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Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife

Small Game and Furbearer Hunting/Trapping Seasons

Season dates and limits for the various small game and furbearer species that can be hunted or trapped in Kentucky are listed in this section. 

 

ALL hunters are required to abide by the hunter orange clothing law when it applies.

Be sure you are aware of ALL deer or elk firearms hunting season dates.  During periods when multiple hunting seasons are open at the same time, hunters must abide by the equipment restrictions in effect for the type of hunting they engage in.

 

Persons may trap squirrels, rabbits, quail, grouse, and groundhogs when the hunting season is open for that species following the trapping equipment guidelines found later in this section.  Bag limits for hunting apply.

 

Hunters who intend to hunt on a KDFWR-owned wildlife management area, or any other public hunting area, should ALWAYS CHECK the season dates and special requirements for the area they intend to hunt. SEASON DATES ON WMAs MAY NOT BE THE SAME AS THE STATEWIDE SEASONS.  Individual WMA seasons are listed in the WMA Section of this guide.

 

Free Youth Hunting and Trapping Week

 

For one week beginning the Saturday after Christmas Day (Dec. 30, 2006 – Jan. 5, 2007), youth hunters and trappers ages 15 and under are permitted to hunt and trap small game and furbearers without a hunting or trapping license.  (Since youth hunters are also permitted to hunt deer with a firearm on the Saturday and Sunday following Christmas Day, the hunter orange clothing law applies these two days for ALL hunters.)  Statewide equipment requirements and bag limits for small game hunting and trapping remain in effect.  Hunter education is not required for license-exempt hunters; however, it is strongly recommended. Adults accompanying youth hunters/trappers during the Free Youth Hunting and Trapping Week do not have to have a hunting or trapping license if the adult is not hunting/trapping.

 

LEGAL HUNTING EQUIPMENT FOR SMALL GAME & FURBEARERS

 

Hunters may use muzzle‑loading or modern rifles or handguns of any caliber, shotguns no larger than 10-gauge, archery or crossbow equipment, falcons or dogs to take the following game species: squirrel, rabbit, quail, grouse, pheasant, bobcat, river otter, coyote, groundhog, mink, muskrat, striped skunk, weasel, beaver, red fox and gray fox. 

 

Hunting these species with slingshots is prohibited. Shotguns used to hunt small game must be plugged to hold a maximum of three shells (two in magazine and one in chamber). Using or carrying buckshot when hunting these species is prohibited.

 

The equipment described above is also legal for taking raccoons and opossums, except during the modern firearms deer season when only .22 rimfire rifles may be used while hunting at night. (See the section that follows on raccoon and opossum hunting). (301 KAR 2:251)

 

On some WMAs, special equipment restrictions apply, as noted in Section 2 of the Hunting on Wildlife Management Areas portion of this guide.

 

 

SQUIRREL SEASONS

Aug. 19 – Nov. 10 & Nov. 13 – Feb. 28

(the third Saturday in August through the end of February except closed during the first two days of modern gun deer season)

 

June 2 – 15, 2007 (14 consecutive days beginning the first Saturday in June)

Daily limit is 6; possession limit is 12.

 

             RABBIT & QUAIL SEASON:

Nov. 13 – Feb. 10

(Open the Monday following the first weekend of modern gun deer season through Feb. 10)

 

in the following counties:

 

Allen, Ballard, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Daviess, Fulton, Graves, Hancock, Henderson, Hickman, Hopkins, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Simpson, Todd, Trigg, Union, Warren and Webster counties

 

In the rest of the state,

 

Nov. 1- 10 & Nov. 13 – Jan. 31

(Open first of November through end of January, except closed during the first two days of modern gun deer season) 

 

Daily limit for rabbit is 4; possession limit is 8.


 

Daily limit for quail is 8; possession limit is 16.

 

GROUSE SEASON:

Nov. 13 – Feb. 28

(Open the Monday after modern gun deer season opens through the end of February)

 

in the following counties only:

 

Adair, Bath, Bell, Boyd, Bracken, Breathitt, Campbell, Carter, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Garrard, Greenup, Harrison, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, Madison, Magoffin, Martin, Mason, McCreary, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Owsley, Pendleton, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Russell, Wayne, Whitley and Wolfe

 

Grouse hunting is also allowed on Pennyrile-Tradewater WMA and Ft. Knox during the month of December, except during quota deer hunts.

 

Daily limit for grouse is 4; possession limit is 8.

 

 

RIVER OTTER          

Noon Nov. 13 – noon Feb. 28

 

Regulations regarding river otter harvest zone and bag limits to be announced.

