Kentucky Hunting & Fishing Seasons Planner (2024)

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ White-tailed
​DeerHunting​

​​​​​301 KAR 2:172​​
Deer Regulations​​

​​​Archery Season​​​ 1st Sat. in Sept. thru 3rd Mon. in Jan. (MLK Day)​​​​ Sept. 7, 2024 - Jan. 20, 2025​​​​​ Youth/Senior Crossbow 1st Sat. in Sept. thru 3rd Mon. in Jan. (MLK Day)​​​ Sept. 7, 2024 - Jan. 20, 2025 Crossbow 3rd Sat. in Sept. thru 3rd Mon. in Jan. (MLK Day)​ Sept. 21, 2024 - Jan. 20, 2025 Youth-only Gun​ 2nd Full Weekend (consecutive Sat.-Sun.) in Oct.​​​​ Oct. 12 - 13, 2024​ Early Muzzleloader 3rd Full Weekend (consecutive Sat.-Sun.) in Oct.​ Oct. 19 -20, 2024 Late Muzzleloader
2nd Sat. in Nov. for 16 days (closes Sun.)
​ Dec. 14 - 22, 2024 Free Youth Weekend* 1st Full weekend (consecutive Sat.-Sun.) in Oct.​​ Dec. 28 - 29, 2024​ Modern Gun 2nd Sat. in Nov. for 16 days (closes Sun.)​​​Nov. 9 - 24, 2024​​ * During the free youth-only weekend, youth (aged 15 or younger) will not be required to have a hunting license or deer permit; however, they must comply with all other statewide deer hunting requirements.
​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​Turkey
Hunting
​
​​​​​​301 KAR 2:142​​
Spring turkey​​​​​​​​301 KAR 2:144​​
Fall turkey​​​Spring Youth​ 1st full weekend (consecutive Sat.-Sun.) in Apr.​​​​​Apr. 6 - 7, 2024​​Spring GeneralSeason Sat. closest to Apr. 15, closes on Sun. after 23 days​​Apr. 13 - May 5, 2024​​​Fall Archery 1st Sat. in Sept. thru 3rd Mon. in Jan.​​Sept. 7, 2024 - Jan. 20, 2025​Fall Shotgun 4th Sat. in Oct. for 7 consecutive days;
1st Sat. in Dec. for 7 consecutive days​​Oct. 26 - Nov. 1, 2024
Dec. 7-13, 2024​​​​​Fall Crossbow Oct 1 thru 3rd full weekend in Oct.;
2nd Sat. in Nov. thru Dec. 31​​​Oct. 1 - 20, 2024
​Nov. 9 - Dec. 31, 2024​​​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​Elk
Hunting

​

​​​​​​​301 KAR 2:132​​
Elk Regulations​​Firearms - Bull
(anterled)​​Last Sat.in Sept. for 5 consecutive days;
1st Sat. in Oct. for five consecutive days
​​​​​​Week 1: Sept. 28- Oct. 2, 2024;
Week 2:Oct. 5 - 9, 2024
​​​Firearms - Cow
(antlerless) ​Last Saturday in Nov. for 5 consecutive days;
Last Saturday in Dec. for 5 consecutive days
​​Week 1: Nov. 30 - Dec. 4, 2024;
Week 2: Dec. 28, 2024 - Jan. 1, 2025
​​​​​​Archery/Crossbow
(either sex) 2nd Sat. in Sept. thru 4th Fri. in Sept.;
1st Sat. in Dec. thru 2nd Fri. in Dec.​
​​​​​Sept. 14-24, 2024;
Dec. 7 - 13, 2024​
​​Youth-only Quota
(either sex)​ Youths may enter a separate drawing pool for either-sex el​k permits
that shall be valid for use during all elk seasons as listed above.​​​ Note: Out-of-zone elk hunters must follow deer season regulations and use only the legal elk hunting equipment to take elk from any county not included in the 16-county elk zone, and must have an Out-of-Zone Elk Permit.​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​Blac​k Bear​
Hunting

