Kentucky Hunting Regulations

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

🎯 Weapon & Equipment Rules

• Archery — Longbows, recurves and compound bows of any draw weight. Fixed blade or mechanical broadheads at least 7/8” wide (when blades extended). Arrows and broadheads may not be chemically-treated.Archery equipment must be legal for deer hunting.
• Crossbow — Crossbows of any draw weight with a working safety. Fixed blade or mechanical broadheads at least 7/8” wide (when blades extended). Arrows (bolts) and broadheads may not be chemically-treated.Crossbow equipment must be legal for deer hunting.
• Handgun — Centerfire cartridges with a case length of 1.285 inches or larger, firing bullets of 6.5 mm (.264 caliber) or larger, designed to expand upon impact.
• Muzzleloader — Muzzle-loading rifle of .45 caliber or larger.
• Rifle — Modern rifle of 6.5 mm (.264 caliber) or larger, with a magazine capable of holding no more than 10 rounds.
• Shotgun — Muzzle-loading or breech-loading shotgun no larger than 10-gauge and no smaller than 20-gauge, firing a single projectile only.

📋 General Regulations

• Bear Baiting Prohibition: Hunters may not use bait or other substances capable of luring black bears. Garbage is considered bait. It is not legal to shoot a bear that is feeding at a trash can or dumpster. Hunters cannot chase or hunt bears from a baited area while bait is present or for 30 days after it is removed.
• Bear Harvest Restrictions: Hunters may not take female bears with cubs, or any bear weighing less than 75 pounds. It is also illegal to disturb or take bears from dens.
• Bear Telecheck and Physical Check: Hunters who harvest a bear must telecheck it by 8 p.m. Eastern time on the day of harvest. They must also call 1-800-858-1549 within 24 hours of harvest to arrange a physical check of the animal and receive a tag from Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.day_of_harvest
• Use of Dogs for Bear: Dogs may not be used to hunt bears during the archery/crossbow or modern gun seasons; however, leashed tracking dogs may be used to recover wounded bears.

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

🎯 Weapon & Equipment Rules

• Archery — Fixed blade or mechanical broadheads at least 7/8” wide (when blades extended). Broadheads may not be chemically treated.
• Crossbow — Crossbows must have a working safety. Fixed blade or mechanical broadheads at least 7/8” wide (when blades extended). Broadheads may not be chemically treated.
• Handgun — Centerfire cartridges with a case length of 1.285 inches or larger, firing bullets of .270 caliber or larger designed to expand upon impact.
• Muzzleloader — Muzzle-loading rifle of .50 caliber or larger.
• Rifle — Modern rifle of .270 caliber or larger with a magazine capable of holding no more than 10 rounds.
• Shotgun — Muzzle-loading or breech-loading shotgun no smaller than 20-gauge, firing a single projectile only.

📋 General Regulations

• Deer Carcass Tag: A carcass tag is required if a harvested deer leaves the hunter’s possession for any reason.before_leaving_possession
• Elk Calling Restriction: A person shall not mimic the sound of an elk on public land open to elk hunting from Sept. 1 until the opening of the elk archery season.
• Elk Telecheck and Survey: All harvested elk must be telechecked by calling 1-800-245-4263. Additionally, all elk hunters must complete and submit a post-season elk hunting survey no later than the last day of February.
• Elk Vehicle Hang Tag: All elk hunters must print and display a department-issued hang tag in their vehicle while hunting.while_hunting

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

🎯 Weapon & Equipment Rules

• Archery — Longbows, recurves and compound bows of any draw weight. Fixed blade or mechanical broadheads at least 7/8” wide (when blades extended). Arrows and broadheads may not be chemically-treated.
• Crossbow — Crossbows of any draw weight with a working safety. Fixed blade or mechanical broadheads at least 7/8” wide (when blades extended). Arrows (bolts) and broadheads may not be chemically-treated.
• Handgun — Any caliber centerfire handgun. Magazines may not be capable of holding more than 10 rounds.
• Muzzleloader — Muzzle-loading rifles or handguns of any caliber, with flint or percussion ignition (including in-lines), shooting round balls, conical bullets or saboted bullets. Muzzle-loading shotguns no larger than 10-gauge are also permitted.
• Rifle — Air guns of .35 caliber or larger charged by an external tank, shooting single projectile ammunition designed to expand upon impact.
• Rifle — Any caliber centerfire rifle. Magazines may not be capable of holding more than 10 rounds.
• Shotgun — 10-gauge or smaller, shooting slug ammunition only (includes saboted bullets).

