Deer Hunting

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​DEER HUNTING SEASONS ​​

DEER Early Season Late Season
ArcherySept. 2, 2023  - Jan. 15, 2024
Youth/Senior Crossbow
CrossbowSept. 16, 2023 - Jan. 15, 2024
Youth-only GunOct. 14 - 15, 2023
MuzzleloaderOct. 21 - 22, 2023
Dec. 9 - 17, 2023
Modern GunNov. 11 - 26, 2023
Free Youth WeekendDec. 30 - 31, 2023

WHAT LICENSE DO YOU NEED? ​

The tables below provide a quick overview of current licensing requirements. See the rest of this section for exemptions and complete residency, licensing and hunter education requirements. Licenses and permits for species below are not required for children younger than 12.

KENTUCKY RESIDENTS Ages 12-15 Ages 16-64 Ages 65 and older OR Disabled
DeerYouth Hunting License* +Youth Deer Permit*Annual Hunting License† +Statewide Permit†Senior/Disabled License
Fall TurkeyYouth Hunting License* +Youth Turkey Permit*Annual Hunting License† +Statewide Permit†Senior/Disabled License
Spring TurkeyYouth Hunting License* +Youth Turkey Permit*Annual Hunting License† +Statewide Permit†Senior/Disabled License
Small Game
& Furbearer
Youth Hunting License*Annual† or 1-Day Hunting LicenseSenior/Disabled License
Bobcat permits required for bobcat hunters
TrappingAnnual Youth Trapping LicenseAnnual or Landowner/Tenant Trapping LicenseAnnual or Landowner/Tenant Trapping License
Migratory Birds (Dove, Snipe, Woodcock, Rails, Gallinules, Sandhill Cranes)Youth Hunting License*Annual† or 1-Day Hunting License +Kentucky Migratory Bird/ Waterfowl Permit†Senior/Disabled License
Waterfowl (Ducks, Geese, Coots, and Mergansers)Youth Hunting License*Annual† or 1-Day Hunting License +Kentucky Migratory Bird/ Waterfowl Permit† +Federal Duck StampSenior/Disabled License +Federal Duck Stamp
​​*Included in Youth Sportsman's License
†Included in Resident Sportsman's License​
NONRESIDENTS
(Must buy nonresident licenses/permits)
Ages 12-15 Ages 16 and Older
DeerYouth Hunting License* +Youth Deer Permit*Annual Hunting License† +Statewide Permit†
Fall TurkeyYouth Hunting License* +Youth Turkey Permit*Annual Hunting License† +Statewide Permit†
Spring TurkeyYouth Hunting License* +Youth Turkey Permit*Annual Hunting License† +Statewide Permit†
Small Game
& Furbearer
Annual Youth Hunting LicenseAnnual, 1-Day or 7-Day Hunting License
Bobcat permits required for bobcat hunters
TrappingAnnual Trapping LicenseAnnual Trapping License
Migratory Birds (Dove, Snipe, Woodcock, Rails, Gallinules, Sandhill Cranes)Youth Hunting License*Annual†, 1-Day or 7-Day Hunting License +Kentucky Migratory Bird/ Waterfowl Permit†
Waterfowl (Ducks, Geese, Coots, and Mergansers)Youth Hunting License*Annual† or 1-Day Hunting License +Kentucky Migratory Bird/ Waterfowl Permit† +Federal Duck Stamp
​ ​ ​ ​

Buy Licenses/Permits Now!​​

Deer Zones in Kentucky Deer Zones in Kentucky

BAG LIMITS

Bag limits and harvest restrictions apply to all hunters. A pe​rson may take no more than one (1) deer with visible antlers, excluding male fawns (button bucks), regardless of zone, method or season.

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.

Only one antlered deer per hunter may be harvested statewide, regardless of zone, method or season.​

DEER BAG LIMITS

Only one antlered deer may be harvested statewide,
regardless of zone or method

​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 3A 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 4A 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 late muzzleloader season. The statewide bag limit of one antlered deer still applies.

​Help Us Understand Our Kentucky Deer Population Better!​

We would like to age your harvested female deer. Please upload images of the lower LEFT SIDE of the jaw bone of your harvested doe with the Jaw ​Bone Submission Survey.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • The statewide deer permit and youth deer permit allows for the harvest 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 or youth 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 anterless deer, or up to two antlerless deer with the deer management permit.
  • Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
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CAR​​​​RY PROOF

Hunters who buy their license or permit by phone or internet must carry while hunting: a picture ID and proof of purchase (an authorization number, paper license or computer printout). Paper licenses/permits must be signed and all information completed before hunting.

STATEWIDE DEER PERMIT

All deer hunters ages 16 and older, unless license exempt, must first buy and carry proof of purchasing an annual hunting license and a statewide deer permit while hunting. The permit allows a hunter to take four deer: one antlered, and three anterless or four antlerless. It does not matter if the antlered or antlerless dear is taken first.

