20th)
Modern Gun Hunting Season (November 14th to November 29th)
Youth Only Gun Hunting Season (October 10th to October 11th)

Certain firearm seasons for deer hunting in Kentucky may differ depending on the hunting zone. Hunters should contact the Kentucky Department of FishElk Hunting in Kentuckyfirm the particular date for their hunting zone.

Seasons for Hunting Elk in Kentucky

Season for archery and crossbow hunting (12th September to 25th September and 5th December to 11th December)
Bull Firearms Hunting Season (September 26th to September 30th and October 3rd to October 7th)
Cow Firearms Hunting Seasons (November 28th to December 2nd and December 26th to January 30th)
(All elk season dates) Youth Only Hunting Season

Elk hunting seasons in Kentucky vary depending on the season and whether the elk has antlers or not.

Seasons for hunting turkey in Kentucky

Fall Archery Season (September 5th to September 18th)
Fall Firearms Season (October 24th to October 30th and December 5th to December 11th)
Fall Crossbow Season (October 1st to October 18th and December 14th to December 31st)

The spring turkey hunting season is still in the proposal stage; interested hunters should check the state hunting department website to confirm the date.

Seasons foBear Hunting in Kentuckyntucky

Archery Hunting Season (October 24th to October 30th)
Chase Season (June 1st to August 31st)
Crossbow hunting season (October 24th to October 30th)
Season of Firearms Hunting (12th to 18th of December)
Season for Muzzleloader Hunting (No specific season stated)
Season of Dog Hunting (19th of October to 1st of November)

Small Game Hunting Season in Kentucky

Crow Hunting Season (September 1st to November 7th and January 4th to February 28th)
Groundhog Hunting Season (March 1st to February 28th)
Squirrel Hunting Season (August 15th to November 13th and November 16th to February 28th)
Grouse Hunting Season (November 1st to February 28th)
Rabbit hunting season runs from November 1st to February 10th.
Hunting Season for Quail (November 1st to February 10th)

Small game hunting seasons will differ depending on Kentucky hunting zones. Furthermore, bag restrictions, hunting rules, and regulations for the hunting season will differ depending on the game species you wish to take. Hunters should visit the Kentucky Department of Wildlife and Fish website to confirm all pertinent information regarding the individual games they wish to participate in.

Wildlife, Games, and Fishing in Kentucky

The following are some of the most prevalent fauna and games in Kentucky:

Kentucky deer hunting

Deer are widespread in Kentucky, and the Bluegrass Region is the ideal place for deer hunting. Owen County is the most popular deer hunting area in this area. With almost 4000 deer, the county is noted for breaking the record for deer taken in a Kentucky deer hunting season.

Turkey hunting in Kentucky

Turkey hunting in Kentucky has seen constant growth throughout the years, particularly when it comes to capturing wild turkeys. They are also evenly dispersed across all counties. Logan County is well-known for having the best deer hunting spots, with approximately 655 turkeys hunted in a given season.

Kentucky Bear Hunting

Bear hunting in Kentucky is getting more popular with each passing season, owing to the state’s steadily rising bear population. Bears are typically found in Kentucky’s black mountain, pine, and Cumberland regions. Bears can now be found throughout the eastern region of Kentucky.

Kentucky Elk Hunting

Elk hunting in Kentucky is concentrated in the eastern section of the state due to the abundance of elk. Breathitt County has the state’s largest elk herd.

Quail Hunting in Kentucky

In recent years, quail hunting in Kentucky has been less prevalent than usual. However, there is still a lot of preserve hunting for the games available, as well as numerous other opportunities to take quail on Kentucky public hunting areas.

Pheasant Hunting in Kentucky

Pheasant hunting is uncommon in Kentucky because the game is not native to the state. Nonetheless, there are numerous preserves and game farms that have stock pheasants available for licensed hunters to take.

Hunting and shooting ranges in Kentucky

The following shooting ranges are open to the public in Kentucky:

The American Marksmanship Institute
Crittenden County Shooting Club
Shooting Club of France
Green River Shooting Club
Greenup County Wildlife Association
Sportsmen’s Club of Jefferson County
WMA Jones-Keeney
Knob Creek Shooting Range
Montgomery County Fish and Game Association
The Rockcastle Shooting Range

Hunting Lands in Kentucky for Sale and Lease

Kentucky hunting lands for sale include the following:

550 acres in Henderson, Kentucky (Henderson County).
157 acres in Caneyville, Kentucky (Grayson County).
80 acres in La Center, Kentucky (Ballard County).
62.13 acres in Wickliffe, Kentucky (Ballard County).
254 acres in Murray, Kentucky (Calloway County).
296 acres in Columbia, Kentucky (Adair County).

Kentucky hunting lands for lease include the following:

Hancock County deer and turkey lease, 120 acres
100 acres of deer hunting land available in Caneyville, Grayson County.
2 week short-term lease in Ohio County on 210 acres.
DIY deer and turkey hunts on 165 acres in Webster County, Western Kentucky.