Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission proposed regulation changes at its quarterly meeting on March 20

​​FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 21, 2026) — The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to recommend amendments to several hunting and wildlife regulations and conducted other business in a March 20, 2026, regular meeting as presented in the detailed agenda of the meeting. The commission members met in person with one member attending via live video teleconference.

In addition to approving the quarterly commission meeting minutes from Dec. 5, 2025, the commission members considered the following action items. If approved by the commission, proposed regulatory changes are filed with the Kentucky legislature to be reviewed and considered for approval. Administrative regulation changes are generally anticipated to take effect within six to nine months of their filing. The public may follow legislative developments on these regulations at Title 301 • Kentucky Administrative Regulations • Legislative Research Commission.

The commission approved the following action items requiring legislative approval before being enacted:

• Promulgate a new regulation regarding procurement

• Promulgate new regulations under 301 KAR Chapter 11 – Administrative to provide transparency in purchasing policies.
• Itemize procurement procedures, contracts and other related administrative services policies.
• Clean up any other regulations as necessary for conformity.
  

• Amend 301 KAR 2:144. Fall wild turkey hunting to remove hens from legal take during fall turkey archery season and fall turkey crossbow season.
• Clean up any other regulations as necessary for conformity. 

• Amend 301 KAR 2:142. Spring wild turkey hunting to remove bearded hens from legal take during spring turkey season.
• Clean up any other regulations as necessary for conformity.
  

• Amend 301 KAR 2:300. Black bear seasons and requirements to modify black bear seasons and requirements.
• Remove the physical check requirement for harvested bears and require hunters to submit a tooth of any harvested bear to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.
• Expand the chase-only season beginning the day after spring turkey season through the end of September.
• Prohibit bear chase on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) within the elk hunting zone during the month of September to not conflict with elk archery and modern gun seasons.
• Expand archery and modern gun seasons in bear zone 1 to run a full five days for each season (currently runs for three days each).
• Establish a youth-only bear season to open the second Saturday in October and to run for two days (overlaps the first two days of youth deer) in bear zones 1, 2 and 3.
•  Clean up any other regulations as necessary for conformity.

 The commission also heard new business and discussion items that will be considered further at its next quarterly meeting.

The meeting was livestreamed on the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources' YouTube channel, where a replay of the March 20, 2026, meeting is available on demand.

Business items on the commission's meeting agenda that include proposed changes to regulations typically follow a three-step process at successive quarterly meetings, with items introduced first as new business, then proceeding for further discussion, and finally appearing as action items (at the commission's discretion). This general stepwise process allows for adequate time for public awareness and comment on proposed regulatory changes. Agendas for commission meetings are posted at fw.ky.gov in advance of the meeting dates, and details about meeting logistics and submitting public comments are included therein.

Individuals or organizations may contact their district representative on the commission about any pertinent topic of concern. Contact information is available on Kentucky Fish and Wildlife's district commission members webpage. Procedures for submitting public comments about current business items via email or in person are outlined in the agenda for each meeting, which is generally posted on the agency's website one to two weeks before the meeting date.

The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission, a nine-member board comprised of volunteers who serve four-year terms, recommends hunting, fishing and boating regulations on behalf of the anglers, hunters and other wildlife-related stakeholders in the commonwealth. Any recommendation by the commission to amend or create a state administrative regulation must receive legislative approval before becoming law. Both proposed and recently enacted amendments are posted on the department's Administrative Regulations webpage.

The next quarterly commission meeting date is scheduled for Friday, June 12, 2026, in Frankfort, Ky. An agenda and meeting location will be posted on the Commission Meeting Dates webpage on the department's website at fw.ky.gov when available.

###