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Kentucky Hunting & Fishing Seasons Planner

​Kentucky Hunting & Fishing Seasons


The following calendar tables reflect current regulations and can be used to anticipate future season dates. However, season regulations are subject to change. Always consult the current hunting or fishing guide to confirm the season you wish to hunt or fish​.​​​​​​​ Download a printable seasons date poster or check the seasons date app for more seasonal information.​

​Click one of the buttons below to navigate to season dates for a specific species.

Deer Button 
Turkey Button 
Elk Button 
Bear Button 
Migratory Birds Button 
Waterfowl Button 
Small Game Button 
Furbearers Button 
Fishing Button 
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​​​​​Season
​​​Season in Regulation
​​2024-25 Season Dates
​​​​Archery Season​​1st Sat. in Sept. thru 3rd Mon. in Jan. (MLK Day)​​​​ Sept. 7, 2024 - Jan. 20, 2025
​​​​​ Youth/Senior Crossbow 1st Sat. in Sept. thru 3rd Mon. in Jan. (MLK Day)​​​ Sept. 7, 2024 - Jan. 20, 2025
Crossbow 3rd Sat. in Sept. thru 3rd Mon. in Jan. (MLK Day)Sept. 21, 2024 - Jan. 20, 2025
Youth-only Gun​ 2nd Full Weekend (consecutive Sat.-Sun.) in Oct.​​​​ Oct. 12 - 13, 2024
Early Muzzleloader 3rd Full Weekend (consecutive Sat.-Sun.) in Oct.Oct. 19 -20, 2024
 Late Muzzleloader
2nd Sat. in Dec. for 9 days (closes Sun.)
Dec. 14 - 22, 2024
Free Youth Weekend* 1st Full weekend (consecutive Sat.-Sun.) after Christmas​​ Dec. 28 - 29, 2024
Modern Gun 2nd Sat. in Nov. for 16 days (closes Sun.)​​​Nov. 9 - 24, 2024​​
* During the free youth-only weekend, youth (aged 15 or younger) will not be required to have a hunting license or deer permit; however, they must comply with all other statewide deer hunting requirements.
​Return to Species​  ​​​​​​Regulation:  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​301 KAR 2:172
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Turkey ​Hunting​
​​​​​​​Season
​​​​​​​Season in Regulation
​2024-25 Season Dates
​​​​Spring Youth1st full weekend (consecutive Sat.-Sun.) in Apr.​​​​​Apr. 6 - 7, 2024
​​Spring General Season Sat. closest to Apr. 15, closes on Sun. after 23 days​​​Apr. 13 - May 5, 2024​​
Fall Archery 1st Sat. in Sept. thru 3rd Mon. in Jan.​​Sept. 7, 2024 - Jan. 20, 2025
Fall Shotgun 4th Sat. in Oct. for 7 consecutive days;
1st Sat. in Dec. for 7 consecutive days
​​Oct. 26 - Nov. 1, 2024
Dec. 7-13, 2024
​​​​​Fall Crossbow Oct 1 thru 3rd full weekend in Oct.;
2nd Sat. in Nov. thru Dec. 31
​​​​Oct. 1 - 20, 2024
​Nov. 9 - Dec. 31, 2024​​​
​​ ​Return to Species​  ​​​​ ​​Regulations:  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​301 KAR 2:142​​ (Spring Turkey) | 301 KAR 2:144 (Fall Turkey)
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Elk ​Huntin​g​​​​​
​​​​​​​Season
​​​​​​​Season in Regulation
​2024-25 Season Dates
​​​Firearms - Bull
(antlered)​

​​Last Sat. in Sept. for 5 consecutive days;
1st Sat. in Oct. for five consecutive days
​​​​​​Week 1: Sept. 28 ​- Oct. 2, 2024;
Week 2: Oct. 5 - 9, 2024 
​​Firearms - Cow 
(antlerless)
Last Saturday in Nov. for 5 consecutive days;
Last Saturday in Dec. for 5 consecutive days 
​​Week 1: Nov. 30 - Dec. 4, 2024;
Week 2: Dec. 28, 2024  - Jan. 1, 2025
​​​​​Archery/Crossbow
(either sex)
2nd Sat. in Sept. thru 4th Fri. in Sept.;
1st Sat. in Dec. thru 2nd Fri. in Dec.

