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Kentucky is one of the best choices for hunting since it has many hunting seasons every year for a diverse array of animals. Wildlife is abundant in the state’s forests, from the elusive wild turkey to the magnificent elk. However, before you go out into the wild, you should study up on Kentucky’s hunting rules and regulations and the licenses and permits you’ll need to do so. You may have a successful and fun hunting season if you know what you’re doing and are well-prepared. Lets find out!
Kentucky Hunting Seasons
The state’s forests are home to a wide variety of wildlife, from Coyote and bears to Goose, Teal ducks, and turkeys, all of which are fair game for hunters. Kentucky is a great hunting destination since it offers a wide variety of wildlife. Remember, however, that specific game requires a hunting license or permit, which may be obtained easily via licensing agents or over the phone, as well as online for both residents and visitors. The price of a license or permit changes depending on factors such as the time of year, the applicant’s location, the applicant’s age, and any special designations.
After a successful harvest, hunters must contact the Department of Fish and Wildlife either by phone or via their website. It is important to remember that no of the method of bagging, all elk, turkeys, bears, bobcats, and river otters must be checked in. Please go to the Fish and Wildlife Resources website for further information, since check-in times vary per species. In addition, federal military reserves may have their own hunting seasons and regulations that are different from the rest of the state. Get in contact with the appropriate organization for further details about federal properties including the Blue Grass Army Depot, Fort Campbell Military Reservation, and Fort Knox Military Reservation.
Below is a list of Hunting Schedules for Kentucky
Deer Season
Season | Start Date | End Date | Type | Zone |
Archery | 2-Sep-23 | 15-Jan-24 | Either sex | Statewide |
Crossbow | 16-Sep-23 | 15-Jan-24 | Either sex | Statewide |
Crossbow Season | 16-Sep-23 | 15-Jan-24 | Either sex | Statewide |
Senior/Youth Crossbow | 2-Sep-23 | 15-Jan-24 | Either sex | Statewide |
Modern Gun | 11-Nov-23 | 26-Nov-23 | Either sex | Zone 1, 2 and 3 |
Modern Gun | 11-Nov-23 | 26-Nov-23 | Either sex | Zone 4 |
Muzzle-loader | 21-Oct-23 | 22-Oct-23 | Either sex | Zones 1, 2 and 3 |
Muzzle-loader | 9-Dec-23 | 17-Dec-23 | Either sex | Zone 4 |
Youth-Free | 30-Dec-23 | 31-Dec-23 | Either sex | Statewide |
Youth-Only Gun | 14-Oct-23 | 15-Oct-23 | Either sex | Statewide |
Free Youth Weekend | 30-Dec-23 | 31-Dec-23 | Either sex | Statewide |
Elk Season
Elk Season | Hunting Dates |
Either-Sex Archery/Crossbow | 9 Sep, 2023 - 22 Sep, 2023 |
Either-Sex Archery/Crossbow | 2 Dec, 2023 - 8 Dec, 2023 |
Cow Firearms | 25 Nov, 2023 - 29 Nov, 2023 |
Cow Firearms | 30 Dec, 2023 - 3 Jan, 2023 |
Bull Firearms | 30 Sep, 2023 - 4 Oct, 2023 |
Bull Firearms | 7 Oct, 2023 - 11 Oct, 2023 |
Turkey Season
Turkey Season | Huntng Dates |
Spring Turkey | |
Youths 15 & younger | 7 April, 2023 - 8 April, 2023 |
Regular Season | 15 April, 2023 - Closes on Sun after 23 consecutive days |
