KY: Kentucky Dept Fish and Wildlife -

DEER HUNTING

SEASON DATES

Modern Gun

Zone 1: Nov. 8-23, 2008 (either sex)

Zone 2: Nov. 8-23, 2008 (either sex)

Zone 3: Nov. 8-17, 2008 (either sex)

Zone 4: Nov. 8-17, 2008 (antlered only)

Archery

Statewide: Sept. 6, 2008 - Jan. 19, 2009 (either sex)

Crossbow

Statewide: Oct. 1-19 and Nov. 8 - Dec. 31, 2008 (either sex)

Muzzleloader

Zone 1: Oct. 18-19 and Dec. 13-21, 2008 (either sex)

Zone 2: Oct. 18-19 and Dec. 13-21, 2008 (either sex)

Zone 3: Oct. 18-19 and Dec. 13-21, 2008 (either sex)

Zone 4: Oct. 18-19 and Dec. 13-18 (antlered only) and Dec. 19-21, 2008 (either sex)

Youth-only Firearms

Statewide: Oct. 11-12, 2008 (either sex)

Free Youth Weekend*

Statewide: Dec. 27-28, 2008 (either sex)

*During the Free Youth Deer Hunting Weekend, hunters ages 15 and under may hunt deer with a firearm without a license or deer permit, if accompanied by an adult. (See below for county zones, harvest restrictions and hunter requirements for each zone.)

SOME BASICS

If you plan to hunt deer on private or public land in Kentucky:

1. Check whether you need a license and deer permit. Most people will need both. The different types of deer permits are explained in this section.

2. Determine to which zone the county you plan to hunt has been assigned. There are four (4) zones, and the hunting restrictions are different for each zone. Zone restrictions dictate when a particular season is open, what the bag limits are, and when hunting is restricted to antlered deer only.

3. Record your kill on your harvest log, telecheck the animal, and tag it if necessary. An ethical hunter makes every effort to retrieve his or her deer. Those who fail to check retrieved deer are violating the law.

4. Make sure the hunting equipment you use is legal for deer, and that you comply with the hunter education and hunter orange clothing laws.

5. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, be sure you have received permission from the landowner of the property where you hunt. Trespassing is more detrimental to the hunting sports than any other activity, so please -- ASK FIRST!

TYPES OF DEER PERMITS

STATEWIDE DEER PERMIT

• All license-required deer hunters must buy and carry proof of purchasing a statewide deer permit while deer hunting.

• This permit allows hunters to take two deer as follows: One with visible antler and one without visible antler, OR both may be without visible antler. It doesn’t matter if hunters take an antlered or antlerless deer first. Antlered deer should be recorded on the back of this permit (not a bonus antlerless-only permit).

• Only one (1) statewide deer permit is valid per hunter per season.

BONUS ANTLERLESS-ONLY DEER PERMIT

• Hunters who want to take more than the two deer allowed by the statewide deer permit must carry proof of purchasing a bonus antlerless-only permit. (The deer season limit is more than two animals).

• A bonus antlerless-only permit allows a hunter to take up to two (2) antlerless deer, as outlined by zone harvest restrictions and bag limits.

• A bonus antlerless permit is not valid unless the hunter has first purchased a statewide hunting license and statewide deer permit and is able to show proof of that in the field. A hunter shall not take more deer than allowed by the permits he or she possesses.

A statewide or bonus antlerless-only deer permit may be used on private lands and wildlife management areas.

BONUS WMA QUOTA HUNT PERMIT

• Hunters participating in any quota deer hunt on a WMA or State Park, the Grayson Lake WMA Open Youth Hunt (Nov. 1-2) or the West KY WMA Open Gun Hunt (Dec. 6-7), are eligible to use a Bonus WMA Quota Hunt Permit during those hunts if they so choose.

• A Bonus WMA Quota Hunt Permit authorizes the quota hunter to take up to two (2) deer, one of which may be antlered IF allowed during that particular Quota Hunt. The hunter must be able to show proof of having also purchased a statewide hunting license and statewide deer permit for the Bonus WMA Quota Hunt Permit to be valid.

