Hunting and Fishing Regulation Summary Guides

Hunting, trapping, and fishing regulation guides layout

Be Informed Before You Go Out!

Here is your one-stop shop to discover and download the latest edition of our Hunting, Trapping and Fishing Regulation Summary Guides. Each guide provides a summary of the latest rules and regulations to help keep every hunter and angler safe and legal during outdoor seasons.

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New Licenses and Permit Fees

Beginning in January 2026, Kentucky will implement an inflation-based system to adjust its license and permit fees during even-numbered years. Pricing will be adjusted based on the combined Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the last two years, as published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

This approach improves transparency, avoids sudden fee increases, and helps sustain fish stocking, wildlife management, and research programs while keeping adjustments gradual.

New This Year!

Check out the latest issue of the Kentucky Fall Hunting & Trapping Guide (2025-26) - Regulations Summary.

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 (Sept. 20-24); the daily harvest limit for pintail ducks is now three birds.

Public Lands:

University of the Cumberlands WMA no longer allows high-powered rifles or muzzleloaders. Night hunting prohibited.
Pocahontas WMA is now open under statewide regulations.
Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area ownership transfer updates ongoing.
West Kentucky WMA closures updated on select tracts.

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New This Year!

Check out the latest issue of the Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide (2026-27) - Regulations Summary.

También está disponible para descargar una edición en Español.

Kentucky Bordering States Reciprocal Fishing Agreements Updates:

Reciprocal fishing agreements with surrounding states concerning bordering waters are back in place. For the latest information, please check our Reciprocal Fishing Agreements page.

Clear Fork, Gasper River (Logan and Warren Counties):

Catch-and-release: Remove the catch-and-release-only regulation for this stream. Clear Fork is now under statewide regulations for all species.

Kentucky River WMA-Boone Tract (Henry County):

Sunfish and Catfish: Removed the 15-fish daily limit on sunfish and 4-fish daily limit on catfish. All lakes and ponds are now under statewide regulations for all species.

Nolin River Lake (Grayson, Edmonson, and Hart Counties):

Crappie: The minimum size limit for crappie is now 10 inches.

Rockcastle River and tributaries:

Walleye: There is now a 2-fish daily limit and an 18-inch to 26-inch protective slot limit on walleye. Walleye caught from 18 to 26 inches long must be immediately released.

Rough River Lake (Breckinridge and Grayson Counties):

Crappie: The crappie minimum limit is now 10 inches.

New License and Permit Fees:

Beginning in January 2026, Kentucky will implement an inflation-based system to adjust its license and permit fees during even-numbered years. Pricing will be adjusted based on the combined Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate of the last two years. The CPI is the national measure of inflation calculated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The new system adds transparency and avoids sudden and substantial rate increases. This will help the department maintain programs such as fish stocking, wildlife management, and research by keeping up with costs while keeping the amount of increase lower.

Nontraditional Fishing Regulations:

Aircraft Restrictions: Anglers may not use aircraft to take fish.

Fishing Guide En Español

New This Year!

Check out the latest issue of the
Kentucky Spring Hunting Guide (March - June 2026)
- Regulations Summary.

License/Permit Fees:

New reduced-cost First-Time Buyer Sportsman’s License available.
Shooting range permits now required to shoot at Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Ranges.
- Free to residents or non-residents who purchase any annual hunting or fishing license, including a Sportsman’s License. Be sure to check the box on the order form for the shooting range permit; the permit is not automatically included in annual licenses.
- For others, yearlong shooting permits $26.43.
- One-day permit costs $5.29.
Cost of permits and licenses was adjusted across the board in January 2026. Further adjustments are now tied to the national Consumer Price Index.

Trapping:

Furbearer trapping has been extended through March 31 for water sets only, as defined in regulation.

Public Lands:

Many changes governing access to various tracts of West Kentucky WMA. Please review the West Kentucky Public Lands page for more information.
Czar Hunting Access Area now closed to public use due to termination of access agreement.
Green River National Wildlife Refuge is now open to archery and crossbow hunting of turkey for youth during April and May in the Horseshoe Bend Hunt Unit and the Tscharner West section of the Bluff Unit.

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Migratory Birds and Waterfowl Guide cover

New This Year!

Check out the latest issue of the Kentucky Hunting Guide for Migratory Birds and Waterfowl (2025-26) - Regulations Summary.

Dove Hunting:

The use of decoys, both motorized and static, is prohibited on public dove fields before Oct. 1.

Waterfowl Hunting:

Teal hunting season reduced to five days. It begins on the third Saturday in September.
The daily harvest limit for pintail ducks is three birds.
Waterfowl hunters cannot apply for standby hunts for the same day at both Ballard and Boatwright WMAs. Standby hunters may only apply for one of these hunts on a given day.

Dove Field Locations Can Change

The 2025-26 Kentucky Dove Fields locations and information are subject to change. Field information will be updated as it is received and may change due to weather conditions. Please check the Public Dove Field page before heading out.

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Click Cover to Explore

2026 Spring Hunting Guide

2025-26 Fall Hunting and Trapping Guide cover

2025-26 Fall Hunting & Trapping Guide

Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Guide cover

2025-26 Migratory & Waterfowl Guide

2026-27 Fishing & Boating (English)

Fishing and Boating Guide Spanish edition cover

2026-27 Pesca y Navegación (Español)

On Using the Guides

Kentucky manages wildlife for conservation and provides outdoor recreation opportunities. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources sets seasons, bag limits, hunting areas, and regulations based on science, research, and public input.

These guides are a SUMMARY of regulations and are intended for informational use only. They are not legal statutes and should not be used as such.

Questions should be directed to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife at 1-800-858-1549 before participating in regulated activities.

Report Game Violations and Fish Kills:
1-800-25-ALERT

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FISHING LICENSE

Landowner Permission Required

A person shall not enter private land to hunt, fish, or trap without permission from the landowner or authorized agent. Failure to obtain permission may result in enforcement action. (KRS 150:092)

New This Year!

Check out the latest issue of the Kentucky Fall Hunting & Trapping Guide (2025-26) - Regulations Summary.

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 maps for more information.

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Hunting and Fishing Regulation Summary Guides

Be Informed Before You Go Out!

New Licenses and Permit Fees

New This Year!

New This Year!

New This Year!

New This Year!

Click Cover to Explore

On Using the Guides

Report Game Violations and Fish Kills:1-800-25-ALERT

Landowner Permission Required

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​New This Year!​

Report Game Violations and Fish Kills:
1-800-25-ALERT

New This Year!