| |
Fall Turkey | |
Archery | September 2, 2023 - January 15, 2024 |
Crossbow | 1 Oct, 2023 - 22 Oct , 2023 |
Crossbow | 11 Nov, 2023 - 31 Dec, 2023 |
Shotgun | 28 Oct, 2023 - 3 Nov, 2023 |
Shotgun | 2 Dec, 2023 - 8 Dec, 2023 |
Squirrel Season
Squirrel Season | Hunting Start Date | Hunting End Date |
Spring | 20 May, 2023 | 16 June, 2023 |
Fall | 19 Aug, 2023 | 29 Feb, 2023 |
Dove Season
Dove Season | Hunting Dates |
1st Segment | 1 Sep - 26 Oct, 2023 |
2nd Segment | 23 Nov, 2023 - 3 Dec, 2023 |
3rd Segment | 23 Dec, 2023 - 14 Jan, 2024 |
Free Youth Hunting Season
Season | Hunting Dates |
Youth ages 15 & younger | 30 Dec, 2023 - 5 Jan, 2024 |
Bear Season
KY Bear Season | Location | Season Dates | Hunt Type |
Archery & Crossbow - Upcoming Season | Bear Zone 1 | Oct 28, 2023 - Oct 30, 2023 | Either Sex |
Archery & Crossbow - Upcoming Season | Bear Zone 2 | Oct 28, 2023 - Nov 1, 2023 | Either Sex |
Chase-Only - Past Season | Bear Zones | Jun 1, 2023 - Aug 31, 2023 | Either Sex |
Currently in Season | Bear Zones | Sep 9, 2023 - Sep 30, 2023 | Either Sex |
Firearm - Upcoming Season | Bear Zone 1 | Dec 9, 2023 - Dec 11, 2023 | Either Sex |
Firearm - Upcoming Season | Bear Zone 2 | Dec 9, 2023 - Dec 13, 2023 | Either Sex |
Hunt with Dogs - Upcoming Season | Bear Zone 1 | Oct 23, 2023 - Oct 27, 2023 | Either Sex |
Hunt with Dogs - Upcoming Season | Bear Zone 2 | Nov 2, 2023 - Nov 10, 2023 | Either Sex |
Furbearers, Small Game and Upland Game
Rabbit
Rabbit Hunting | Hunting Dates | Note |
Western Zone | 3rd day of modern gun deer season thru Feb 10, 2024 | |
Eastern Zone | Nov 1, 2023 - Jan 31, 2024 | the first weekend of the Mordern gun deer season is closed |
Quail
Quail Hunting Season | Hunting Dates | Note |
Western Zone | 3rd day of modern gun deer season thru Feb 10, 2024 | |
Eastern Zone | Nov 1, 2023 - Jan 31, 2024 | the first weekend of the Mordern gun deer season is closed |
Grouse
Hunting Season | Hunting Dates | Note |
Grouse Season | Nov 1, 2023 - Feb 29, 2024 | n grouse zone only; closed during the first 2 days of modern gun deer season |
Pheasant
Pheasant Hunting Season | Hunting Dates |
Green River Lake WMA | Nov 3, 2023 - Nov 9, 2023 |
Clay & Yellowbank WMAs | Dec 1, 2023 - Dec 3, 2023 |
Raccoon and Opposum Season
Hunting Season | Hunting Dates |
Raccoon and Opposum | Oct 1, 2023 to Feb 29, 2024 |
Coyote Season
Hunting Season | Hunting Start Date | Hunting End Date | Type |
Coyote General Season | 1-Jan | 31-Dec | either sex |
Night Hunting - No Lights Allowed | Jun 1 2023 | Nov 30 2023 | either sex |
Night Hunting with Lights | May 16 2023 | Jun 30 2023 | either sex |
Trapping Season | Nov 13 2023 | Feb 29 2024 | either sex |
Bobcat Season
Hunting Season | Hunting Dates |
Bobcat Season | Nov 25, 2023 - Feb 29, 2024 |
Other furbearers Season
Hunting Season | Hunting Dates |
Other furbearers | 3rd day of modern gun deer season thru Feb 29, 2024 |
Groundhog Season
Hunting Season | Hunting Dates |
Groundhog Season | Year Round |
Falconry Season
Hunting Season | Hunting Dates |
Falconry | Sep 1, 2023 - March 30, 2024 |
KY Migratory Birds Season
Woodcock
Hunting Season | Hunting Dates | Note |
Woodcock Season | 28 Oct, 2023 - 13 Dec, 2023 | the first two days of the Modern guns deer season are closed. |
