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On the first weekend following Christmas, resident and nonresident youth 15 years of age and younger, who are accompanied by an adult, are eligible to participate in the free youth weekend. Youth hunters may hunt deer with firearms, or any other legal method, statewide without a hunting license or deer permit. Hunter education is not required for license-exempt hunters. All bag limits, zone restrictions, and deer hunting requirements apply during the special youth deer seasons.
Please contact our Information Center at 1-800-858-1549 or Info.Center@ky.gov if you have any questions not answered below.
Youths ages 15 and under may use modern firearms (centerfire rifles or slug guns) or muzzleloaders, as well as crossbows or archery equipment, to hunt deer during this weekend. (Other legal hunters may use crossbows and archery equipment per statewide deer seasons.)
No, youths 15 years of age and younger may hunt without a license or deer permit during this special season
No, Hunter Education is not required for license-exempt hunters.
Yes, youths must abide by Harvest Log and Telecheck requirements like other hunters. A Harvest Log is a record kept by the hunter, showing species and sex harvested, date and county. Click for a printable harvest log here.
Telecheck may be completed by telephone by calling 800-CHK-GAME (800-245-4263) or online. Youth hunters' social security numbers should be used to report the harvest, and the appropriate license type (statewide license or youth under 12) selected when asked what type of license was used. The Telecheck Confirmation Number for each deer must be recorded on the Harvest Log.
Yes, the season bag limits apply to youths, like other hunters. All deer hunters in Kentucky are limited to 1 deer with visible antlers (the "1 buck rule", which does not include button bucks=male fawns). The deer zones and limits are explained in the Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide.
Youths may use any firearm that is permissible for other deer hunters-centerfire rifles and pistols, shotguns with slugs, and muzzleloaders using single projectiles. Legal methods for deer hunting are described in the Hunting and Trapping Guide.
Youths may hunt deer with firearms on:
1. Private lands where firearms hunting is permitted and they have permission from the landowner 2. Public lands that are open to firearms deer hunting during this special season
Many public lands, including most state Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), are open to youths for this special opportunity. Information is explained in the Public Lands Hunting section and the Hunting and Trapping Guide.
Additional youth hunting opportunities are described in the Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide.
No, adults accompanying youths do not have to be licensed or have Hunter Education certification unless they are hunting deer with archery or crossbow (or other game) at the same time.
Yes, BOTH youths and accompanying adults are required to each wear blaze orange hats/caps AND vests/jackets during this special weekend season. It is a special time for learning hunting skills, including safety for everyone involved!
Yes, any properly licensed hunter age 16 or above may hunt deer using archery or crossbow equipment, or hunt for other game that is currently in season, during this weekend. However, all hunters in the field during this weekend must meet hunter orange requirements (wear blaze orange hat + vest/jacket/shirt) because a firearms deer season is open.
Resident and nonresident youth hunters and trappers ages 15 and younger may hunt and trap applicable game and furbearers in season without a hunting or trapping license for seven consecutive days starting the Saturday after Christmas. Please refer to the hunter orange clothing law section (page 8) for guidelines. Hunter orange clothing must be worn by all hunters Dec. 26, 2026 - Jan. 1, 2027 since youth hunters are also permitted to hunt deer with firearms at that time. Youth hunters must comply with all equipment regulations and bag limits for furbearers when hunting or trapping. Hunter education is not required for license-exempt hunters. Adults accompanying youth hunters/trappers during the free youth hunting and trapping week do not need a license if they are not hunting/trapping.
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