​​​​​Sept. 14-27, 2024;
Dec. 7 - 13, 2024

​​Youth-only Quota
(either sex)
Youths may enter a separate drawing pool for either-sex el​k permits
that shall be valid for use during all elk seasons as listed above.​
​​ Note: Out-of-zone elk hunters must follow deer season regulations and use only the legal elk hunting equipment to take elk from any county not included in the 16-county elk zone, and must have an Out-of-Zone Elk Permit.
​​​ ​Return to Species​  ​​​​​Regulation: ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​301 KAR 2:132​​
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Black ​Bear ​​Huntin​g
​​​​​​​Season​​​​​​​Season in Regulation
​​​2024-25 Season Dates
​​Both Zones - 
Chase-only*
​​​​​Chase seasons June - Aug., Sept. 9 - ​30​​​​​​​​June 1 - August 31, 2024;
Sept. 9 -30, 2024​
​​​​​Zone 1 -
Hunt with Dogs**
5 consecutive days beginning the Mon.
prior to the 4th Sat. in Oct.
​​​​Oct. 21 - 25, 2024​
Zone 2 - ​​
Hunt with Dogs**​
5 consecutive d​ays beginning the Mon.
prior to the 4th Sat. in Oct.; and 9 consecutive days 
beginning the Thur. following the 4th Sat. in Oct.
Oct. 21 - 25, 2024;
Oct. 31 - Nov. 8, 2024
​​ Zone 1 -
Archery/Crossbow​​​​
​​3 consecutive days beginning on the fourth Sat. in Oct. 
​​Oct. 26 - 28, 2024​
Zone 2 -
Archery/Crossbow
5 consecutive days beginning on the fourth Sat. in Oct.​​Oct. 26 - 30, 2024
Zone 1 -
Firearms
3 consecutive days beginning the second Sat. in Dec.​Dec. 14 ​- 16, 2024
Zone 2 -
Firearms
5 consecutive days beginning on the second Sat. in Oct.Dec. 14 ​- 18, 2024​
​​​ * Bear Chase-only is not permitted on WMAs until the third Saturday in August. However, Hensley-Pine Mountain WMA is closed to bear chase and all bear hunting seasons.
** Any legal equipment may be used during the Hunt with Dogs.
​​​​ ​Return to Species​  ​​​​​​​Regulation: ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​301 KAR 2:300
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Migratory Birds (webless) ​Hunting
​​​​​​​Season
​​​​​​​Season in Regulation
​​​2024-25 Season Dates
​​​​​​Dove*
​​​​​1st Segment: Sept. 1 for 56 consecutive days;
2nd Segment: Thanksgiving Day for 11 consecutive ​Days;  
3rd Segment: Sat. before Christmas for 23 consecutive days
​​​​​​​​​​Sept. 1 - Oct. 26, 2024;
Nov. 28 - Dec. 8, 2024;
Dec. 21 - Jan. 12, 2025​
​​​​​​Common & Purple
Gallinule
Sept. 1 for 70 consecutive days
​​​​​Sept. 1 - Nov. 9, 2024
​​​​​​Crow
Sept. 1 thru Nov. 7;
Jan. 4 thru the last day of Feb.
​​​​​Sept. 1 - Nov. 7, 2024;
Jan. 4 - Feb. 28, 2025
​​Snipe
3rd Wed. in Sept. for 40 consecutive days;
Thanksgiving Day for 67 consecutive Days