​

​​​​​​​301 KAR 2:300​​
Bear Regulatio​ns​​Both Zones -
Chase-only*​​​​​Chase seasons June - Aug., Sept. 9-30
​​​​​​​​June 1 - August 31, 2024;
Sept. 9 -30, 2024​​​​​​Zone 1 -
Hunt with Dogs** 5 consecutive days beginning the Mon.
prior to the 4th Sat. in Oct.
​​​​Oct. 21 - 25, 2024​​Zone 2 - ​​
Hunt with Dogs**​ 5 consecutive d​ays beginning the Mon.
prior to the 4th Sat. in Oct.; and 9 consecutive days
beginning the Thur. following the 4th Sat. in Oct. Oct. 21 - 25, 2024;
Oct. 31 - Nov. 8, 2024​​ Zone 1 -
Archery/Crossbow​​​​​3 consecutive days beginning on the fourth Sat. in Oct.
​​Oct. 26 - 28, 2024​ Zone 2 -
Archery/Crossbow​5 consecutive days beginning on the fourth Sat. in Oct.​​Oct. 26 - 30, 2024
Zone 1 -
Firearms​3 consecutive days beginning the second Sat. in Dec.​​Dec. 14 ​- 16, 2024 Zone 2 -
Firearms​5 consecutive days beginning on the second Sat. in Oct.​Dec. 14 ​- 18, 2024​​​​ *Bear Chase-only is not permitted on WMAs until the third Saturday in August. However, Hensley-Pine Mountain WMA is closed to bear chase and all bear hunting seasons.
**Any legal equipment may be used during the Hunt with Dogs.
Note: Hunters may participate in the Chase-only season even if they have harvested a bear.​
​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​Migratory Birds (webless)
Hunting

​

​​​​​​​301 KAR 2:225​​
Migratory Birds ​Regulatio​ns
301 KAR 2:228​​
Sandhill Crane
Regulatio​ns301 KAR 2:260​​
CrowRegulatio​ns​​​​Dove*
​​​​​1st Segment: Sept. 1 for 56 consecutive days;
2nd Segment: Thanksgiving Day for 11 consecutive ​Days;3rd Segment: Sat. before Christmas for 23 consecutive days
​​​​​​​​​​Sept.1 - Oct.26, 2024;
Nov. 28 - Dec. 8, 2024;
Dec. 21 - Jan. 12, 2025​​​​​​​Common & Purple
Gallinule
Sept. 1 for 70 consecutive days
​​​​​Sept. 1 - Nov. 9, 2024​​​​​​Crow
Sept. 1 thru Nov. 7;
Jan. 4 thru the last day of Feb.
​​​​​Sept. 1 - Nov. 7, 2024;
Jan. 4 - Feb. 28, 2025​​Snipe
3rd Wed. in Sept. for 40 consecutive days;
Thanksgiving Day for 67 consecutive Days
​​ Sept. 18 - Oct. 27, 2024;
Nov. 28, 2024 - Feb. 2, 2025​​​​Sandhill Crane**​Dec. 7 - Jan. 31
​​Dec. 7, 2024- Jan. 31, 2025​ Virginia & Sora Rail
​Sept. 1 for 70 consecutive days​​​Sept. 1 - Nov. 9, 2024
Woodco*ck***
​4th Sat. in Oct. for 47 consecutive days​​​Oct. 26 - Nov. 8, 2024;
Nov. 11 - Dec. 11, 2024​​​​​ * Youth & mentored dove applications are due on the1st Monday in August through the 3rd Friday in August.
** Sandhill Crane permits available only for quota hunt drawings throughSeptember. These permits can be purchased online only through the ​Licenses and Permits app. Hunters must possess printed or electronic proof of valid crane hunting permit.
*** Closed first weekend of modern gun season.
Note: Dove and waterfowl hunters must complete the HIP migratory bird harvest survey before hunting each year. Please check "MyProfile/HipSurvey" for more information. For Crows, a Migratory Bird/Waterfowl permit or completion of the HIP survey is not required, however, a hunting license is still required unless license exempt.
​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Waterfowl
Hunting

