Hunting and Fishing Regulation Summary Guides

​Deer Hunting:

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Surveillance Zone:

To continue monitoring for the presence of CWD in Kentucky, special hunting restrictions apply to the CWD Surveillance Zone. This includes the following changes:

• Henderson, Union and Webster counties have been added to Kentucky's CWD Surveillance Zone. 
• Special Antlerless-Only Weekend: In 2025, the CWD Surveillance Zone features a special modern gun season for antlerless-only deer September 27-28. 
  
• This season does not apply to counties outside of the surveillance zone. 
• Hunters may not take antlered deer by any method in the CWD surveillance zone during this special season. 
  
• All Hunters must wear orange. 
  

For more information, including live updates, please consult the Chronic Wasting Disease pages.

Youth-only Modern Gun Season Expanded:

• ​​​​The youth-only modern gun season for deer has been expanded to nine days.
  

​Bear Hunting:

New Bear Zone 3. ​Clinton and Wayne counties form a new Bear Zone 3. Season dates are the same as Zone 2, except for an expanded archery/crossbow season.

Migratory Bird Hunting:

Dove Decoy Restriction: ​Dove hunters may not use decoys on department-controlled lands during September. 

Waterfowl Hunting:

New Season Information: Teal hunting season has been reduced to five days (now Sept. 20-24); The daily harvest limit for pintail ducks is now three birds. 

Public Lands:

• University of the Cumberlands WMA no longer allows the use of high-powered rifles or muzzleloaders for any species. Coyote and raccoon hunting at night is prohibited. Elk hunt is closed. The WMA is otherwise open under statewide regulations. 
  
• Pocahontas WMA is now open under statewide regulations.
  
• Ownership of the Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area is being transferred to Meade County. For more updates, please consult the Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area page.
• At West Kentucky WMA, Tract 1, Tract 1A and portions of Tract 7A are now closed for public use. Please refer to the online ma​ps for more information.​
  

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​Kentucky Bordering States Reciprocal Fishing Agreements Updates: 

Reciprocal fishing agreements between Kentucky and its bordering states have expired. Until further notice, anglers who fish on bordering waters must hold a valid fishing license and follow the regulations of the state in which they are fishing. Efforts are underway to update these reciprocal fishing agreements as soon as possible. For the latest information, please check our ​Reciprocal Fishing Agreements page.

​Grayson Lake (Carter and Elliott Counties):​

Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass: There is now a 12- to 15-inch protective slot limit. All largemouth and smallmouth bass caught between 12 and 15 inches in length must be immediately released.​

​Fish Species Limits:

Channel Catfish: The 12-inch minimum size limit is removed from over 100 lakes.​

Shovelnose sturgeon: The possession limit for shovelnose sturgeon is now two times the daily limit for anglers using all non-traditional fishing methods.

Trotlines ​Regulations:

Sport fishing trotlines must be labeled on both ends with the user's customer identification number on the fishing licenses.

​The possession limit for sportfish for anglers using trotlines, set lines (limb lines), or jugs is two times the daily limit for that particular species.

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More Nontraditional Fishing Regulations:

Tickling and Noodling (Hand grabbing) are not allowed on lakes less than 500 acres, except for the lakes in the Ballard, Peal, and Swan Lake Wildlife Management areas. 

Bow Fishing and Spear Fishing: There is a daily aggregate limit of 5 catfish. the 5-fish daily catfish limit also applies to Barren River Lake, Carr Creek Lake, Dewey Lake, Fishtrap Lake, Taylorsville Lake and Yatesville Lake. 

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2025 KY Spring Hunting Quick Reference:​

 

Need Kentucky Hunting Season information quickly? Download the 2025 KY Spring Hunting Quick Reference for a condensed 1-page summary of the 2025 Spring Hunting Season information. For a more extensive Regulations Summary, download the 2025 Spring Hunting Guide. If you have additional questions, contact our Information Center at 1-800-858-1549.​​

​Nonresident Licenses and Permit Fees Increased:

Nonresident License and Permit fees have been increased for the 2025-26 Season: 

• Annual Hunting License (nonresident) - $160
  
• Deer Permit (nonresident) - $235
  
• Spring Turkey Permit (nonresident) - $110
  
• Fall Turkey Permit (nonresident) - $110  
  

Squirrel Hunting:

Spring Squirrel Hunting Season has changed:

Statewide spring squirrel season runs from the third Saturday in May (May 17, 2025) through the third Sunday in June (June 15, 2025).

Public Lands:

• Pocahontas WMA in Harland, Pike, Martin, Floyd and Johnson Counties is open to statewide spring hunting regulations.
  
• University of the Cumberlands WMA in Whitley and McCreary counties is open to statewide spring hunting regulations, except coyote hunters may only use archery equipment. Night hunting is prohibited. 
• Little Sextons Creek WMA in Jackson and Clay counties is open to statewide spring hunting regulations.
  
• 665 acres of West Kentucky WMA in McCracken County is closed to public access after Feb. 28, 2025. View the map of the closed area here on the West Kentucky WMA Page.
• The Choate Tract of Obion Creek WMA in Fulton County is open to statewide spring hunting regulations.
• C. F. Ataya WMA was renamed Cumberland Forest WMA (Bell, Knox and Leslie Counties). 
  

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