Snipe
Hunting Season | Hunting Dates |
Snipe Season | 20 Sep, 2023 - 29 Oct, 2023 |
Snipe Season | 23 Nov, 2023 - 28 Jan, 2024 |
Wood Duck
Hunting Season | Hunting Dates |
Wood Duck | Sep 16, 2023 - Sep 20, 2023 |
Teal
Hunting Season | Hunting Dates |
Teal | Sep 16, 2023 - Sep 24, 2023 |
Rail and Gallinule
Hunting Season | Hunting Dates |
Rail and Gallinule | Sep 1, 2023 - Nov 9, 2023 |
Crow
Season | Location | Hunting Season Start Dates | Hunting Season End Dates |
Currently in Season | Statewide | 1-Sep-23 | 7-Nov-23 |
Upcoming Season | Statewide | 4-Jan-24 | 29-Feb-24 |
Sandhill Crane
Hunting Season | Hunting Dates |
Sandhill Crane | Dec 4, 2023 - Jan 28, 2024 |
Canada Goose
Hunting Season | Hunting Dates |
Canada Goose | Sep 16, 2023 - Sep 30, 2023 |
Canada Goose | Nov 23, 2023 - Feb 15, 2024 |
Cackling, White-fronted & Snow Goose & Brant
Hunting Season | Hunting Dates |
Cackling, White-fronted & Snow Goose & Brant | Nov 23, 2023 - Feb 15, 2024 |
Light Goose Conservation Order
Hunting Season | Hunting Dates |
Light Goose Conservation Order | Feb 16, 2024 - March 31, 2024 |
Duck, Coot, Merganser
Hunting Season | Hunting Dates |
Duck, Coot, Merganser | Sep 23, 2023 - Sep 26, 2023 |
Duck, Coot, Merganser | Dec 7, 2023 - Jan 31, 2024 |
Youth Waterfowl Hunting
Youth Waterfowl Hunting | Hunting Dates |
Eastern Zone | Nov 4, 2023 - Nov 5, 2023 |
Western Zone | Feb 3, 2024 - Feb 4, 2024 |
- **Dates for each season vary by zone.
- Small game seasons have nonspecific start and end times.
Variable bag limits, special seasons, and other hunting regulations in Kentucky vary with species and time of year. For more information on licensing, permits, and regulations in the state of Kentucky, check out their website.
Bullfrog Season
Season Type | Location | Season Dates | Hunt Type |
Bullfrog Season - General (Opens at noon) | Statewide | May 19, 2023 - Oct 31, 2023 | Either Sex |
Kentucky hunting license.
A hunting license and, in certain situations, additional permits, such as a state-issued deer permit or a license to shoot birds, are required in Kentucky. Obtaining a license is easy at fw.ky.gov; just remember to carry a photo ID, driver’s license, Social Security card, and your date of birth whenever you go hunting.
Permit Types | (Resident) | (Non-Resident) |
(Deer) | USD 35 | USD 185 |
(Additional 2 deer) | USD 15 | USD 15 |
Spring Turkey-statewide (2 turkeys) | USD 30 | USD 85 |
Fall Turkey-statewide (4 Turkeys) | USD 30 | USD 85 |
(Elk Drawing) | USD 10 | USD 10 |
(Bear) | USD 30 | USD 250 |
Licenses Types | (Resident) | (Non-Resident) |
Yearly Hunting | USD 27 | USD 150 |
(Shooting Area-License) | USD 5 | USD 5 |
(Yearly Combo Hunt/Fish) | USD 42 | Not Applicable |
(Sportsman) | USD 95 | Not Applicable |
Hunting Regulations
Hunting Hours: Kentucky allows shooting from 30 minutes before dawn to 30 minutes after sunset, except for waterfowl, migrating birds, raccoons, coyotes, turtles, and frogs. Hunters are allowed in the field without guns. Raccoons and opossums may be killed anytime. However, contemporary firearms deer season allows only nighttime shooting. See coyote furbearer hunting and trapping exclusions here. USNO provides dawn and sunset tables.