• Deer taken on a Bonus WMA Quota Hunt Permit do not count toward the statewide antlered deer limit, or the antlerless deer zone limit.

No bonus antlered deer permits are available for private land hunting.

ONE-DEER PERMIT OPTION FOR YOUTH HUNTERS

Kids under the age of 12 do not need a hunting license or deer permit. License-required resident and nonresident youth hunters ages 12-15 may buy and use up to two (2) youth statewide deer permits per license year. A youth statewide deer permit allows the holder to take one (1) deer, and is valid for either sex deer when zone restrictions allow.

Youth hunters must follow all other deer hunting laws, harvest restrictions and bag limits.

DEER ZONES

Zone 1: Anderson, Ballard, Boone, Bracken, Bullitt, Calloway, Campbell, Carlisle, Carroll, Christian, Crittenden, Franklin, Fulton, Gallatin, Grant, Graves, Hardin, Harrison, Hart, Henry, Hickman, Jefferson, Kenton, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, Nelson, Oldham, Owen, Pendleton, Robertson, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, Trigg, Trimble, Washington, Woodford

Zone 2: Adair, Allen, Barren, Bourbon, Boyd, Breckinridge, Butler, Caldwell, Carter, Cumberland, Daviess, Edmonson, Fayette, Fleming, Green, Greenup, Hancock, Henderson, Hopkins, Jessamine, Larue, Lawrence, Lewis, Logan, Marion, Mason, McLean, Meade, Mercer, Metcalfe, Monroe, Muhlenberg, Nicholas, Ohio, Rowan, Simpson, Taylor, Todd, Union, Warren, Webster

Zone 3: Bath, Boyle, Casey, Clark, Clinton, Elliott, Estill, Garrard, Grayson, Johnson, Knox, Laurel, Lee, Lincoln, Madison, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Powell, Russell, Whitley, Wolfe

Zone 4: Bell, Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Harlan, Jackson, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, McCreary, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Wayne

BAG LIMITS

Bag limits and harvest restrictions apply to all hunters. There is no daily bag limit on deer. See “Restrictions By Zone” below for information on equipment and permit requirements.

Those who shoot more deer than the season individual hunter bag limit allows, or more deer than they have purchased permits to take, are violating the law. Landowners, dependents and tenants are prohibited from taking deer, (or turkeys, elk, bobcats or otters) they don’t claim and check in as their own.

A hunter must abide by all license and permit use requirements, season dates, equipment and harvest restrictions in effect for the location where they hunt and time when they hunt.

ANTLERED DEER LIMIT

From Sep. 6, 2008 through Jan. 19, 2009 (deer season), a person may take no more than one (1) deer with visible antler (excluding button bucks) in Kentucky, except:

1. If a hunter possesses a Bonus WMA Quota Hunt Permit, a bonus antlered deer may be taken during a WMA or State Park Quota Hunt, and the Grayson Lake Open Youth Hunt or West KY WMA Open Gun Hunt, if the limits and restrictions for each hunt allow.

2. Bonus antlered deer may be taken on Land Between the Lakes, Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge, Ft. Campbell and Ft. Knox Military Reservations, Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center and Blue Grass Army Depot as determined by the governing agency for each area.

ANTLERLESS DEER LIMIT

1. In Zone 1 counties, there is no season limit on antlerless deer.

2. In Zone 2, 3 and 4 counties, the combined season limit is four (4) per hunter. Hunters may choose to take up to one (1) antlered deer and three (3) antlerless deer, OR take up to four (4) antlerless deer total.

RESTRICTIONS BY ZONE

ZONE 1

• A hunter may take an unlimited number of antlerless deer. Two (2) deer may be taken using the statewide permit and unlimited antlerless deer may be taken using bonus antlerless-only permits (good for two (2) antlerless deer each).

• A hunter is limited to ONE (1) deer with visible antlers (excluding button bucks) per license year statewide, except additional antlered deer may be taken on WMA or State Park quota hunts or federal areas.

