Ky.gov

License and Permit Fees

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​License & Permit Fees

​​​Licenses may not be transferred, borrowed, changed, or altered. Licenses and permits must be carried by your person in the field (electronic licenses are allowed). For commercial licenses, licenses are currently available only by mail order directly from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, Frankfort Office. 

Unless otherwise noted below, all licenses are valid from the beginning of March through the end of February.​ For more information about licenses and permits, please call our Info Center at 1-800-858-1549.​


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​* Restrictions for Sportsman's License
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Peabody, LBL, and Otter Creek permits, Elk Hunt Drawing application, elk quota hunt permit, out-of-zone elk permit, bear permit, federal duck stamp, and trapping license not included. An additional deer permit is not included with a Sportsman’s License. Kentucky’s license year begins March 1 and continues through the last day of February. New licenses are required annually, except for the 3-year fishing license. A 1-day or 7-day hunting license is valid only for the period shown on the license. Resident and nonresident youth under the age of 12 are not required to purchase licenses or permits (except the Elk Hunt Drawing application). Youth Sportsman's License is valid for youths turning 16 during the license year (ends Feb. 18), if purchased before their 16th birthday; this license also includes the Ballard WMA water hunt permit for youths participating in waterfowl hunt on that WMA. 


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** Federal Duck Stamp Required

A Federal Duck Stamp is required for hunters aged 16 and older to ​hunt ducks, geese, rails and gallinules. Learn more about this on our Waterfowl Hunting page.​

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License Information

License & Permit HomeWhat Licenses or Permits Do I Need?How to Buy Your License & Permits?How to Reprint Your Licenses & Permits?License and Permit DescriptionsLicense and Permit FeesPurchase a KY Fish & Wildlife Gift Certificate

Exemptions & Special Permits

License Requirements & ExemptionsHunting Method ExemptionsResident Senior & Disabled LicensesSpecial Permits​Sale of Mounted Wildlife Registration​

Commerical Licenses

Commercial Licenses & FeesCommercial Guide License RequirementsFind a Fishing Guide or Hunting OutfitterCommerical Fishing Licenses & Fees

Hunting & Fishing Regulations​​

All Hunting & Fishing GuidesKentucky Administrative Regulations: ​Chapter 005 - Licensing
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​Recreational Licenses & Permits​