 

BOBCAT                   

Noon Nov. 13 – Jan. 31

 

Bobcats may be taken statewide and the season limit is three (3) bobcats per person.

 

Legal Taking Methods

Bobcats and otters may be taken by hunting during daylight hours or by trapping.  The appropriate hunting or trapping license is required. Hunters may use hand‑ or mouth‑operated calls, electronic calls, or attracting devices.  Harvested bobcats and otters must be telechecked by calling 1-800-245-4263 by midnight of the day the animal is recovered. (This is the same checking system as for deer and turkey).

 

A hunter or trapper who wants to have a bobcat or otter mounted shall provide his/her telecheck confirmation number to the taxidermist.  Taxidermists cannot legally accept an unchecked otter or bobcat for mounting.

 

Hunters or trappers who intend to sell the raw fur of an otter or bobcat must contact the KDFWR at 1-800-858-1549 and provide their telecheck confirmation number and request a CITES tag.  The CITES tag shall be attached to and remain with the pelt until it is processed (the process of selling furs is discussed in the following section.)  Possession of an unused bobcat or otter CITES tag is prohibited, unless expressly authorized by the KDFWR. (301 KAR 2:081, 2:240, 2:251)

 

Bobcat hunting and trapping is also permitted at Land Between the Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area; for specific requirements and season dates contact: LBL, Golden Pond, KY 42231; phone (270) 924‑2065.

 

RACCOON & OPOSSUM HUNTING SEASON

Nov. 1 – Feb. 28

 

During modern gun deer season raccoon and opossum hunters may not hunt during daylight hours or carry firearms other than .22-caliber rimfire while hunting at night.  Night hunting on Friday, Nov. 10 shall conclude by ½-hour before sunrise on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2006, which is when shooting hours for modern gun deer season open.  No bag limit.

 

RACCOON & OPOSSUM TRAPPING SEASON

Noon Nov. 13 – noon Feb. 28

 

No bag limit.  Raccoons and opossums may not be taken with the aid of lights from a boat except by trapping. 

 

MINK, MUSKRAT, BEAVER, RED FOX, GRAY FOX, WEASEL & STRIPED SKUNK

 

Noon Nov. 13 – noon Feb. 28

(Opens at 12 noon, the Monday following opening weekend of the modern gun deer season and runs through 12 noon the last day of February)

 

These species may be taken by hunting or trapping during this season. No bag limits.

 

COYOTE, WILD HOG & GROUNDHOG HUNTING

The hunting season on coyotes, wild hogs and groundhogs is open statewide and year-round with no bag limit.  The appropriate hunting license is required, unless exempt.  Hunting coyotes at night is prohibited.  Hog hunters in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area must have a permit. 

 

COYOTE TRAPPING SEASON

Noon Nov. 13 – noon Feb. 28

Trapping coyotes is permitted only during the furbearer season.  The appropriate trapping license is required, unless exempt.

 

BUYING AND SELLING FURS & HIDES

There is no time restriction on the holding of raw furs of furbearers by a trapper or hunter after the close of furbearer season.

 

Raw furs (including hides from legally harvested deer) may be sold only to licensed taxidermists, licensed fur buyers or licensed fur processors. Wildlife carcasses (except certain species produced by licensed propagators) may not be bought or sold. Inedible parts of wildlife (including the hooves or other inedible parts of legally taken deer) and wildlife mounts may be sold to or purchased from licensed taxidermists only.

 

Spotted skunks are protected year-round and may not be taken or possessed.  (KRS 150.370, 150.180, 150.411; 301 KAR 2:080, 2:240, 2:251, 3:030, 4:090)

 

LEGAL TRAPPING EQUIPMENT & RUNNING THE TRAP LINE

 

The following equipment is permitted for dry-land sets: Deadfalls, wire cages or box traps, foothold traps with a maximum inside jaw spread of six (6) inches measured perpendicular to the hinges, Conibear or body-gripping traps with a maximum inside jaw spread of seven and one-half (7.5) inches measured parallel with the trigger, and non-locking snares.

 

Any trap may be used for water sets. Trappers may use lights from boats or vehicles. All traps must bear a metal tag giving the name and address of the trapper. Any trap found without a tag can be immediately confiscated by the KDFWR without a court order.

