Kentucky Fish and Wildlife provides a recap of recently amended regulations

The following summarizes provisions that relate to or affect Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and the services the agency provides to hunters, anglers, boaters and the public at large. These include new or amended regulations clarifying wildlife damage control and landowner designee processes, reducing duplicative permitting requirements at Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area and Peabody Wildlife Management Area, establishing procedures for seized wildlife held as evidence and strengthening waterway safety requirements.

This administrative regulation establishes the requirements for the issuance of wildlife control tags and destruction tags and establishes the requirements for the landowner designee appointment process.

The amendment retitled the administrative regulation from “Deer control tags, deer destruction permits and landowner designee” to “Wildlife causing damage and landowner designee process,” removed all references to “deer” specifically and replaces it with the general term “wildlife” as the department recognizes other species can cause damage to landowners and farmers. It also provided better clarification on approval and denial parameters for tag issuance and updated definitions. Effective June 4, 2026

This administrative regulation establishes requirements for the use of the Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area.

This amendment outlined an exemption for the shooting range permit required in 301 KAR 3:015 with the purchase of an annual or daily Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area Entry permit and also removed the definitions section since Chapter 3 has a definition regulation. This amendment was necessary to comply with the provisions in 301 KAR 3:015 and ensure the public was not over charged for permits to participate in activities on the Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area. Effective June 4, 2026

NOTE: Kentucky Fish and Wildlife operated the 2,261-acre property from 2011 to 2026. The property was transferred to Meade County Fiscal Court on July 1, 2026. Deed language solidified the department’s public access and available acreage for hunting and fishing (with no net loss in public access or available acreage; KRS 150.0241) in perpetuity. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife continues to operate and maintain the property's rifle, pistol and archery target shooting ranges. A shooting range permit, free with any annual hunting or fishing license by checking the applicable box on the department's License Sales webpage, is required to use the range.

This administrative regulation establishes a permit for public use of the Peabody Wildlife Management Area and places necessary restrictions on its use by the public.

This amendment outlined an exemption for the shooting range permit required in 301 KAR 3:015 with the purchase of a Peabody Wildlife Management Area use permit and also removed the definitions section since Chapter 3 has a definition regulation. The amendment was necessary to comply with the provisions in 301 KAR 3:015 and ensure the public is not over charged for permits to participate in activities on the Peabody Wildlife Management Area. Effective June 4, 2026

This new administrative regulation establishes a program for individuals who contract with the Department to become impoundment agents to be permitted to hold and maintain seized wildlife that are evidence in criminal actions until the case is adjudicated. The Department does not have facilities or staff to care for wildlife that might be seized as evidence in criminal actions for the violations of KRS Chapter 150. This regulation is necessary to assist in the effective administration of the statutes as any living wildlife seized or brought under control pursuant to KRS 150.105 or KRS 150.120 as part of a criminal action must be maintained as evidence until final adjudication or a court orders the wildlife’s release or destruction. The regulation provides a mechanism for the Department to maintain chain of custody for the evidence while providing for the needs of wildlife. Effective June 4, 2026

This administrative regulation establishes definitions for terms used in 301 KAR Chapter 6 and is necessary to avoid confusion when interpreting the meaning of terms used in 301 KAR Chapter 6. By providing definitions for the terms used in 301 KAR Chapter 6, misinterpretation of the regulations should be minimized. The amendment contained additional terms that are to be utilized in conjunction with other Chapter 6 amendments. Effective June 2, 2026

This administrative regulation limits the size of boats and motors on small lakes for safety reasons and to minimize interference with other users and is necessary to protect the safety of individuals boating on these small lakes. 301 KAR 6:015 is the recodified regulation 301 KAR 1:015, and the amendment addressed restrictions for electric outboard motors, including the size at which electric motors must follow the same idle speed restrictions as internal combustion motors. The definition section was deleted to be added in the “definitions” regulation for Chapter 6 as well. Effective June 2, 2026

This administrative regulation establishes the requirements for legal boating safety equipment in Kentucky. The amendment set forth requirements for when and how the manufacturer-installed engine cut-off switch shall be used and maintained by a motorboat operator. The amendment was necessary to ensure waterway safety requirements are in place that promote the waterway safety of the citizens of the Commonwealth and to address the specific hazards associated with potential incapacitation or ejection of an operator while a boat is underway. Effective June 2, 2026

This administrative regulation prohibits certain unsafe practices on the waterways of the Commonwealth.

The amendment removes references to a repealed statute, clarifies that personal flotation devices must be approved by the U.S. Coast Guard and requires operators of motorized vessels to minimize their wake when approaching law enforcement or public safety vessels displaying flashing lights. The changes conform the regulation to language used in other Chapter 6 regulations and address safety concerns for the public and law enforcement and public safety personnel while operating on the waters of the Commonwealth. Effective June 4, 2026​​