​​​​ Recreational ​​​​ Annual Licenses Resident​​​ Nonresident
​​ Annual Fishing​​$23.00
$55.00
​​​ Joint Married Couple Annual Fishing​$42​.00Not available
1-Day Fishing$7.00$15.00
​ 3-Year Fishing$55.00
Not available
Nonresident 7-Day FishingNot available
$35.00
Trout Permit$10.00
$10.00
Annual Hunting$27.00$160.00
​ 1-Day Hunting (not valid for deer, elk, turkey or bear)
$7.00$25.00
7-Day Hunt​ing (not valid for deer, elk, turkey or bear)Not available$65.00
​Youth Annual Hunting (ages 12-15 only)
$6.00$10.00
Annual Shooting Range Permit (At any KDFWR-managed, leased or affliated shooting range)
 $25.00 (without annual hunting or fishing ​​license);
Free (with annual hunting or fishing license)
 $25.00 (without annual hunting or fishing license);
Free (with annual hunting or fishing license)
​​ 1-Day Shooting Range Permit (At any KDFWR-managed, leased or affliated shooting range)$5.00
$5.00
​ Shooting Preserve Hunting (Only available at permitted captive wildlife facilities)$5.00
$5.00
Annual Trapping$20.00$130.00
​​ Annual Landowner/Tenant Trapping$10.00Not available
​​​Youth ​Annual Trapping ​(ages 12-15)
$5.00Not available
​​​​Recreational Combo Licences Resident​​​ Nonresident
​Combination Hunting/Fishing$42.00Not available
First time Buyer Sportsman's License* (Includes combination hunting/fishing,​​ statewide deer permit, spring and fall turkey permits, Kentucky migratory bird/waterfowl permit and trout permit.)
$35.00Not available
Sportsman's License* (Includes combination hunting/fishing, statewide deer permit, spring and fall turkey permits, Kentucky migratory bird/waterfowl permit and trout permit.)$95.00Not available
Senior Sportsman's (residents 65 years of age or older​)* (Includes same license and permits as Resident Sportsman's License.)$12.00Not available
​ Senior Lifetime Sportsman's (residents 65 years of age or older​)* (Must maintain Kentucky residency; includes all senior sportsman's licenses and permits.)
$180​.00Not available
Disabled Sportsman's* (Includes same license and permits as Resident Sportsman's Licenses.)$12.00Not available
​​​ Youth Sportsman's License* (ages 12-15) (Includes the same licenses and permits as the standard resident Sportman's License except for the Trout Permit.)$30.00Not available
​​​Elk Hunt Sweepstakes Permit (Special Agency Fundraising Permit) (Includes the Elk Hunt Permit Only Eligible for either one Resident or one Nonresident. Includes a complimentary two-night stay at any Kentucky State Resort Park- subject to availability.) (Learn more on our Special Agency Fundraising Permits page.)​$5.00 (Single Entry);
$10.00 (Bundle of Three);
$25.00 (Bundle of Ten)		$10.00 (Single Entry);
$20.00 (Bundle of Three);
$50.00 (Bundle of Ten)
​​Premium Combo Big Game Permit (Special Agency Fundraising Permit) ​(Includes the Elk Hunt Permit plus one bonus Deer, Bear and Turkey Permit. Eligible for either one Resident or one Nonresident. Includes a complimentary two-night stay at any Kentucky State Resort Park- subject to availability.) (Learn more on our Special Agency Fundraising Permits page.​$5.00 (Single Entry);
$10.00 (Bundle of Three);
$25.00 (Bundle of Ten)		$10.00 (Single Entry);
$20.00 (Bundle of Three);
$50.00 (Bundle of Ten)
​​​Standard Combo Big Game Permit (Special Agency Fundraising Permit) (Includes the One bonus Deer, Bear, and Turkey Permit. Includes a complimentary two-night stay at any Kentucky State Resort Park- subject to availability.) (Learn more on our Special Agency Fundraising Permits page.)$3.00 (Single Entry);
$8.00 (Bundle of Three);
$20.00 (Bundle of Ten)
$6.00 (Single Entry);
$16.00 (Bundle of Three);
$40.00 (Bundle of Ten)​
​​​​​Deer Permits (with Hunting License) Resident​​​ Nonresident
​Deer Permit (four deer)$35.00$235.00
​​ YouthDeer Permit (ages 12-15) (four deer)$10.00$15.00
​ Additional Deer Permit (two deer)$15.00$15.00
​​​​​Game Bird Permits (with Hunting License) Resident​​​ Nonresident
​ Spring Turkey Permit (statewide) (two turkeys)$30.00$110.00
Youth  Turkey Permit (ages 12-15) (one turkey, spring or fall)$10.00
$15.00
Fall Turkey Permit (statewide) (two turkeys)$30.00$110​.00
Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit**$15.00$15.00
Federal Duck Stamp** (available at post offices and online )
$25.00$25.00
Pheasant Quota Hunt Permit (if drawn)$25.00$25.00
Sandhill Crane Permit (apply for hunt drawing Sept. 1-30)$3.00$3.00
​1-Day Ballard Waterfowl Permit (buy online available Nov. 1 - Feb. 15)
$15.00$15.00
​​​​Elk Permits (with Hunting License) Resident​​​ Nonresident
​ Elk Quota Hunt Drawing Application (deadline April 30)$10.00$10.00
Youth Elk Quota Hunt ​Drawing Application (15 and under) (deadline April 30)$10.00$10.00
​Elk Quota Bull Permit (if drawn)
$100.00$550.00
Elk Quota Cow Permit (if drawn)$60.00$400.00
​Elk Quota Archery/Crossbow permit (if drawn)$100.00$550.00
​ Youth Elk Quota Permit (ages 12-15) (if drawn)
$30.00$200.00
Out-of-Zone Elk Permit $30.00$400.00
​​​​Bear​ Permits (with Hunting License) Resident​​​ Nonresident
​​ Bear Permit $30.00$250.00
Youth Bear Permit (ages 12-15)
$10.00$100.00
​ Bear Chase Permit $30.00$50.00
Youth Bear Chase Permit (ages 12-15)
$10.00$15.00
​ Combo Bear Permit (includes Bear Permit and Bear Chase Permit)
$50.00Not available​
​​​​Recreational Area Permits
 Resident​​​ Nonresident
Peabody WMA User Permit$15.00$15.00
Land Between the Lakes Hunt Permit$25.00$25.00
Land Between the Lakes Hunt/Backcountry Camp$50.00$50.00
Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area Admission Fees (per person) (purchase online)
 Daily: $3.00
Annual: $30.00
Children under 12 free		 Daily: $3.00
Annual: $30.00
Children under 12 free
Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area Special Activity Fees (per person, for use of horse trails, mountain bike trails and shooting range) (purchase online) Daily: $7.00
Annual: $70.00		 Daily: $7.00
Annual: $70.00
​​​​​Other Permits & Donations 
 Resident​​​ Nonresident
Temporary Hunter Education Exemption Permit (available online only)Free (for a limited time)
Free (for a limited time)
Bobcat Permit (available online only)
$10.00
$10.00
​​ Habitat Improvement & Public Access Donation (voluntary, available online only)Any amount
Kentucky Wild Membership (Includes a membership kit & the opportunity to go out in the field with our biologists!)Membership options range from $25 - $1,000
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​Commercial ​Licenses & Permits​

