Kentucky’s fall hunting seasons await

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 24, 2026) — From doves and deer to bobcat and bear, fall brings many options for hunters in Kentucky to fill their freezers or take on new challenges.

Although the first day of squirrel season started Aug. 15, many consider Sept. 1 – the opening day of dove season – as the symbolic kick-off of fall hunting. The opening of these two seasons unleashes a steady progression of opportunities for hunters.

No matter what draws hunters to the fields and forests, whether it's meat for the freezer, antlers for the wall, spiritual rejuvenation or a stronger bond with their children, “there's something for everyone," said Wildlife Division Director Ben Robinson of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “The good old days of hunting in Kentucky are happening right now."

Season dates and bag limits can be found on Kentucky Fish and Wildlife's website at fw.ky.gov. The website is filled with everything from new regulations, harvest data and a license and permit store, to tutorials on hunting, quota hunt applications, Hunter Education classes, and maps of public dove fields and Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). It also includes an individualized My Profile page.

The website provides downloadable and printable versions of the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide and the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting Guide for Migratory Birds and Waterfowl. The hunting and trapping guide is also available at license vendors.

Special note: Hunters and trappers should consult species-specific pages at fw.ky.gov or the online hunting guides before going afield. Proposed regulation changes are awaiting final review and could alter seasons this fall.

Some hunting opportunities, more or less in calendar order:

Squirrel: Fall squirrel hunting – which began Aug. 15 – is the perfect introduction to hunting for youths and newcomers. To find eastern gray squirrels, which make up nearly 90 percent of the harvest, look for large trees in mature forests, especially oaks and hickories.

Doves and more: Friends and family will hit dove fields Sept. 1, the traditional start to the first of dove season's three segments. The action can be fast, furious and fun in one of the rare hunting opportunities that's considered “a social thing." Check out Migratory Birds for lists of public dove fields and quota hunts.

Hunters will need a valid Kentucky hunting license and a Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl permit, plus they must also have their Harvest Information Program (HIP) confirmation number prior to heading afield. To get their confirmation number, hunters must visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at fw.ky.gov, click the My Profile tab and answer a brief survey about their migratory bird hunting activities during the previous year. This number must appear on their printed license or can be written on the hunting license or Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Hunting permit.

Mid-September will begin opportunities for early wood ducks, teal and Canada geese. Regular waterfowl seasons for ducks and geese open on Thanksgiving Day, providing opportunities to hunt through January or February. Sandhill crane season runs from early December through the end of January. Hunters wishing to take sandhill cranes must apply for a quota hunt permit Sept. 1-30, 2026, at My Profile, and are required to complete a post-season survey within 14 days of the close of the season.

Deer: Roughly 300,000 hunters will target white-tailed deer through 136 days of hunting, including an archery season that kicks off Sept. 5, a nine-day youth-only season Oct. 10-18, 2026, and the modern firearms season Nov. 14-29, 2026.

More than 145,000 deer were harvested last year. While Kentucky ranks No. 6 in entries on the Boone and Crockett Club trophy list, wildlife officials are encouraging a higher harvest of does.

Thirty counties were rezoned to allow more generous bag limits, and a special antlerless season in 23 counties being monitored for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was expanded from two days to four days to manage deer densities. Mandatory drop-off and sampling requirements in the CWD Surveillance Zone are spelled out online and in the hunting guide.

Black bears: Hunters can buy permits over the counter to pursue bears in 47 counties using firearms, bows, crossbows and with the aid of dogs during various seasons that begin Sept. 19 and end Dec. 16, 2026. More than 200 bears were taken each of the past two seasons, with about 10 percent of hunters being successful.

Elk: A lucky 500 hunters were selected for permits in May during Kentucky's annual elk permit drawing for the right to hunt the state's largest game animal in the southeastern mountains. Didn't get picked? Apply now for the 2027 Kentucky Elk Draw through My Profile.

Fall turkey: Spring brought a record turkey harvest, but successful hatches the past two years suggest the various fall seasons could be productive as well. Hunters can use bows beginning Sept. 5, followed by various crossbow and shotguns seasons.

Other small game: Hunters can target both rabbits and quail beginning Nov. 16, with a separate 13-day season beginning Nov. 1 in the Eastern Zone only. Both species are habitat-specific, so finding the right habitat is step No. 1. Many rabbit and quail hunters love the species because it gives them a chance to work their dogs.

Furbearers: Furbearers offer diverse opportunities for hunters and trappers alike, including predators like coyotes, bobcats and foxes; water-based animals like river otters, beavers and muskrats; and the commonly seen raccoons and striped skunks. Pay attention to the details: most species have very specific rules regarding equipment and season dates, and season dates typically differ by method of take (hunting and trapping). In addition, some species cannot be taken during deer firearms seasons.

Remember that hunters born after 1974 must be hunter education certified, unless they are Kentucky residents hunting on their own property. For other exceptions and hunter safety course schedules, see the Hunter Education webpage.

For general information, hunters can contact the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Information Center by emailing info.center@ky.govor calling (800) 858-2549, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern) Monday through Friday, except holidays.​​