Hunting Exceptions: The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife enables hunters with physical disabilities to use crossbows during archery-only seasons and hunt from stationary vehicles. These hunters must receive a doctor’s exemption paperwork before hunting. Call 1-800-858-1549 or download a form from the website. After completion, the exemption form is the hunter’s permission and must not be returned to the department. Exempt hunters must have a signed exemption form, a hunting license, and permits.
Property Permission: Shooting, hunting, trapping, fishing, or other wildlife-related recreational activity on another’s property without permission is unlawful. Hunters must access private land, including railroad tracks and rights of way. Landowners are not required to let hunters return with their game or dogs. Undocumented people may be detained and convicted.
Hunter Education: Kentucky hunters born after January 1, 1975, must have hunter education certification or exemption permission. Hunting permits and digital paperwork with image identification meet this need. Hunter education is not necessary for non-licensed hunters. Since March 1, 2014, hunter education cards must be pre-registered online. A 9-year-old must complete the hunter education course to get an orange certification card. Kentucky allows out-of-state hunter education cards. Hunter Education is not required for children under 12, but they must be accompanied by a trained adult and have the weapon within reach. A hunter must accompany fewer than two or more two youngsters under 12.
Apprentice Hunting: Kentucky first-time hunters may get a temporary hunter education exemption permit online. First-time hunters must be accompanied by a licensed adult hunter (at least 18 years old) who has completed the hunter education course and can assume immediate control of the novice hunter’s bow or rifle at all times to qualify for this permit. Hunter’s education is required when the exemption permission expires. It doesn’t matter the hunter’s age. Blue Grass Army Depot and Fort Campbell will not honor the temporary hunter education exemption permit outside Kentucky. Landowners, their wives, and dependent children may hunt on their own or work property without taking a hunter education course. Thus, Kentucky’s hunter-education laws apply even if they’re hunting elsewhere.
Hunter Orange: During contemporary gun, muzzleloading, youth firearm, and firearm elk or bear seasons in Kentucky, hunters and anyone accompanying them must wear a solid, unbroken hunter orange color on the head, back, and chest. This legislation exclusively covers daytime hunting. Duck and dove hunters are exempt from this rule. Mesh clothing branded hunter orange may have holes no bigger than one-quarter inch in any measurement and may disclose a small bit of another color. Without hunter-orange, squirrels, rabbits, and quail cannot be shot during rifle deer or elk seasons. This law also prohibits camouflage-patterned hunter-orange garments without matching head, back, and chest gear. Archery and ground blind hunters must paint their blinds hunter orange during deer firearms seasons.
Prohibited Hunting Practices: Kentucky prohibits hunting on highway medians and rights-of-way with weapons, bows, arrows, crossbows, and similar equipment. Hunting from a car is illegal unless permitted by law. However, boat-hunting small game and furbearers are allowed. It’s also illegal to annoy wildlife from an airplane or shoot at animals to capture or kill them. Dogs, mounts, and sneaking up on water-bound deer, elk, and turkeys are forbidden. Dogs can only find and flush turkeys in the autumn. Feeding bears, hungry or not, is illegal. Animals cannot be caught using fire, smoke, explosives, or gas. All state parks, WMAs, the Daniel Boone National Forest, Jefferson National Forest, Land Between the Lakes, Big South Fork National River, and Recreation Area allow hunting; however, baiting is prohibited. Hunting deer and elk using electronic decoys and sounds, hunting turkeys while roosting, using live turkeys as decoys, and baiting wild turkeys or bears are illegal. The region is deemed baited for 30 days after all bait is removed, making hunting unlawful.
Licenses to carry deadly weapons in concealed Form: Kentucky hunters may use any legal rifle, but they must legally catch animals.
Devices Restrictions: Kentucky only allows furbearer season electronic calls and lures. The state allows the hunting of other species using hand or mouth-operated calls. Only during crow season can mechanical or electronic calls catch crows. Electronic calling devices are prohibited for deer, turkey, and elk hunters.
Spotlighting: In Kentucky, it is prohibited to shine a spotlight or artificial light onto a private dwelling or other building or any public or private field, pasture, forest, or woodland where wild or domestic cattle are reasonably anticipated. Landowners, their immediate family members, and any paid employees working on the land at the time are exempt from this law, as are vehicles using their headlights in the ordinary course of travel, lights used in legitimate agricultural activities, and anyone engaged in legitimate business or occupation activities, including lawful hunting. Except for raccoons, opossums, frogs, and fishes, it is forbidden to blind or illuminate wildlife at night. See coyote furbearer hunting and trapping exclusions here.
Live Native animal transport & Holding: Wild animals cannot be collected or kept without proper documentation in forbidden regions. Selling, trading, or bartering wild-caught native species or their parts is forbidden. Wildlife obtained illegally may be confiscated and punished. People who illegally transport live deer or other cervids (deer family members) or keep them in unlicensed facilities or cages risk having their animals taken, killed, and fined heavily. Wildlife rehabilitators must care for orphaned creatures.
Hunting with Dogs: As long as they hunt during legal seasons, Kentucky hunters may run or train dogs for rabbits, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, and opossums year-round. Pets must be checked before entering a Wildlife Management Area. Unless exempt, you need a hunting license to legally hunt rabbits or furbearers, even if you’re training your dogs. Dogs can hunt bears during designated seasons, not deer or elk. Dogs on leashes can locate and find injured deer, elk, and bears. Raccoon squallers may flush raccoons and opossums from trees and dens year-round, except during hunting season.
Bobwhite Hunt: Bobwhite Shoot-to-Train season allows private landowners to harvest captive bobwhite quail for bird dog training. Except for bobwhites, the season spans from August 15–May 15. Before releasing pen-reared birds, you must have a hunting license or be exempt from one, fill out and submit an application to the department, show proof of sale or ownership, have a captive wildlife permit if you keep more than 100 birds or for more than 10 days, clear the training area of wild quail, and band them with No. 7 leg bands or department bands.
Convicted Felons: Breech- and muzzleloading rifles, shotguns, and pistols are illegal for felons in Kentucky (the prohibition on handguns applies to those convicted after January 1, 1975, and the prohibition on other firearms applies to those convicted after July 15, 1994). Ask the county or commonwealth attorney whether a hunting firearm is legal in your jurisdiction.
FAQs related to Kentucky Hunting Seasons
Which animals are permissible to hunt in Kentucky?
Kentucky has a wide variety of game species that are legal to hunt. These include deer, elk, bear, grouse, rabbit, quail, coyote, bobcat, fox, turkey, hog, coyote, and groundhog.
Are deer bailable on privately owned property in Kentucky?
In Kentucky, hunters on private land are allowed to use bait while shooting deer. Bait deer hunting is prohibited on any publicly accessible lands.
How long is the Kentucky hunting season?
Beginning in the middle of November, the Kentucky season lasts for 16 days, coinciding with the rut, or peak of fall mating, when deer are more active than normal. Deer get more active and roam greater distances if food sources become scarce.
Is a license required in Kentucky to hunt squirrels?
Trappers above the age of 12 are required to get a license. Unless they have a permission from the Kentucky Fish and Species Cabinet, trappers must swiftly catch squirrels and rabbits.
Can you shoot deer using bait in Kentucky?
It all depends on where you go hunting. Only on privately owned property is it acceptable to use bait when hunting.
John Lewis, the passionate founder of HuntingSeasons.org, is committed to promoting responsible hunting and a profound love for the wilderness. With years of expertise, his platform serves as a reliable guide for hunting enthusiasts, advocating ethical practices and nature preservation.
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Kentucky Fall turkey modern gun is missing. I believe it is December
Modern gun season dates for Kentucky are November 12-27, 2022.
when will the 2023-2024 hunting information be distributed?