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​​​​​​​ ​​​​Commercial ​Wildlife ​License/Permits​​ Resident​​​​ Nonresident​​​​​​​​ Application​
​​Hunting Guide License (Expires last day of February) Learn more about the requirem​ents.
​$100.00
$400.00
 Ap​plication​​​
​​​Hunting Outfitter License - Tier I (0 Hunting Guides) Learn more about the requirements.​​
​$500.00
​$1000.00
 Application​
​​​​Hunting Outfitter License - Tier II (1 Hunting Guide) Learn more about the requirements.
​$1000.00
​$2000.00
 Application​​
​​Hunting Outfitter License - Tier III (2-4 Hunting Guides) Learn more about the requirements.
​$1500.00
​$2500.00
 Application​​
​​​Hunting Outfitter License - Tier IV (5+ Hunting Guides​) Learn more about the requirements.
​$2000.00
​$3000.00
 Application​​
​​​Captive Cervid Permit (Expires on the last day of February) Learn more about the requirements.
​$150.00
$150.00
 Application​​
​​​Non-Commerical Captive Cervid Permit (Expires end of February 3-years after purchase.) Learn more about the requirements.
​$75.00
$75.00
 Application​​
​​​Commercial Captive Wildlife Permit  (Expires 1 year after date of issue) Learn more about the requirements.
​$150.00
​Not Available
 Application​​
​​Non-Commercial Captive Wildlife Propagation Permit  (Expires 3 years after date of issue) Learn more about the requirements.
​$75.00
Not Available
 Application​​​
​​​Commercial Wildlife Control Permit  Learn more about the requirements.
​$100.00
​$100.00
 Application​​​
​​Commercial Shooting Area Permit (Effective June 1 - July 30)
​$150.00
Not Available
 App​lication​​
​​​​​​Dog Training Area Permit (​Effective July 1 - June 30​) Learn more about the requirements.
​$50.00
​Not Available​
 Application​
​​​​​Foxhound Training Enclosure Permit & Checklist 
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​Not Available​
 Application​
​​​Falconry ​Permit (Expires 3 years after the date of issue) Learn more about the requirements.
​$75.00
$75.00
 Application​​
​​​Field Trial Permit
​$25.00 Single Day; 
$75.00 Per trial (4-day max)
​​$25.00 Single Day; $75.00 Per trial (4-day max)
 Application​
​​​Shooting Area Permit (Expires Dec. 31) Learn more about the requirements.
 $150.00
 $150.00
 Application​​
​​Shoot to Retrieve Field Trail Permit (Per Trail)
​$75.00
$75.00
​ Application​
​​​Shoot to Retrieve Field Trail Permit (Single Day)
​$25.00
​$25.00
 Appl​ication​​
​​Taxidermist License (Expires Dec. 31)
​$150.00
$150.00
 Application​
​​​3-Day Fur Buyer's License (Effective for 3 days from the date of issue)
​$50.00
$300.00
 Application​​
​​​​​Fur Processors License (Expires Mar. 31) Download the Fur Buyer Report.
​$150.00
​Not Available
 Application​​
​​​Peabody Group Permit
​$25.00
$25.00
 Application​
​​​​Peabody Group Permit (Annual)
​$250.00
​$250.00
 Application​​
​​​Scientific Wildlife Collecting Permit - Educational (Expires Dec. 31)
​$25.00
$25.00
 Application​
​​​​Scientific Widlife Collecting Permit (Expires Dec. 31)
​$100.00
​$100.00
 Application​​
​​​Wildlife Transportation Permit - Annual (Effective 1 year from the date of issue)
​$250.00
$250.00
 Application​
​​​​​Wildlife Transportation Permit (Individual Shipment Nonresident Epiration varies - Approval by the Deparment) Learn more about the requirements.
​$25.00
​$25.00
 Application​​
​​​​​​Wildlife Rehabilitation ​Permit (Expires Dec. 31) Learn more about the requirements.​
​$25.00
​$25.00
 Application​​
​​​​​​​​​Commercial Fishing Licenses & Permits Resident​​​ Nonresident​​​​​​ Application​
​​Fishing Guide License (Expires last day of February​) Learn more about the requirements.​
​$100.00
$400.00
 Application​
​​​​Fishing Outfitter License - Tier I (0 Fishing Guides) Learn more about the requirements.
​$250.00
​$1000.00
 Application​
​​​​​Fishing Outfitter License - Tier II (1 or more Fishing Guides) Learn more about the requirements.
​$750.00
​$1500.00
 Application​​
​​​Commercial Fishing License with 10 gear tags.
​$150.00 (Additional Resident Gear Tags can be purchased in blocks of 10 for $15.00.)
$600.00 (Additional Non-Resident Gear Tags can be purchased in blocks of 10 for $100.00.)​
 Application​
​​Commercial Fishing License - Invasive Carp ONLY
​Free
​Free
 Application​​
​​​Commercial Fishing License - Invasive/Scaled Fish
​$150.00 
 $150.00 
 Application​
​​Roe-Bearing Fish Buyer Permit (Season Oct. 15 - Jun. 5)
​$500.00
​$1000.00
 Application​
​​Roe-Bearing Fish Harvester Permit (Season Oct. 15 - May 31) Applications must be postmarked by Sept. 15th.
​$500.00
 $1,500.00
 Application​​
​​Special Net Fishery Permit (Season Nov. 1 - Mar. 31. For Kentucky Lake and Barkley ONLY) ​Applications must be postmarked by Nov. 1st.
​$600.00
​$900.00
 Application​​​

