An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Metal tags required for sandhill crane hunters were mailed Nov. 22 to those who successfully completed the exam by that date. Some hunters have informed the department that they have not received their tags.
If you are eligible for a tag and have not received it, take the following steps:
Thank you and good luck hunting!
Seasons are statewide. Youths must be under the age of 16 on the day of the hunt. Military seasons are for military on active duty and honorably discharged veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces only. Per federal rule, National Guard members and reservists are only eligible if they are on active duty. Participants must have a proper license and permit, including federal duck stamp.
During the second segment of duck season, all hunters must be assigned a hunt unit each day through a drawing held either online or in person at the check station. Online applications are taken each Wednesday through Sunday, the week before you plan to hunt. Each Monday, a random drawing will select hunters and assign a hunt unit for each day of that week. Hunt dates must be applied for individually. Successful online hunters must still check in at the check station before hunting each day, or forfeit the spot. Spots reserved for in-person drawings as well as forfeited online spots will be available in the in-person drawing each morning. To apply online and for more information, go to Waterfowl Hunt Drawing Application. For more information, please download and read more about the Hunting Assignment Process or check out the Waterfowl Public Land Hunting page for more information about the Boatwright WMA.
Daily Bag Limit: The total limit of a specific migratory game bird species that may be taken during legal shooting hours for one calendar day, regardless of state boundaries.
Posession limit: The total limit of a specific migratory game bird species that may be in your possession at anytime, whether on your person or stored in another location (including your home or taxidermist).
Migratory birds shot in another state, count toward a hunter's daily and possession limits.
* Pit and blind restrictions in effect for some wildlife management areas (WMAs) do not apply to hunters during Snow Goose Conservation Order season. These restrictions also do not apply to falconers hunting waterfowl during periods when gun and archery waterfowl seasons are not open.
† Mandatory FREE permit is required for hunting snow geese during this period, to order, click Snow Geese Conservation Order Permit or call 1-800-858-1559 to obtain one. Everyone who obtains the Snow Goose Permit must report hunting activity to the Snow Geese Conservation Order Survey by April 10, 2023.
Seasons are statewide. Youths must be under the age of 16 on the day of the hunt (Nov. 19, 2022 and Feb. 11, 2023). Military seasons are for military on active duty and honorably discharged veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces only (Nov. 20, 2022 and Feb. 12, 2023). Per federal rule, National Guard members and reservists are only eligible if they are on active duty. Participants must have a proper license and permit, including federal duck stamp.
Sandhill crane season opens Dec. 7, 2022 and closes Jan. 31, 2023. The daily bag limit is two birds. Hunters must apply for a sandhill crane permit online from Sept. 1 through Sept. 30, 2022 and pay a $3 application fee.
Applicants must have a valid Kentucky hunting license or be license exempt when they apply. Results are posted to individual applicants online following the drawing. Drawn hunters must pass an online identification exam before receiving a sandhill crane hunting permit.
Hunters must telecheck harvested birds on the day taken.
Hunters participating in the sandhill crane hunting season must complete a post-season survey no later than 14 days after the close of the season or lose eligibility to apply the following year.
The Snow Goose Conservation Order allows hunters to harvest Snow and Ross’s geese without daily bag and possession limits, and beyond the regular snow goose season. All other waterfowl species are closed to hunting during this special season. Hunters must obtain a free Snow Goose Conservation Order Permit prior to hunting. Hunters may also use electronic calls, use shotguns capable of holding more than three shells, and hunt one-half hour past sunset. All hunters who obtain the free Snow Goose Conservation Order Permit must submit a Snow Goose Conservation Order Permit Survey to the department by April 10, or forfeit the ability to participate the following year. Not all public lands are open for this opportunity. See the Waterfowl Public Lands Hunting page for specific area regulations.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service- approved nontoxic shot no larger than size “T” is required for all waterfowl and sandhill crane hunting. Shot larger than size “T”, or shotshells longer than 3.5 inches, MAY NOT BE POSSESSED OR USED while hunting waterfowl or sandhill cranes. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may approve other types of nontoxic shot which, if approved, will be permitted for waterfowl and sandhill crane hunting. Possession or use of any lead shot or any shot not approved by USFWS while hunting or attempting to take waterfowl or sandhill cranes is prohibited statewide. Check the USFWS's Approved Shot Types for more information.
To report bird bands, visit www.reportband.gov. Many existing bands list a toll-free number that can no longer be used for reporting. Consequently, hunters may now only report bands online.
Banding plays a critical role in the management of migratory bird species. The data you provide by reporting bands gives wildlife biologists information on harvest rates and movements of migratory game birds. Please report the bands you recover.