​

​​​​​​​301 KAR 2:225​​
Migratory Birds ​Regulatio​ns
301 KAR 2:221​​
Light Goose
Regulatio​ns​
​​​​Teal​
​​​​​3rd Sat. in Sept. for 9 consecutive days
​​​​​​​​​​Sept. 21 - 29, 2024​​​​​​​Wood Duck
3rd Sat. inSept. for 5consecutive days
​​​​​​Sept. 21- 25, 2024​​​​​​Eastern September
Canada Goose Zone
​ Sept. 16 for 15 consecutive days
​​​​​Sept. 16 - Sept. 30, 2024
​​Western September
Canada Goose Zone Sept. 1 for 15 consecutive days
​​​ Sept. 1- Sept.15, 2024
​​​Duck, Coot, Merganser​Thanksgiving Day for 4 consecutive days;
Dec. 7 thru Jan. 31
​​​​Nov. 28 - Dec. 1, 2024;Dec. 7, 2024 - Jan. 31, 2025​Canada/Cackling Goose,
White-fronted Goose & Brant
​Thanksgiving Day thru Feb. 15​​​Nov. 28, 2024 -
Feb.15, 2025
​ Snow Goose
(including Ross' Goose)
​Thanksgiving Day thru Feb. 15​​​​​Nov. 28, 2024 -
Feb. 15, 2025​​ Note: Dove and waterfowl hunters must complete the HIP migratory bird harvest survey before hunting each year. Please check "MyProfile/HipSurvey" for more information.
​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​Waterfowl More
​ ​​​​​​​301 KAR 2:225​​
Migratory Birds ​Regulatio​ns
301 KAR 2:226​​
Youth Waterfowl
Regulatio​ns​
​​​​Light Goose
Conservation Order
​​​​​Feb. 16 - May 31
​​​​​​​​​​​Feb. 16- March 31, 2025
​​​​​​Youth-only Waterfowl
Sat. Before Thanksgiving and 2nd Sat. in Feb.
​​​​​​​​​Nov.23, 2024; Feb. 8, 2025​​​​​​Military/Veteran-only
Waterfowl
​ Sun. Before Thanksgiving and 2nd Sun. in Feb.
​​​​​​​Nov. 24, 2024; Feb.9, 2025
​​​Falconry -Waterfowl
Thanksgiving Day thru last Sun. in Feb.
​​​​​Nov. 28, 2024-
Feb. 23, 2025
​​​ Note: Dove and waterfowl hunters must complete the HIP migratory bird harvest survey before hunting each year. Please check "MyProfile/HipSurvey" for more information.​
​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​Small & Upland GameHunting