📋 General Regulations

• Deer Carcass Tag: A carcass tag is required if a harvested deer leaves the hunter’s possession for any reason.before_leaving_possession
• Deer Telecheck: All harvested deer must be telechecked by midnight on the day the deer is harvested or recovered. This can be done online or by calling 1-800-245-4263.day_of_harvest

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

🎯 Weapon & Equipment Rules

• Handgun — Handguns are prohibited.
• Rifle — Rifles are prohibited.
• Shotgun — 10-gauge or smaller, using shot size No. 4 or smaller.Shotgun slugs are prohibited for turkey hunting.

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📋 General Regulations

• Coyote Night Hunting: Coyote hunters may only use artificial light or other means designed to make wildlife visible at night from Dec. 1 to March 31 and May 16 to June 30. When used, artificial light cannot be connected to or cast from a mechanized vehicle. Night hunting for coyotes is not allowed in a county or area where a deer or elk firearm or muzzleloader season is open.

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📋 General Regulations

• Dove Decoy Restriction: Dove hunters are prohibited from using decoys on department-controlled lands during the month of September.

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📋 General Regulations

• Bobcat Telecheck: Harvested bobcats must be telechecked by calling 1-800-245-4263 by midnight on the day the animal is recovered.day_of_harvest

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

🎯 Weapon & Equipment Rules

• Shotgun — Possession or use of any lead shot is prohibited. Only USFWS-approved non-toxic shot may be used.

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📋 General Regulations

• Opossum Hunting Restrictions: A person shall not take an opossum during daylight hours during the modern gun deer season. A hunter shall not use a light from a boat to take an opossum.

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📋 General Regulations

• River Otter Telecheck: Harvested river otters must be telechecked by calling 1-800-245-4263 by midnight on the day the animal is recovered.day_of_harvest

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📋 General Regulations

• Raccoon Hunting Restrictions: A person shall not take a raccoon during daylight hours during the modern gun deer season. A hunter shall not use a light from a boat to take a raccoon.

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📋 General Regulations

• Snow Goose Conservation Order Survey: Everyone who obtains the Snow Goose Conservation Order Permit must report their hunting activity to the Snow Geese Conservation Order Survey by April 10.post_season

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📅 Hunting Seasons

🪪 Licenses & Tags

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📋 General Regulations

• Deer Carcass Tag: A carcass tag is required if a harvested deer leaves the hunter’s possession for any reason.before_leaving_possession

🪪 Licenses & Tags

🪪 Licenses & Tags

📋 General Regulations

• Spotted Skunk Protection: The spotted skunk is a protected species and may not be taken.

📋 General Regulations

• Hunter Education Exemption: A one-time temporary hunter education exemption permit is available, allowing a person to hunt without a hunter education card for one year from the date of purchase.
• Hunter Education Requirement: All hunters born on or after January 1, 1975, must carry proof of valid hunter education certification while hunting.
• Hunter Orange Requirements: Hunters and people accompanying them must wear solid, unbroken hunter orange color visible from all sides on the head, back and chest when hunting for any species during the modern gun, muzzleloader, and youth firearm deer seasons, or a firearm elk or bear season. Hunter orange is not required when hunting waterfowl or doves during these seasons.
• Protected Species: All birds of prey and native songbirds are protected under state and federal laws and may not be taken.
• Use of Drones and Aircraft: It is unlawful to use aircraft or unmanned aircraft systems (drones) to fish, hunt, or take wildlife or to drive or herd any wildlife for the purpose of fishing, hunting, or taking.

📋 General Regulations

• Big Game Harvest Reporting: All harvested deer, elk, and bear must be reported via the Telecheck system.
• Carcass Importation Restrictions: Due to disease risks (CWD), entire carcasses and intact heads of deer, elk, moose, and caribou from other states may not be transported into or through Kentucky.
• Youth Firearm Hunter Accompaniment: Hunters 15 years old and younger who use a firearm for deer or bear must be accompanied by an adult, who shall remain in a position to take immediate control of the youth’s firearm.

📋 General Regulations

• Evidence of Species: When field dressing or otherwise preparing for transportation, one fully feathered wing or the head must be left on each migratory bird (except doves) for identification.during_transport
• Harvest Information Program (HIP) Survey: Before hunting migratory birds, hunters must complete the Harvest Information Program (HIP) survey. After completing the survey, you will receive a confirmation number that must be written on your hunting license or permit.before_hunting
• Migratory Bird Baiting Prohibition: Hunting doves or waterfowl over a “baited” field is illegal. Baited fields are areas where grain, salt or other attractants have been placed other than those that occur by legitimate agricultural practices.
• Migratory Bird Tagging: No person shall give, put or leave any migratory game birds at any place or in the custody of another unless the birds are tagged by the hunter with the hunter’s signature and address, the total number of birds involved by species, and the dates such birds were taken.before_leaving_possession