Starting at the northwest city limits of Wickliffe in Ballard County to the middle of the Mississippi River, then north along the Mississippi to the low water mark of the Ohio River along the Illinois shore to the Ballard-McCracken County line; then along the county line south to KY 358, then south along KY 358 to its junction with U.S. 60 at LaCenter; then following U.S. 60 southwest to the northeast city limits of Wickliffe.
All constructed or used blinds (including boats) must be at least 100 yards apart and at least 50 yards from any property line. A waterfowl hunter shall not possess more than one shotgun while in the blind.
* Included in Youth Sportsman's License** Included in Resident Sportsman's LicenseNOTE: HIP survey required for all migratory bird hunters 16 and over
View license and permit fees
Unless license-exempt under KRS 150.170, all hunters must possess a valid Kentucky hunting license when waterfowl hunting. Persons using a license authorization number in lieu of a paper license must have the authorization number and a picture ID with them while hunting. All Kentucky residents 65 years of age and older and Kentucky residents who are certified totally and permanently disabled by the Federal Social Security Administration, by a state Workers Compensation Board, by the Kentucky Teacher’s Retirement System, by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, by the United States Railroad Retirement Board, or Kentucky resident veterans who have a permanent 50 percent disability as the result of military-related injuries are required to purchase the Senior/Disabled combination hunting and fishing license ($12) and carry it while hunting or fishing. This license includes all the following state permits: deer, turkey, migratory bird, waterfowl and trout.) and carry it while hunting or fishing. This license includes all the following state permits: deer, turkey, migratory bird, waterfowl and trout.
Any person required to possess a hunting license, except children under the age of 16, taking or attempting to take waterfowl must possess a Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit. (This permit is included with the Senior/Disabled and Sportsman’s License). The waterfowl permit covers all species of migratory birds. Those who buy a Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit, senior/disabled license, or Sportsman's license MUST COMPLETE a Harvest Information Program Survey (HIP) by going online here before they are legal waterfowl hunters. This takes you to a page that asks for some basic information to confirm your identity. Then, click on the “HIP Migratory Bird Survey” on the right of the page. After completing the HIP survey, you receive a confirmation number that must be written on your hunting license or Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit. Hunters may call 1-800-858-1549 for questions.
Before hunting doves, ducks or any other migratory birds, hunters must now go online to My Profile and fill out the Harvest Information Program (HIP) survey to be legal to hunt.
In addition to the Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit requirement listed above, all persons age 16 or older must carry a valid federal migratory bird hunting stamp (commonly called duck stamp) to hunt waterfowl. Hunters younger than 16 must possess a youth hunting license but the Federal Duck Stamp and Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit are not required. The federal stamp must be validated by the hunter’s signature written across the face of the stamp in ink.
Electronic duck stamps may now be purchased from many state license vendors. When you buy an E-Stamp, you will receive an E-Stamp certificate. This certificate is unique to the purchaser and is valid as a Federal Duck Stamp across the nation for up to 45 days from the date of purchase. Within that time, a physical Duck Stamp will be mailed to you. Your E-stamp certificate may be printed out or downloaded onto your mobile device and must be carried on your person while hunting waterfowl.
As soon as you receive your physical stamp, you must sign it and use it for hunting. Your E-Stamp certification is no longer valid once you receive your physical stamp. Regardless of whether you received your physical stamp, the E-Stamp certificate is no longer valid after 45 days from the date of purchase. You must carry your current, signed Federal Duck Stamp while hunting.
All hunters born on or after January 1, 1975, must carry a valid hunter education course completion card while hunting, in addition to the appropriate Kentucky hunting license, federal duck stamp and Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit. Hunters not required to have a hunting license are not required to possess the hunter education card. Hunters under the age of 12 may hunt without a course completion card, but must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age who remains in a position to take immediate control of the child’s firearm.
A one-time temporary hunter education exemption permit is available online. This free (for a limited time) permit allows hunting without a hunter education card for one year from the date of purchase. After it expires, the hunter is no longer exempt and must complete a hunter education course.
In addition to the state regulations, the following federal laws apply to the taking, possession, shipping, transporting and storing of migratory game birds.
Note: The material below is only a summary. Each hunter should also consult the actual federal regulations, which may be found in Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 20 - Migratory Bird Hunting.
More restrictive regulations may apply to National Wildlife Refuges open to public hunting. For more information on Federal Regulations, consult Assistant Regional Director - LE, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 4839, Atlanta, Georgia, 30302-4839; or call (404) 331-5872.
No person shall take migratory game birds: