An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
From Oct. 10 - 18, 2026, resident and nonresident youth 15 years of age and younger, who are accompanied by an adult, may take deer statewide. Please note the appropriate hunting license and deer permits are required for hunters ages 12-15. Youth hunters younger than age 12 are not required to have a hunting license or deer permit. Hunter education is not required for license-exempt hunters. Youth hunters may hunt deer with firearms, or any other legal method, statewide without a hunting license or deer permit. 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.)
Yes, youths ages 12-15 are required to have a current Kentucky hunting license and deer permit. Licenses may be purchased online or at local retail license vendors.
Resident youths may purchase either:
Nonresident youths may purchase a Nonresident Youth Hunting License for $10 + Nonresident Youth Deer Permit for $15. Resident and Nonresident Youths may purchase Additional Deer Permits for $15 (2 deer). License options are described in detail here: http://fw.ky.gov/Hunt/Pages/Which-License-or-Permit-Do-I-Need-to-Hunt.aspx and fee list here: https://fw.ky.gov/Licenses/Pages/Fees.aspx
EXEMPTIONS: Youths ages 11 and under are license (and permit) exempt. Youths hunting on land owned by their parents/legal guardians are exempt from license requirements on that land...
Yes, Hunter Education certification is required for youth hunters ages 12-15. Youths ages 11 and under are not required to have Hunter Ed certification, but must be accompanied by an adult...
A 1-year Temporary Hunter Ed Exemption Permit is available for free (for a limited time) online.
Yes, hunters may reprint their current licenses and Hunter Ed cards free of charge anytime using "My Profile" at fw.ky.gov. Hunters may also use electronic copies on their smartphones...
Yes, youths must abide by Harvest Log and Telecheck requirements like other hunters. A Harvest Log is a record kept by the hunter...
Telecheck may be completed by telephone by calling 800-CHK-GAME (800-245-4263) or online. The Telecheck Confirmation Number 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...
Zone limits are explained in the Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide.
Yes, because there is not a daily bag limit on deer other than the season bag limits for the applicable deer zones...
Youths may use any firearm that is permissible for other deer hunters—centerfire rifles and pistols, shotguns with slugs, and muzzleloaders using single projectiles.
Youths may hunt deer with firearms on private lands with permission and public lands open to firearms deer hunting during this special season...
No, special youth-only firearms seasons are open only to youths ages 15 and under. However, licenses issued before age 16 remain valid through the license year...
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 Ed certification unless they are also hunting.
Yes, BOTH youths and accompanying adults are required to wear blaze orange hats/caps AND vests/jackets during this special weekend season.
Yes, any properly licensed hunter age 16 or above may hunt deer using archery or crossbow equipment or other legal game in season...
Resident and nonresident youth hunters and trappers ages 15 and younger may hunt and trap applicable game and furbearers in season without a license for seven consecutive days starting the Saturday after Christmas...
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