Overview
Known For
No longer a secret for superior whitetail hunting, Kentucky has earned a reputation as one of the top deer hunting states in the country. In fact, every county in the state has produced a trophy-class whitetail deer.
Terrain
Parts of Kentucky have flat, agricultural land, much like the Midwest. Its northern and western edges are defined by rivers and produce fertile soils. Big forests are found in the central and eastern parts of the state, along with some rugged, mountainous terrain. Central Kentucky has a nice mix of rolling hills, hardwoods, crops, and pastures.
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Kentucky Hunting Seasons
All Zones: June 1-Aug 31
All Zones: Sep 9-30
Use of dogs permitted.
Use of dogs permitted.
Includes Crossbow.
Includes Crossbow.
Use of dogs permitted.
Bag limit: 6; may include no more than 2 wood ducks
Possession Limit: 18; may include no more than 6 wood ducks
Bag limit: 6
Possession Limit: 18
Bag Limit: 6; may include no more than 4 mallards (only 2 of which may be hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 1 pintail, 2 black ducks, and 2 canvasback. 1 scaup Nov. 23-26
Possession Limit: Triple the daily bag limit
Bag limit: 5
Possession Limit: 15
Bag Limit: 5
Possession Limit: 15
No limit
Bag limit of 2.
Bag limit 2.
Two (2) turkeys per season.
One (1) turkey with a beard longer than three (3) inches.
One (1) turkey with no visible beard or a beard shorter than three (3) inches.
One (1) bird may be taken per day.
Two (2) turkeys per season.
One (1) turkey with a beard longer than three (3) inches.
One (1) turkey with no visible beard or a beard shorter than three (3) inches.
One (1) bird may be taken per day.
Two (2) turkeys per season.
One (1) turkey with a beard longer than three (3) inches.
One (1) turkey with no visible beard or a beard shorter than three (3) inches.
One (1) bird may be taken per day.
Kentucky Hunting Regulations
Bear
Bag Limit
The bag limit is one bear per person per license year, regardless of season.
Shooting Hours
30-minutes before sunrise to 30-minutes after sunset.
Hunter Orange Requirement
Bear hunters and those who accompany them, or any other person hunting on public or private lands in the bear hunting zones during a firearm season for bears, must comply with the hunter orange clothing law. This requirement also applies to any person chasing bears during the bear quota hunt with dogs season.
Legal Bear Hunting Equipment
- A modern rifle of 6.5 mm (.264 caliber) or larger, with a magazine capable of holding no more than 10 rounds
- A muzzle-loading rifle of .45 caliber or larger
- A handgun loaded with 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
- Firearms may not be fully automatic (capable of firing more than one round with one trigger pull)
- Full metal jacketed or tracer bullet ammunition is prohibited
- Archery and crossbow equipment that is legal for deer hunting
- During the bear hunt with dogs season, hunters may only harvest a bear using a legal weapon assisted by dogs that are actively pursuing, chasing, baying or treeing a bear prior to harvest. Dogs must be included on the department-approved breed list for the bear season.
Deer
General Deer Information
The statewide deer permit and youth deer permit allow for the harvest of up to four deer. Hunters may take up to one antlered deer and three antlerless deer, or four antlerless deer using the statewide deer permit.
- The statewide season limit for antlered deer is one per hunter.
- A hunter may take as many deer as allowed for each zone. In order to take more than four deer statewide, an additional deer permit must be purchased.
- An additional deer permit allows a hunter to take up to two additional deer beyond the four deer allowed by the statewide or youth deer permits. Zone bag limits apply. Hunters who did not harvest an antlered deer using their statewide or youth deer permits can take one antlered deer and up to one antlerless deer, or up to two antlerless deer with the additional deer permit.
- Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
Legal Deer Hunting Equipment
Scopes are allowed on all hunting equipment (used for statewide seasons).
GUN EQUIPMENT
- Any caliber centerfire rifle or centerfire handgun.
- Rifle, handgun or shotgun magazines may not be capable of holding more than 10 rounds.
- Rifles or handguns may not be fully automatic (capable of firing more than one round with one trigger pull).
- Full metal jacketed or tracer bullet ammunition is prohibited.
- Shotguns, no larger than 10-gauge, shooting slug ammunition only (includes saboted bullets).
- Muzzle-loading rifles, handguns, or shotguns shooting round balls, conical bullets, or saboted bullets.
- Air guns of .35 caliber or larger charged by an external tank, shooting single projectile ammunition designed to expand upon impact.
ARCHERY EQUIPMENT
- Longbows, recurves and compound bows of any draw weight (no minimum).
- Wood, carbon or metal arrows, but arrows may not be chemically treated.
- Fixed blade or mechanical broadheads at least 7/8” wide (when blades extended), but broadheads may not be chemically treated.
CROSSBOW EQUIPMENT
- Crossbows of any draw weight (no minimum), with a working safety.