​​Tier I - Experimental Commerical Fishing Methods Program
​$800.00
​$1,​600.00
 Application​
​​Tier II - Experimental Commerical Fishing Methods Program
​$1,200.00
 $2,400.00
 Application​​​
​​​Ohio River Trophy Catfish Harvest Permit - ​Applications must be postmarked by Mar. 10th.
​Free
​Free
 Application​​
​​Pay Lake License Application​ - ​for fish obtained from private waters.
​$250.00 Lakes 2 arces or less;
$50.00 for each additional arce
​$250.00 Lakes 2 arces or less;
$50.00 for each additional arce
​ Application​​
​​Pay Lake License Application​ - ​for fish obtained from public waters.
​$600.00 Lakes 2 arces or less;
$50.00 for each additional arce
​$600.00 Lakes 2 arces or less;
$50.00 for each additional arce
​ Application​​
​​​​​​​Commercial Boating Licenses & Permits Resident​​​ Nonresident​​​​​​ Application​
​​Boat Dealer/Manufacturer's Permit  (Expires Apirl 30.)
​$100.00 Purchase of extra plates is $2.00 each
​Not available
 Application​​
​​​Boat Dock Permit
 ​Varies by Year
 Application​​
​​Shoreline Use Permit
 ​​​​Varies by Year
 Application​​​
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