Prepare for the field with Kentucky's “Hunter Education Day”

FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 24, 2026) — To help prepare new hunters for a safe and successful experience in the field this fall, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is hosting a special statewide “Hunter Education Day" on the first Saturday in August.

The department will offer more than 30 in-person Hunter Education classes and live-fire range days on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at convenient locations across Kentucky.

This annual educational opportunity is held in August in conjunction with National Shooting Sports Month, when additional attention is brought to shooting sports to grow the pastime in communities across the nation.

“With Kentucky's hunting seasons starting in mid-August, our Hunter Education Day is a special opportunity to help new hunters complete their required hunter education in time for the many fall hunting seasons," said Megan Bagby, hunter education supervisor for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “No matter their age, this is a convenient and free way to learn about firearms basics, whether they plan to hunt or to simply participate in shooting sports."

The department's Hunter Education training class covers hunter ethics, wildlife conservation and identification, field care of game, first aid, firearm safety, archery and muzzleloading. In an in-person course, the last session includes a written test and a live-fire exercise. After an online course is completed, the live-fire exercise will be available at a department-provided range day.

In addition to Hunter Education Day, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife offers hunter education opportunities throughout the year. Both in-person and online education options, as well as in-person range days, can be taken at locations across Kentucky. To learn more about and register for these opportunities, visit the department's Hunter Education webpage.

All in-person courses and range days are open to participants who are at least 9 years old and are offered for free, but registration is required for each session. Registered participants are provided with necessary equipment at no charge for use during testing at the ranges. Online hunter education courses are offered by partnering organizations, and some require a fee.

In most cases, to legally hunt in Kentucky, all hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1975, and age 12 or older, are required to have successfully completed a one-time hunter education course and have an unexpired hunting license appropriate for their hunting activity. Species-specific permits, in addition to an annual hunting license are required for hunting deer, wild turkeys, bears, bobcats and sandhill cranes. Hunter education credentials issued by other states are valid in Kentucky. Licenses and permits may be purchased through the department's license sales portal or through licensed retail vendors across the state.

For more information about Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, as well as hunting dates and regulations, visit fw.ky.gov. For questions, please contact the department's Information Center at 800-858-1549, or atinfo.center@ky.gov, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (ET), excluding state holidays.​​