- Wood, carbon or metal arrows (bolts), but arrows (bolts) may not be chemically treated.
- Fixed blade or mechanical broadheads at least 7/8” (when blades extended), but broadheads may not be chemically treated.
MUZZLELOADING EQUIPMENT
- Muzzle-loading rifles or handguns of any caliber, shooting round balls, conical bullets or saboted bullets.
- Muzzle-loading firearms equipped with open sights or telescopic sights (scopes).
- Muzzle-loading shotguns no larger than 10-gauge, shooting round balls, conical bullets or saboted bullets.
Shooting Hours
30-minutes before sunrise to 30-minutes after sunset.
Zone 1
A hunter may harvest an unlimited number of antlerless deer in Zone 1 using the statewide deer permit and additional deer permits.
Zone 2
A hunter may harvest no more than four deer in Zone 2.
Zone 3
A hunter may harvest no more than four deer in Zone 3. A firearm or air gun cannot be used to take more than one antlerless deer.
Zone 4
A hunter may harvest no more than two deer in Zone 4. Only one can be antlerless. Antlerless deer cannot be harvested during the modern gun season, the early muzzleloader season or the first six days of the late muzzleloader season. The statewide bag limit of one antlered deer still applies.
Bag Limits
Bag limits and harvest restrictions apply to all hunters. There is no dailybag limit on deer. A person may take no more than one (1) deer with visible antlers, excluding male fawns (button bucks). However, on some federally controlled areas, including Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge, Fort Campbell and Fort Knox military reservations and Blue Grass Army Depot, a bonus antlered deer may be taken, as determined by the governing agency for each area.
Elk
Shooting Hours
30-minutes before sunrise to 30-minutes after sunset.
Bag Limit / Hunter Orange Requirement
The season bag limit on elk is one per hunter per season, regardless of permit type. Hunters may not take an elk during a quota elk hunt and also take an elk out-of-zone during the same season. Elk hunters and those who accompany them, or any other person hunting public or private lands in the elk zone during firearm elk seasons, must comply with the hunter orange clothing law.
Migratory Birds
Sandhill Crane – Bag Limits
The daily bag limit for Sandhill Cranes is 2 cranes for permit holders with 2 or more tags, or 1 crane for permit holders with one tag.
Hunting Requirements
All shotguns used to hunt any game species in Kentucky (except deer) must be plugged to hold three shells total; one in the chamber and two in the magazine. Shotguns of 10 gauge or smaller are permitted.
Dove – Bag Limits
Daily Limit: 15 Possession Limit: 45
Virginia and Sora Rail – Bag Limits
Daily Limit: 25 singly or combined Possession Limit: 75
Woodcock – Bag Limits
Daily Limit: 3 Possession Limit: 9
Snipe – Bag Limits
Daily Limit: 8 Possession Limit: 24
Common and Purple Gallinule – Bag Limits
Daily Limit: 3 singly or combined Possession Limit: 9
Small Game
Squirrel – Bag Limit
Daily limit is 6; possession limit is 12.
Rabbit – Bag Limit
Daily limit is 4; possession limit is 8.
Quail – Bag Limit
Daily limit is 8; possession limit is 16.
Shooting Hours
30-minutes before sunrise to 30-minutes after sunset.
Raccoon, Opossum, Coyote, Muskrat, Mink, Beaver, Red Fox, Gray Fox, Weasel & Striped Skunk – Bag Limit
No Limit
Bobcat – Bag Limit
5; no more than 3 of which shall be taken with a gun*
River Otter – Bag Limit
10; only 6 of which can be taken from Otter Zone 2
Grouse – Bag Limit
Daily limit is 4; possession limit is 8.
Turkey
Fall Season Bag Limits
- Four birds total, no more than two (2) of which may be taken with a shotgun.
- No more than one (1) bird may have a beard length of three (3) inches or longer.
- No more than one (1) bird may be taken per day.
Shooting Hours
Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Hunters may be in the field before and after shooting hours.
Legal Spring Turkey Hunting Equipment
Hunters may only use the following to take turkeys during the spring seasons:
- Breech-loading or muzzle-loading shotguns no larger than 10 gauge and no smaller than .410.
- Breech-loading shotguns must be plugged to hold a maximum of three shells (two in magazine and one in chamber).
- Lead or non-toxic shot no larger than No. 4.
- Longbows, recurve bows and compound bows of any draw weight (no minimum).
- Crossbows of any draw weight (no minimum) with a working safety device.
- Non-barbed broadheads with a minimum cutting diameter of 7/8-inch, whether expandable or non-expandable.
Legal Fall Turkey Hunting Equipment
- Breech-loading or muzzleloading shotguns no larger than 10 gauge and no smaller than .410.
- Breech-loading shotguns must be plugged to hold a maximum of three shells (two in magazine and one in chamber)
- Lead or non-toxic shot no larger than No. 4
- Longbows, recurve bows and compound bows of any draw weight (no minimum).
- Crossbows of any draw weight (no minimum) with a working safety device.
- Non-barbed broadheads with a minimum cutting diameter of 7/8-inch, whether expandable or non-expandable.
Spring Season Bag Limits
A hunter may take a male turkey or a turkey with a visible beard. No more than one (1) bird may be taken per day.
No more than two (2) birds may be taken per spring season. Any combination of male turkeys, or turkeys with visible beards, may be included in this two-bird season limit. Turkeys taken by youths during the youth-only season count toward their spring turkey bag limit.
Waterfowl
Shot Size, Type, Shotshell Length Restrictions
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service- approved nontoxic shot no larger than size “T” is required for all waterfowl and sandhill crane hunting. Shot larger than size “T”, or shotshells longer than 3.5 inches, MAY NOT BE POSSESSED OR USED while hunting waterfowl or sandhill cranes. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may approve other types of nontoxic shot which, if approved, will be permitted for waterfowl and sandhill crane hunting. Possession or use of any lead shot or any shot not approved by USFWS while hunting or attempting to take waterfowl or sandhill cranes is prohibited statewide. https://www.fws.gov/birds/bird-enthusiasts/hunting/nontoxic.php
Non-Toxic Shot
Possession or use of any lead shot while hunting or attempting to take waterfowl or Sandhill cranes is prohibited statewide. Non-toxic shot is required for hunting waterfowl. Most major manufacturers offer non-toxic shot shells. A list of non-toxic shot currently approved by the USFWS can be found at: https://www.fws.gov/birds/bird-enthusiasts/hunting/nontoxic.php.
Only USFWS-approved non-toxic shot may be possessed and used to hunt doves, gallinules, rails, woodcock, snipe or other migratory birds on the following WMA’s: Ballard, Boatwright, Doug Travis, Duck Island, Kaler Bottoms, Sloughs, Kentucky River, Ohio River Islands, South Shore, Yatesville Lake, and other areas as posted by signs.
Teal – Bag Limits
Daily Bag Limit: 6 Possession Limit: 18
September Canada Goose – Bag Limits
Daily Bag Limit: 5 Possession Limit: 15
Ducks – Bag Limits
Daily Bag Limit: 6; may include no more than 4 mallards (only 2 of which may be hens),
3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 1 pintail, 2 black ducks, and 2 canvasback. 1 scaup Nov. 25-28 and Dec. 7-17; and 2 scaupDec. 18 – Jan. 31.
Possession Limit: Triple the Daily Bag Limit
Coot – Bag Limits
Daily Bag Limit: 15 Possession Limit: 45
Merganser – Bag Limits
Daily Bag Limit: 5; only 2 may be hooded Possession Limit: Triple the daily bag limit
Canada/Cackling Goose, White-Fronted Goose & Brant – Bag Limits
Daily Bag Limit: 5 combined; 3 Canada geese, 2 white-fronted geese and 1 brant Possession Limit: Triple the daily bag limit
Snow Goose (including Ross’ Goose) – Bag Limits
Daily Bag Limit: 20 Possession Limit: none
Snow Goose Conservation Order – Bag Limits
No Bag Limit
*Season dates and regulation data provided by 
Kentucky Licenses, Permits, and Regulations
Kentucky hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources website. Click below to view the website.
Hunting GPS Maps
Every Kentucky hunter should have hunting GPS maps on hand. Kentucky hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view maps of hunt zones, along with State, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for Kentucky.
Hunt Zones
There are four primary deer hunt zones in Kentucky. In Zone 1, hunters may harvest an unlimited number of antlerless deer using the statewide deer permit and additional deer permits. In Zone 2, hunters may harvest no more than four deer. In Zone 3, a hunter may harvest no more than four deer, and a firearm or air gun cannot be used to take more than one antlerless deer. In Zone 4, a hunter can harvest no more than two deer, only one of which can be antlerless; plus other restrictions apply. Click below to view Kentucky’s hunt zones in more detail through an interactive map.
Hunting Layers
KY Private Lands
Over 1,900,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer helps you know who the property owners are in Kentucky. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.
KY Gov Lands
onX has the most accurate maps of Gov Lands, covering over 1,800,000 acres in Kentucky. Not all Gov Lands offer access opportunities, check regulations before recreating.
KY Possible Access
onX has mapped 73,000 acres of possible access lands in Kentucky including timber companies and land conservation groups. Research rules on these private lands before recreating.
KY Public Hunt Areas
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources shows Public Hunt Areas (Wildlife Management Areas) that are for public use. Some areas require a user permit.
KY Hunt Zones
Kentucky Deer and Elk Hunting Zones. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt.
Includes 2 Sublayers
- Deer Zones
- Elk Zones
KY Elk Regulated Areas
KY Elk Regulated Areas are publicly accessible lands. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt (onXmaps).
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