• Hunters shall abide by the equipment restrictions in place for each season.

ZONE 2

• A hunter may take no more than four (4) deer total and combined in Zones 2, 3 and 4. Two (2) deer may be taken using the statewide permit and up to two (2) more antlerless deer may be taken using one bonus antlerless-only deer permit.

• Hunters shall abide by the equipment restrictions in place for each season.

ZONE 3

• A hunter may take no more than four (4) deer total and combined in Zones 2, 3, and 4. Two (2) deer may be taken using the statewide permit and up to two (2) more antlerless deer may be taken using one bonus antlerless-only deer permit.

• All four (4) deer may be taken with archery or crossbow equipment. A hunter may take no more than two (2) deer with a firearm.

• Hunters shall abide by the equipment restrictions in place for each season.

ZONE 4

• All four (4) deer may be taken with archery or crossbow equipment. A hunter may take no more than two (2) deer with a firearm.

• Hunters shall not take antlerless deer during seasons open to antlered deer hunting only.

• Hunters shall abide by the equipment restrictions in place for each season.

Carry proof

Hunters who purchase licenses/permits by phone or internet must carry while hunting: the authorization number and a picture ID (for phone purchases, if paper license/permit not yet received in the mail), or computer print-out for internet purchases. All paper licenses/permits must be signed and all information completed before hunting.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Can I take a deer for someone else?

A: No. Hunters must claim any deer they take as their own. They must use their own license/permit and harvest log, and telecheck the deer using their own Social Security number.

Q: Can I take two deer from private land in a Zone 2 county, and later take three more deer from another private farm in a Zone 3 county?

A: No. If you hunt private lands anywhere that is specified as a Zone 2, 3, or 4 county, the season bag limit is four deer total per hunter. Even if you hunt in more than one of these zones, four deer is all you can legally take. (This four deer combined bag limit does not apply to additional antlerless deer taken in Zone 1.)

HUNTING EQUIPMENT RESTRICTIONS

Orange is the law!

Kentucky’s Hunter Orange Clothing Law requires ALL HUNTERS and persons accompanying them, hunting for any species during the modern gun, muzzle-loading, and youth firearms deer seasons or a firearms elk season to wear solid, unbroken hunter orange color visible from all sides on the head, back and chest.

MODERN GUN SEASON

During a county’s modern gun deer season, modern firearms, muzzle-loading firearms, archery and crossbow equipment may be used, as long as they meet the requirements for that equipment and are used as described for deer hunting.

The hunter orange clothing law applies to ALL HUNTERS as stated above.

Persons ages 15 and under who hunt deer, elk or turkey with a firearm must be accompanied by an adult who shall remain able and in a position to take immediate control of the youth’s firearm at all times.

MODERN FIREARM EQUIPMENT RESTRICTIONS

Legal

Hunters may use the following:

• Any caliber centerfire rifle or centerfire handgun. (See Definitions.)

• Shotguns up to and including 10-gauge used with slug ammunition. (Most common legal shotgun sizes include .410-, 28-, 20-, 16-, 12- and 10-gauge.)

Illegal

A deer hunter shall not use or possess while deer hunting:

• Firearms able to hold more than a total of 11 rounds (10 in magazine and one in chamber)

• A fully-automatic firearm (capable of firing more than one round with one trigger pull)

• Rimfire ammunition

• A shotshell containing larger than number two (2) size shot

• Full metal jacketed or tracer bullet ammunition.

ARCHERY SEASON

During portions of the deer season when only archery equipment can be used, deer hunters shall not carry firearms or crossbows while hunting. Hunters using archery equipment during a deer firearms season must follow all firearm season restrictions, zone guidelines and hunting requirements in effect during firearms seasons.

All hunters must comply with the hunter orange clothing law as stated above. The law does not require hunters to wear hunter orange when or where firearms are prohibited for deer or elk hunting.