​​ Sept. 18 - Oct. 27, 2024;
Nov. 28, 2024 - Feb. 2, 2025​
​​​Sandhill Crane**Dec. 7 - Jan. 31 
​​Dec. 7, 2024 - Jan. 31, 2025 
Virginia & Sora Rail
​​Sept. 1 for 70 consecutive days​​​Sept. 1 - Nov. 9, 2024
Woodcock***
4th Sat. in Oct. for 47 consecutive days​​​Oct. 26 - Nov. 8, 2024;
Nov. 11 - Dec. 11, 2024
​​​​​​ * Youth & mentored dove applications are due on the 1st Monday in August through the 3rd Friday in August.
**  Sandhill Crane permits available only for quota hunt drawings through September. These permits can be purchased online only through the ​Licenses and Permits app. Hunters must possess printed or electronic proof of valid crane hunting permit.
*** Closed first weekend of modern gun season.
Note: Dove and waterfowl hunters must complete the HIP migratory bird harvest survey before hunting each year. Please check "MyProfile/HipSurvey" for more information. For Crows, a Migratory Bird/Waterfowl permit or completion of the HIP survey is not required, however, a hunting license is still required unless license exempt.
​​​​ ​Return to Species​  ​​​​​​​​​​Regulations:
 ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​301 KAR 2:225 (Migratory Birds) |  301 KAR 2:228 (Sandhill Crane) | 301 KAR 2:260 (Crow)​
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Waterfowl Hunting​​​​​
​​​​​​​Season
​​​​​​​Season in Regulation
​​​​2024-25 Season Dates
​​​​​Teal​
​​​​​3rd Sat. in Sept. for 9 consecutive days
​​​​​​​​​​Sept. 21 - 29, 2024​
​​​​​​Wood Duck
3rd Sat. in Sept. for 5 consecutive days
​​​​​​Sept. 21 - 25, 2024
​​​​​​Eastern September
Canada Goose Zone
Sept. 16 for 15 consecutive days
​​​​​Sept. 16 - Sept. 30, 2024
​​Western September
Canada Goose Zone
Sept. 1 for 15 consecutive days 
​​​ Sept. 1 - Sept. 15, 2024
​​​Duck, Coot, MerganserThanksgiving Day for 4 consecutive days;
Dec. 7 thru Jan. 31 
​​​​Nov. 28 - Dec. 1, 2024; 
Dec. 7, 2024 - Jan. 31, 2025
Canada/Cackling Goose,
White-fronted Goose & Brant
Thanksgiving Day thru Feb. 15​​​Nov. 28, 2024 -
Feb. 15, 2025
Snow Goose
(including Ross' Goose)
​​Thanksgiving Day thru Feb. 15​​​​​Nov. 28, 2024 -
Feb. 15, 2025
​​ Note: Dove and waterfowl hunters must complete the HIP migratory bird harvest survey before hunting each year. Please check "MyProfile/HipSurvey" for more information. ​​
​​​​ ​Return to Species​  ​​​​​​​​​​​​Regulations:  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​301 KAR 2:225 (Migratory Birds) |  301 KAR 2:221 (Light Goose)
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Waterfowl More​​
​​​​​​​Season
​​​​​​​Season in Regulation
​​​​2024-25 Season Dates
​​​​Light Goose
Conservation Order
​​​​​Feb. 16 - March 31