 

A person shall not enter upon the lands of another to shoot, hunt, trap or fish, or for other wildlife-related recreational purposes, without the oral or written permission of the landowner, tenant or person who has authority to grant permission. Those who fail to obtain permission are subject to arrest and prosecution. Railroad tracks and rights‑of‑way are privately owned property and permission must be obtained prior to entry. (KRS 150.092)

 

All traps must be visited at least once a day (every 24 hours) and all animals removed. Traps set on land must be at least 10 feet apart and must not be set in trails or paths commonly used by humans or domestic animals. (KRS 150.399, 150.410; 301 KAR 2:251)

 

FALCONRY SEASON: 

Sept. 1 – March 30

 

The limit for this hunting method is two of any small game or furbearer species per falconer (singly or in aggregate per day), except during the regular hunting season when the limits are the same as for other methods. Falconers must possess a falconry permit, as well as a valid Kentucky hunting license, and obey all applicable state and federal laws.  (301 KAR 2:195, 2:251)

 

CROW SEASON:

Sept. 1 – Nov. 7

Jan. 4 – Feb. 28

 

There is no daily or possession limit on crows.

 

Crows observed committing or about to commit acts of depredation may be taken year-round; however, persons attempting to take depredating crows shall not use blinds, decoys, calls or other lures to attract birds into shooting range during the closed season. (301 KAR 2:260)

 

BULLFROG SEASON:

Noon May 19 – Oct. 31, 2006

Noon May 18 – Oct. 31, 2007

( noon on the third Friday in May through the end of October)


 

 

The daily limit (noon to noon) is 15; possession limit is 30.

 

If frogs are taken by gun or bow and arrow, a hunting license is required. If taken by pole and line, a fishing license is required. If frogs are taken by gig or by hand, either a hunting or fishing license is valid. It is illegal to possess a gig on a stream or lake, or in a boat from November 1 through January 31. (301 KAR 1:082)

 

Exotic Species Open To Year-Round Hunting

(Including English sparrows, starlings, Eurasian collared doves and NON-Native cervid and NON-Domesticated bovid species) (KRS 150.370; 301 KAR 3:030, 3:061)

 

Except as stated here, no person shall take any other wildlife species except during an open season for that species.

 

Persons may hunt exotic wildlife (except pheasants released during KDFWR pheasant quota hunts), including English sparrows, starlings, Eurasian collared doves, free-ranging NON-Native cervid species (except for fallow deer on Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area) or NON-Domesticated bovid species without a hunting license year-round. NON-Native cervids include any deer species EXCEPT whitetails and elk.  NON-Domesticated bovids include any type of NON-Domesticated sheep, antelope, goat, buffalo or other exotic hoofed species. There is no bag limit or checking requirement on these species.

 

All birds of prey, songbirds, spotted skunks, black bears and threatened or endangered species are strictly protected at all times under state and federal laws.

 

All species of mice, moles, rats, shrews and terrestrial invertebrates (except threatened or endangered species) are unprotected species and may be taken year‑round without a hunting license.

 

HUNTERS & TRAPPERS: WE NEED YOUR HELP!

 

To effectively manage Kentucky’s wildlife, the KDFWR conducts a variety of surveys with hunters and trappers about their pursuits and observations of wildlife. You can greatly assist this effort by participating in these surveys. The samples and information you provide are essential for determining the size, trends and health of game populations.  Survey forms are available from the KDFWR.

 

Small game hunters can help gather information about various types of wildlife using the report forms available from the KDFWR. All hunting log cooperators will receive an annual report and FREE hunting cap. Another way small game hunters can help is by obtaining pre-addressed survey envelopes and sending in one wing from each bobwhite quail and one wing and rump feathers from each grouse they take. Pre-addressed wing envelopes are available from state conservation officers or by calling 1-800-858-1549.  Please follow the directions closely on the envelopes because they differ between quail and grouse.

 

Furbearer Hunters & Trappers – Check it out!

 

The KDFWR is working in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to stop the westward spread of raccoon rabies into Kentucky.  The KDFWR is asking hunters and trappers to donate heads (skinned or not) of raccoons, foxes, coyotes, and skunks taken in the following counties: Bell, Boyd, Bracken, Carter, Clay, Elliott, Fleming, Floyd, Greenup, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Lawrence, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Martin, Mason, McCreary, Morgan, Perry, Pike, Robertson, and Whitley. 

 

To donate a head for testing, please place it in a sealed plastic bag and label it with the following: your name, address, phone number, species of animal, sex and age if known, county of kill, date collected, and a brief description of the specific location where it was collected (farm name, creek name, address, intersection, GPS location, etc.).  Keep the head frozen and call 1-800-852-0942, extension 469 to arrange for the heads to be picked up.  The KDFWR thanks you for doing your part to maintain the health of Kentucky’s wild furbearer populations!


 
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