ARCHERY EQUIPMENT RESTRICTIONS

Legal

Hunters may use the following:

• Longbows, recurves and compound bows

• Broadheads at least 7/8” wide

•Any draw weight (no minimum)

Illegal

A deer hunter shall not use or possess while deer hunting:

• A broadhead smaller than 7/8” wide

• A barbed broadhead

• A chemically-treated arrow

•An arrow with a chemical
attachment

CROSSBOW SEASON

Crossbows may be used from October 1-19 and November 8 – December 31, 2008. Hunters using crossbows during a firearms deer season must follow all firearm season restrictions, zone guidelines and hunting requirements in effect during firearms seasons.

All hunters must comply with the hunter orange clothing law as stated above. The law does not require hunters to wear hunter orange when or where firearms are prohibited for deer or elk hunting.

CROSSBOW EQUIPMENT RESTRICTIONS

Legal

Hunters may use the following:

• Crossbow arrows (bolts) fitted with broadheads at least 7/8” wide

• Any draw weight (no minimum)

Illegal

A deer hunter shall not use or possess while deer hunting:

• A crossbow without a working safety device

• A broadhead smaller than 7/8” wide

• A barbed broadhead

• A chemically-treated arrow

•An arrow with a chemical
attachment

MUZZLE-LOADING SEASON

Muzzleloaders, archery and crossbow equipment can be used during this season. ALL HUNTERS must comply with the hunter orange clothing law as stated above. Persons ages 15 and under hunting deer with a muzzleloader must be accompanied by an adult who shall remain able and in a position to take immediate control of the youth’s muzzleloader at all times.

MUZZLE-LOADING EQUIPMENT RESTRICTIONS

Legal

Hunters may use the following:

• Muzzle-loading rifles or handguns of any caliber

• Muzzle-loading shotguns no larger than 10-gauge used with slugs only

• A muzzle-loading firearm that can be fired more than once before reloading, as long as it meets the definition of a muzzle-loading firearm (see Definitions section)

• In-line muzzle-loading firearms

• Telescopic sights (scopes)

Illegal

•No modern (breech-loading) firearms of any kind are permitted.

YOUTH DEER HUNTING

In addition to the regular firearms, archery and crossbow seasons, there are two more deer hunting opportunities for youth hunters.

OCTOBER YOUTH-ONLY FIREARMS SEASON

On the second weekend of October, (Oct. 11-12, 2008), resident and nonresident youth ages 15 and under, who are accompanied by an adult, may hunt deer with a firearm statewide. During the October youth hunt weekend, the appropriate hunting license and deer permits are required for hunters ages 12-15, and all other bag limits, zone restrictions and hunter requirements apply.

FREE YOUTH DEER HUNTING WEEKEND

On the first weekend following Christmas, (Dec. 27-28, 2008), resident and nonresident youth ages 15 and under, who are accompanied by an adult, are eligible to participate in the Free Youth Deer Hunting Weekend. Youth hunters may hunt deer with a firearm without having a hunting license or deer permit. However, deer season bag limits, zone restrictions, harvest recording, checking requirements and equipment restrictions remain in effect.

Please read the portion of this guide regarding filling out the hunter harvest log, checking and tagging.

DURING BOTH PERIODS:

Persons ages 15 and under hunting deer with a firearm must be accompanied by an adult who shall be able and in a position to take immediate control of the youth hunter’s firearm at all times.

Adults accompanying youth deer hunters during either of these periods must NOT carry firearms. Adults accompanying youth hunters are not required to possess a hunting license or deer permit if the adult is not deer hunting. Remember, the hunter orange clothing law applies to those accompanying a youth deer hunter, as well as the youth.

Youth hunters should select “statewide license” when telechecking their deer.

EQUIPMENT RESTRICTIONS

Same as permitted during the Modern Gun Deer Season.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: My child has a Youth Deer Permit and took a doe on opening day of the October Youth-Only Firearms Season. What permit does he need so he can take another deer?

A: Your child must have a second Youth Deer Permit or bonus antlerless permit before he can take another deer.

Q: My child took a buck during modern gun season. Can she take another buck during the Free Youth Deer Hunting Weekend?

A: No. Youth hunters must continue to follow season bag limits during the Free Youth Deer Hunting Weekend.