​​​​​​​​​​​Feb. 16 - March 31, 2025
​​​​​​Youth-only Waterfowl
Sat. Before Thanksgiving and 2nd Sat. in Feb.
​​​​​​​​​Nov. 23, 2024; Feb. 8, 2025
​​​​​​Military/Veteran-only
Waterfowl
Sun. Before Thanksgiving and 2nd Sun. in Feb.
​​​​​​​Nov. 24, 2024; Feb. 9, 2025
​​​Falconry - Waterfowl
Thanksgiving Day thru last Sun. in Feb.
​​​​​Nov. 28, 2024 - 
Feb. 23, 2025
​​​ Note: Dove and waterfowl hunters must complete the HIP migratory bird harvest survey before hunting each year. Please check "MyProfile/HipSurvey" for more information. ​
​​​​​​ ​Return to Species​  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Regulations:  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​301 KAR 2:225 (Migratory Birds) |  301 KAR 2:226 (Youth Waterfowl)
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Small & Upland Game Hunting
​​​​​​​Season
​​​​​​​Season in Regulation
​​​​2024-25 Season Dates
​​​​Spring Squirrel Hunting
​​​​​3rd Sat. in May thru the 3rd Fri. in June
​​​​​​​​​​​​May 18 - June 21, 2024
​​​​​​Fall Squirrel
Hunting*​
3rd Sat. in Aug. thru Feb.
​​​​​​​​​​Aug. 11 - Nov. 8, 2024;
Nov. 11, 2024 - 
Feb. 28, 2025
​​​​​​Fall Squirrel
Trapping*
Only trap when both small game hunting
season and trapping season overlap.
​​​​​​​​Nov. 11, 2024 -
Feb. 28, 2025
​​​​Rabbit (Eastern Zone)
Hunting​*
Nov. 1 thru Jan. 31
​​​​​​​Nov. 1 - Nov. 8, 2024; 
Nov. 11, 2024 -
Jan. 31, 2025 
​​​​​​Rabbit (Eastern Zone) 
Trapping*
Only trap when both small game hunting
season and trapping Season overlap.
​​​​​​​​Nov. 11, 2024 -
Jan. 31, 2025
​​​Rabbit (Western Zone)
Hunting​*
3rd day of modern gun deer season thru Feb. 10
​​​​​Nov. 11, 2024 -
Feb. 10, 2025
​​​​​​​Rabbit (Western Zone) 
Trapping*
Only trap when both small game hunting
season and trapping Season overlap.
​​​​​​​​Nov. 11, 2024 -
Feb. 10, 2025​
​​​Quail (Eastern Zone)*​
Nov. 1 thru Jan. 31
​​​​​​Nov. 1, - Nov. 8, 2024;
Nov. 11, 2024 - 
Jan. 31, 2025
​​​​​​Quail (Western Zone)*
3rd day of modern gun deer season thru Feb. 10
​​​​​​​Nov. 11, 2024 -
Feb. ​10, 2025​
​​​Grouse**
Nov. 1 thru the last day of Feb.
​​​​​​​Nov. 1, - Nov. 8, 2024;
Nov. 11, 2024 - 
Feb. 28, 2025
​​​​​​Pheasant Quota Hunt
(Green River WMA)​
3rd Fri. in Nov. for 3 consecutive days
​​​​​​​​​Nov. 15, - Nov 17, 2024​
​​​​​​Pheasant Quota Hunt
(Clay WMA)
1st Fri. in Dec. for 3 consecutive days
​​​​​​​​​Dec. 6, - Dec. 8, 2024​
​​​​​​Pheasant Quota Hunt
(Yellowbank WMA)
1st Fri. in Dec. for 3 consecutive days
​​​​​​​​​Dec. 6, ​- Dec. 8, 2024​
​​​​​​​Falconry - Small Game
Sept. 1 thru Mar. 30
​​​​​​​​​Sept. 1, 2024 -
Mar. 30, 2025​
​​​​Free Youth Small Game ​
Hunting & Trapping Week***
Sat after Christmas for 7
consecutive days (closes Fri.)

