NEW THIS YEAR

 

The items highlighted here are a quick overview of the changes to this year’s hunting seasons. Changes from last season are printed in bright blue in complete detail throughout this guide to assist you in noticing those changes. Be sure to check individual sections of this guide for complete information.

 

LICENSES

New shooting preserve license for Kentucky residents and nonresidents. Available online only ($5), good for one license year, for one shooting preserve only.

     

DEER

Zone changes: Hart County is now Zone 1; Marion and Taylor counties are now Zone 2; Boyle, Casey and Grayson counties are now Zone 3.

 

During late muzzleloader season in Zone 4, antlerless deer may only be taken the last three days of the season (Dec. 19-21, 2008).

 

ELK

Elk permit number increases to 400.

 

New Elk Hunting Unit system replaces former Zone At-Large and Limited Entry Area system.     

 

SMALL GAME

Rabbits and squirrels may be trapped when small game hunting and furbearer trapping seasons overlap. Trappers must possess a trapping license.

 

Airguns used to hunt small game must be .177, .20 or .22 caliber, used with pellets.

 

QUOTA HUNTS

Two new deer quota hunts on Paul Van Booven WMA.

 

New rabbit and quail quota hunts on 3,000-acre walk-in tract of Peabody WMA. Application process same as for deer and pheasant quota hunts.

 

Hunters who do not comply with quota hunt requirements are ineligible to apply for any quota hunt the following year, and will lose any accumulated preference points.

           

PUBLIC LAND HUNTING

New public land: Graham WMA (Bell, Clay, Knox and Leslie counties).

 

 

2008-09 KENTUCKY HUNTING SEASONS

 

NOTE: Seasons on Wildlife Management Areas and other public hunting lands not managed by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife may be different from those below. Please check individual area listings in the Public Land Hunting section.

 

ELK (all EHUs)

 

Antlered

Firearms: Oct. 4-10, 2008

Archery: Oct. 4, 2008- Jan. 19, 2009

Crossbow: Oct. 4-19 and Nov. 8 - Dec. 31, 2008

 

Antlerless

Firearms:  Dec. 13-26, 2008

 

Archery: Oct. 11, 2008 - Jan. 19, 2009

Crossbow: Oct. 11-19 and Nov. 8 - Dec. 31, 2008

 

Hunters must follow deer season and equipment regulations to take elk from any county NOT included in the 16-county elk restoration zone (Out of Zone), and must have an Out-of-Zone Elk Permit.

 

DEER

 

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 the Deer section for county zones, harvest restrictions and hunter requirements for each zone.)

 

FALL TURKEY

 

Shotgun: Oct. 25-31 and Dec. 6-12, 2008

 

Archery: Sept. 6, 2008 - Jan. 19, 2009

 

Crossbow: Oct. 1-19 and Nov. 8 - Dec. 31, 2008

 

SMALL GAME & FURBEARERS

 

All seasons are statewide unless otherwise indicated.

 

Squirrel hunting

 

Aug. 16 - Nov. 7, Nov. 10, 2008 - Feb. 28, 2009 and June 6 - 19, 2009

 

Squirrel trapping

 

Nov. 10, 2008 - Feb. 28, 2009

 

Raccoon & Opossum hunting

 

Nov. 1, 2008 - noon Feb. 28, 2009; hunting only at night during Modern Gun Deer Season.

 

Raccoon & Opossum trapping

 

Noon Nov. 10, 2008 - noon Feb. 28, 2009

 

Coyote hunting

 

year-round

 

Coyote trapping

 

Noon Nov. 10, 2008 - noon Feb. 28, 2009

 

Bobcat hunting

 

Noon Nov. 15, 2008 -

Jan. 31, 2009

 

Bobcat trapping

 

Noon Nov. 10, 2008 - Jan. 31, 2009

 

Crow hunting

 

Sept. 1 - Nov. 7, 2008 and Jan. 4 - Feb. 28, 2009

 

Bullfrog hunting

 

Noon May 16 - Oct. 31, 2008

Noon May 15 - Oct. 31, 2009

 

Falconry

 

Sept. 1, 2008 - Mar. 30, 2009

 

Otter, Muskrat, Mink, Beaver, Red Fox, Gray Fox, Weasel & Striped Skunk hunting and trapping

 

Noon Nov. 10, 2008 - noon Feb. 28, 2009

 

Wild Hog* & Groundhog hunting and trapping

 

year-round

 

* It is illegal to possess live wild hogs in Kentucky; all trapped hogs must be killed at the trap site, and not released.

 

Rabbit & Quail hunting

 

Nov. 10, 2008 - Feb. 10, 2009, in the following counties: Allen, Ballard, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Daviess, Fulton, Graves, Hancock, Henderson, Hickman, Hopkins, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, McLean, McCracken, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Simpson, Todd, Trigg, Union, Warren and Webster.

Rabbits may be trapped Nov. 10, 2008 - Feb. 10, 2009 in these counties.

 

Nov. 1-7 and Nov. 10, 2008 - Jan. 31, 2009 in all other counties.

Rabbits may be trapped Nov. 10, 2008 - Jan. 31, 2009 in these counties.

 

Grouse hunting

 

Nov. 1-7 and Nov. 10, 2008 - Feb. 28, 2009 in the following counties only: Adair, Bath, Bell, Boyd, Bracken, Breathitt, Campbell, Carter, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Garrard, Greenup, Harlan, Harrison, 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.

 

Free Youth Small Game Hunting & Trapping Week

 

Dec. 27, 2008 - Jan. 2, 2009