 

ADDITIONAL DEER PERMIT

To take more than four deer, an additional deer permit must be purchased. The additional deer permit allows a hunter to take up to two additional deer beyond those allowed by the statewide permit in the following combinations: one antlered and one anterless, or two antlerless. Regardless of what permit a deer hunter carries, the statewide season limit for antlered deer is one per hunter. The additional deer permit is not valid unless the hunter has first purchased an annual hunting license and statewide deer permit and is able to show proof of that in the field. A statewide or additional deer permit may be used on public and private land, and during some quota hunts.

HUNTING EQUIPMENT RESTRICTIONS

HUNTER ORANGE REQUIRED!

Hunters and people accompanying them must wear solid, unbroken hunter orange color visible from all sides on the head, back and chest when hunting for any species during the modern gun, muzzleloader, and youth firearm deer seasons, or a firearm elk or bear season. However, hunter orange is not required when hunting waterfowl or doves during a gun deer, elk or bear season, or when hunting furbearers at night during a legal furbearer season.

MODERN GUN SEASON

During modern gun deer season, hunters may hunt with modern guns, including air guns of .35 caliber or larger charged by an external tank, muzzleloaders, and archery and crossbow equipment, and must follow season restrictions, zone guidelines and other hunting requirements.

All hunters, including archery and crossbow hunters, and persons accompanying hunters, must wear hunter orange clothing during modern gun season.

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

ARCHERY SEASON

Hunters using archery equipment during a deer firearms season must follow all firearm season restrictions, zone guidelines and other hunting requirements, and must wear hunter orange clothing.

The only exception is on state owned or managed WMAs where firearms hunting for deer or elk is prohibited.

CROSSBOW SEASON

Hunters using crossbows during a deer firearms season must follow all firearm season restrictions, zone guidelines and other hunting requirements, and must wear hunter orange clothing.

The only exception is on state owned or managed WMAs where firearms hunting for deer or elk is prohibited.

A legal resident hunter age 65 years or older or a youth hunter (resident or non-resident), age 15 or younger, may hunt deer with a crossbow from the first Saturday in September through the third Monday in January.

MUZZLELOADER SEASON

Muzzleloaders, archery and crossbow equipment may be used during this season.

All hunters must comply with the hunter orange clothing law.

Youths ages 15 and younger 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.

TREE STANDS

Construction and use of tree stands on private lands is regulated by landowners.

LEGAL HUNTING EQUIPMENT

MODERN GUN EQUIPMENT

  • ​Any caliber centerfire rifle or centerfire handgun.
  • Rifle or handgun 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, with flint or percussion ignition (including in-lines), 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.

AFTER YOUR HARVEST

CHECKING AND TAGGING

All deer must be telechecked . Hunters must call 1-800-245-4263 or complete the online check-in process through My Profile. See the “Recording, Checking, Tagging and Transportation” portion of this guide's "General Information" section for full details.

If the hide or head is removed before the harvested deer is checked in – to quarter the animal, for example – it is necessary to demonstrate proof of sex by retaining the head or keeping the genitalia attached to the carcass. In such cases, it is still necessary to fill out the harvest log immediately after harvest and telecheck the animal before midnight on the day the deer is harvested or recovered.

A carcass tag is required if a harvested deer leaves the hunter’s possession for any reason.

TRANSPORTATION RESTRICTIONS

The state of Kentucky prohibits the transportation from any other state or country into or through Kentucky any brain matter or spinal column from deer, elk, moose and caribou due to the risk of Chronic Wasting Disease transmission. This includes transporting entire carcasses or heads through Kentucky. Here is what can and cannot be brought into Kentucky.

Allowed


  • Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of spinal column or head attached
  • Boned out meat
  • Antlers only
  • Antlers attached to a clean skull plate
  • Clean skull
  • Clean upper canine teeth
  • Hides with no head attached
  • Finished taxidermy mounts

Prohibited


  • Brain (or skull tissues/contents)
  • Spinal Column
See Also
Your Deer Questions Answered
Public Lands Hunting
Entire Hunting and Trapping Guide PDF
Deer Hunting PDF
Take Someone Hunting!

The Deer Program is sponsored in part by:

WINA_VectorLogo.png​​​

Important Info

  • Wear surgical gloves when field dressing and handling raw meat.
  • Telecheck (check-in) requirements for deer and other big game.
  • Transportation Restrictions
    NOTE: Because of disease risks, entire carcasses and intact heads of deer, elk, moose and caribou from other states may NOT be transported into or through Kentucky. Please see TRANSPORTATION RESTRICTIONS section on this page.
  • Help Kentucky Fish and Wildlife monitor the health of the state’s deer herd by reporting animals acting strangely or appearing ill.
  • Submit Images of Your Deer's Jaw Bone for Aging
    Help Us understand our Kentucky deer population better! We would like to age your harvested female deer. Please Upload images of the lower LEFT SIDE of the jaw bone of your harvested doe with the Jaw Bone Submission Survey.

Common Questions

Deer Season Reports

Other Reports

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Meat Processing​​​​​​​​​​
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