​​​​​​Dec. 28, 2024 -
Jan. 3, 2025​
​​​​* Closed for the 1st two days of modern gun deer season.
** In Grouse Hunting Zone only. Closed for the 1st two days of modern gun deer season.
*** A youth (aged 15 or younger) may take a small game with a hunting or trapping license but shall comply with all other statewide requirements.
​​​​ ​Return to Species​  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​Regulations:  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​301 KAR 2:122 (Small Game) |  301 KAR 2:049 (Public Areas)
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Furbearer Hunting​​
​​​​​​​Season
​​​​​​​Season in Regulation
​​​​2024-25 Season Dates
​​​​Raccoon Hunting*
​​​​​Oct. 1st thru last day of Feb.
​​​​​​​​​​Oct. 1, 2024 - Feb. 28, 2025​
​​​​​​Opossum Hunting*
Oct. 1st thru last day of Feb.
​​​​​​​​Oct. 1, 2024 - Feb. 28, 2025
​​​​​​Coyote Hunting**
Open Season year-round; Night Huntings with Lights allowed Dec. 1 - Mar. 31 & May 16 - June 30 
​​​​​Year-round
Night Hunting with lights: 
May 16 - June 30, 2024 & Dec. 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025

​​​Bobcat Hunting***
Third Saturday in Nov. thru the last day of Feb.
​​​​Nov. 16, 2024 - Feb. 28, 2025
​​​River Otter, Muskrat,
Mink, Beaver, Red Fox, Gray Fox, Weasel & Striped Skunk
1/2 hour before sunrise on 3rd day of modern gun deer season thru last day of Feb.​​​​​Nov. 11, 2024 - Feb. 28, 2025
​​​GroundhogOpen Season
​​​​​Year-round
Furbearer Trapping1/2 hour before sunrise on 3rd day of modern gun deer season thru last day of Feb.​​​​Nov. 11, 2024 - Feb. 28, 2025
​​Falconry - FurbearerSept. 1 thru Mar. 30​​​​Sept. 1, 2024 - Mar. ​30​, 2025
​​Free Youth Furbearer
Hunting & Trapping Week
Sat. after Christmas for 7 consecutive days
(closes Fri.)
​​​​​​Dec. 28, 2024 -
Jan. 3, 2025
* Night hunting ​closes 30-minutes before sunrise on the opening day of modern gun deer season (Nov. 9, 2024). 
** Special Restrictions apply. Please consult the Hunting & Trapping Guide for areas where night hunting on coyotes is prohibited.
*** Bobcat permit required for bobcat hunters.​​​
​​​​ ​Return to Species​  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Regulations:  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​301 KAR 2:251 (Furbearer) |  301 KAR 2:049 (Public Areas)
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Fishing
​​​​​​​Season
​​​​​​​Season in Regulation
​​​​2024-25 Season Dates
​​​​Traditional Fishing
(pole & line) 
​​​​​Open Season
​​​​​​​​​​​Year-round
​​​Trout Catch & Release
(Designated Streams)**​​
Streams open to fishing year-round;
Oct. 1 - Mar. 31 No harvest of trout/artificial lures only

​​​​​​Oct​. 1, 2024 -
Mar. 31, 2025 
​​​​Free Fishing Days 
(No license required)
​​​​​1st Full weekend
(consecutive Sat.-Sun.) in June
​​​​​​​​​​​​June 1 - 2, 2024​​
​​​​​​Bow Fishing, Spear Fishing,
Sport Fishing Trotlines,
Jugging, Setlines
​​​​​Open Season
​​​​​​​​​​​​Year-round
​​​​​​​​Gigging & Snagging
for Rough Fish*
Feb. 1 - May 10
​​​​​​​​​Feb. 1 - May 10, 2024
​​​​​​Tickling & Noodling
for Rough Fish
June 1 - Aug. 31 (daylight hours)
​​​​​​​​​June 1 - Aug. 31, 2024
​​​​BullfrogNoon on 3rd Fri. in May to
midnight Oct. 31
​​​​​​​​​​Noon May 17 -
Oct. 31 (midnight)
​​Turtles***Open Season​​​​​​​Year-round, day or night
​​ * Areas below Kentucky Lake Dam are open year-round. Special Regulations may apply. ​Please check the Kentucky Fishing & Boating guide for more information. 
** Please check the Kentucky Fishing & Boating guide for more information. 
*** Only common snapping turtles and soft shell turtles may be harvested.
​​​​​ ​Return to Species​  ​​
​​​​​​​​​​​Regulations: 301 KAR 1:201 (Traditional Fishing Methods) ​| ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​301 KAR 1:410 (Nontraditional Fishing Methods) |
301 KAR 1:210 (Free Fishing Days) | 301 KAR 1:082 (Bullfrog) | 301 KAR 1:058 (Turtle)
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