​

​​​​​​​301 KAR 2:049​​
Public Areas​
Regulatio​ns​
​ ​​​​​​​301 KAR 2:122​​​
Small Game​
Regulatio​ns​
​​​​Spring Squirrel Hunting
​​​​​3rd Sat. in May thru the 3rd Fri. in June
​​​​​​​​​​​​May 18 - June 21, 2024
​​​​​​FallSquirrel
Hunting*​
3rd Sat. in Aug. thru Feb.
​​​​​​​​​​Aug. 11- Nov. 8, 2024;
Nov. 11, 2024 -
Feb. 28, 2025​​​​​​Fall Squirrel
Trapping
Only trap when both small game hunting
season and trapping season overlap.
​​​​​​​​Nov. 11, 2024 -
Feb. 28, 2025​​​​Rabbit (Eastern Zone)
Hunting​* Nov. 1 thru Jan. 31
​​​​​​​Nov. 1- Nov. 8, 2024;
Nov. 11, 2024 -
Jan. 31, 2025
​​​​​​Rabbit (Eastern Zone)
Trapping
Only trap when both small game hunting
seasonand trapping Season overlap.
​​​​​​​​Nov.11, 2024 -
Jan. 31, 2025​​​Rabbit (WesternZone)
Hunting​ 3rd day of modern gun deer season thru Feb. 10
​​​​​Nov. 11, 2024 -
Feb. 10, 2025
​​​​​​​Rabbit (WesternZone)
Trapping
Only trap when both small game hunting
seasonand trapping Season overlap.
​​​​​​​​Nov.11, 2024 -
Feb.10, 2025​​​​Quail(EasternZone)*​
Nov. 1 thru Jan. 31
​​​​​​Nov. 1, - Nov. 8, 2024;
Nov. 11, 2024 -
Jan. 31, 2025
​​​​​​Quail (Western Zone)
3rd day of modern gun deer season thru Feb. 10
​​​​​​​Nov. 11, 2024 -
Feb. ​10, 2025​​​​Grouse**
Nov. 1 thru the last day of Feb.
​​​​​​​Nov. 1, - Nov. 8, 2024;
Nov. 11, 2024 -
Feb.28, 2025
​​​​​​Pheasant Quota Hunt
(Green River WMA)​
3rd Fri. in Nov. for 3 consecutive days
​​​​​​​​​Nov. 15,-Nov 17, 2024​​​​​​​Pheasant Quota Hunt
(Clay WMA) 1st Fri. in Dec. for3 consecutive days
​​​​​​​​​Dec. 6, - Dec. 8, 2024​​​​​​​Pheasant Quota Hunt
(Yellowbank WMA) 1st Fri. in Dec. for 3 consutive days
​​​​​​​​​Dec. 6, ​- Dec. 8, 2024​​​​​​​​Falconry - Small Game
Sept. 1 thru Mar. 30
​​​​​​​​​Sept. 1, 2024 -
Mar.30, 2025​​​​Free Youth Small Game ​
Hunting & Trapping Week***
Sat after Christmas for 7 consecutive days (closes Fri.)
​​​​​​Dec. 28, 2024 -
Jan. 3, 2025​​ ​​​​*Closed for the 1sttwo days of modern gun deer season.
** In Grouse Hunting Zone only. Closed for the 1st two days of modern gun deer season.
*** A youth (aged 15 or younger) may take a small game with a hunting or trapping license but shall comply with all other statewide requirements.
​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Furbearers
Hunting​

​

​​​​​​​301 KAR 2:049​​
Public Area
​Regulations
301 KAR 2:251​​
Furbearer​
Regulatio​ns​
​​​​Raccoon Hunting*
​​​​​Oct. 1st thru last day of Feb.
​​​​​​​​​​Sept. 21 - 29, 2024​​​​​​​Opossum Hunting*
Oct. 1st thru last day of Feb.
​​​​​​​​Sept. 21- 25, 2024​​​​​​CoyoteHunting**
​Open Season; Lights or Night vision
allowed Dec. 1 - Mar. 31 & May 16 - June 30
​​​​​Year-round
Night Hunting:May 16 - June 30, 2024 &Dec. 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025)
​​​Bobcat Hunting***
Third Saturday in Nov. thru the last day of Feb.
​​​​Nov. 16, 2024 - Feb. 28, 2025
​​​River Otter, Muskrat,
Mink, Beaver,
Red Fox, Gray Fox,
Weasel & Striped Skunk​1/2 hour before sunrise on 3rd day of modern gun deer season thru last day of Feb.​​​​​Nov. 11, 2024- Feb. 28, 2025​​​Groundhog​Open Season
​​​​​Year-round​Furbearer Trapping​1/2 hour before sunrise on 3rd day of modern gun deer season thru last day of Feb.​​​​Nov. 11, 2024 - Feb. 28, 2025
​Falconry - Furbearer​Sept. 1 thru Mar. 30​​​​Sept. 1, 2024 - Mar. ​30​, 2025
​Free Youth Furbearer
Hunting & Trapping Week​Sat. after Christmas for 7 consecutive days (closes Fri.)​​​​​​Dec. 28, 2024 -
Jan. 3, 2025​ * Night hunting on shall close 30-minutes before sunrise on the opening day of modern gun deer season (Nov. 9, 2024).
** Special Restrictions apply. Please consult the for areas where night hunting on coyotes is prohibited.
***Bobcat permit required for bobcat hunters.​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Fishing

​

​​​​​​​301​ KAR 1:058​​
Turtle ​Regulations
301 KAR 1:082​​
Bullfrog ​Regulatio​ns​
301​ KAR 1:210​​
Free Fishing Days​
301​ KAR 1:4​10​​
Nontraditional
Fishing Methods​​​​Free Fishing Days​
​​​​​1st Full weekend (consecutive Sat.-Sun.) in June
​​​​​​​​​​June 1 - 2, 2024​​​​​​​​Gigging & Snagging
for Rough Fish Feb. 1 - May 10
​​​​​​​​Feb. 1 - May 10, 2024​​​​​​Tickling & Noodling
for Rough Fish​June 1 - Aug. 31 (daylight hours)
​​​​​​June 1 - Aug. 31, 2024
​​​Trout Catch & Release
(Designated Streams)*​​
Open year-round except where designated otherwise
​​​​​Oct​. 1, 2024 -
Mar.31, 2025
​​​Bullfrog​Noon on 3rd Fri. in May to midnight Oct. 31
​​​​​​​Noon May 17 -
Oct. 31 (midnight)​​Turtles**​Open Season​​​​​Year-round, day or night
​​ *Please check the for more information.
** Alligator snapping turtles may not be harvested.​
​​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Other
​​
Seethe Regulations
as listed above
​​Spring Youth (Turkey)​​ 1st full weekend (consecutive Sat.-Sun.) in Apr.​​​​​​Apr. 6 - 7, 2024​​​​Free Fishing Days​
​​​​​1st Full weekend (consecutive Sat.-Sun.) in June
​​​​​​​​​​​June 1 - 2, 2024​​​​Youth-only Quota
(either sex)​​​ Youths may enter a separate drawing pool for either-sex el​k permits
that shall be valid for use during all elk seasons as listed above.​​​​​​​​ Youth/Senior
Crossbow ​(deer) 1st Sat. in Sept. thru 3rd Mon. in Jan. (MLK Day)​​​​ Sept. 7, 2024 - Jan. 20, 2025 Youth-only
Gun (​Deer)​ 2nd Full Weekend (consecutive Sat.-Sun.) in Oct.​​​​​ Oct. 12 - 13, 2024​​​​​​Youth-only
Waterfowl**
Sat. Before Thanksgiving and 2nd Sat. in Feb.
​​​​​​​​​​Nov.23, 2024; Feb. 8, 2025​​​​​​Military/Veteran-only
Waterfowl**
​ Sun. Before Thanksgiving and 2nd Sun. in Feb.
​​​​​​​​Nov. 24, 2024; Feb.9, 2025
​​​​​ Free Youth
Weekend (Deer)* 1st Full weekend (consecutive Sat.-Sun.) in Oct.​​ Dec. 28 - 29, 2024​​​​Free Youth Small Game
& FurbearerHunting
& Trapping Week*
Sat after Christmas for 7 consecutive days (closes Fri.)
​​​​​​​Dec. 28, 2024 -
Jan. 3, 2025​​​​
​​​​Bullfrog​Noon on 3rd Fri. in May to midnight Oct. 31
​​​​​​​​Noon May 17 -
Oct. 31 (midnight)​​​​​​Crow**
Sept. 1 thru Nov. 7;
Jan. 4 thru the last day of Feb.
​​​​​​Sept. 1 - Nov. 7, 2024;
Jan. 4 - Feb. 28, 2025​​​Groundhog​Open Season
​​​​​​Year-round​​​​​Turtles***​Open Season​​​​​Year-round, day or night
​​​​​ *During the free youth-only weekends, youth (aged 15 or younger) will not be required to have a hunting license or permitspermit; however, they must comply with all other statewide hunting requirements.
** Dove and waterfowl hunters must complete the HIP migratory bird harvest survey before hunting each year. Please check "MyProfile/HipSurvey" for more information. (For Crows, a Migratory Bird/Waterfowl permit or completion of the HIP survey is not required, however, a hunting license is still required unless license exempt.​)
*** Alligator snapping turtles may not be harvested.