Administrative Regulations

This administrative regulation establishes the requirements for obtaining a permit to propagate aquatic organisms and the associated requirements for all permit holders in order to establish minimum standards for fisheries propagation permit holders and to help conserve native aquatic resources. This amendment removes any reference to fees and replaces them with a reference to the fee regulation, 301 KAR 5:022, and similarly updates any applicable material incorporation by reference in an effort to consolidate fee information into one regulation for the end user. (See: 301 KAR 1:115.)

This administrative regulation controls the transportation of fish, fish eggs, live bait and other aquatic organisms into, within, and through the state and is necessary to protect the resident fish populations of Kentucky by preventing the unwanted spread of invasive aquatic organisms or diseases. This amendment removes any reference to fees and replaces them with a reference to the fee regulation, 301 KAR 5:022, and similarly updates any applicable material incorporated by reference in an effort to consolidate fee information into one regulation for the end user. (See: 301 KAR 1:125.)

This administrative regulation establishes the conditions and provisions under which live bait may be taken, transported, and sold and is necessary to protect the state’s aquatic resources. This amendment removes any reference to fees and replaces them with a reference to the fee regulation, 301 KAR 5:022, and similarly updates any applicable material incorporated by reference. In addition, this amendment adds a Live Bait and Fish Dealers Application to the Incorporation by Reference section and removes the Definitions section from the regulation. Finally, this amendment corrects an error in the current regulation where the “live bait and fish dealers license” is called a “live fish and bait dealers license” and replaces the term “Asian carp” with “invasive carp” to match all other Chapter 1 regulations. (See: 301 KAR 1:132.)

This administrative regulation sets forth the conditions and provisions for a special commercial fishery using gill and trammel nets at Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley and is necessary to specify the waters open to, and other restrictions on the use of, gill and trammel nets at Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. This amendment removes any reference to fees and replaces them with a reference to the fee regulation, 301 KAR 5:022, and similarly updates any applicable material incorporated by reference. In addition, this amendment replaces the improper name “Barkley Lake” with the correct name “Lake Barkley” throughout the regulation, including the title. (See: 301 KAR 1:140.)

This administrative regulation establishes the requirements for the Invasive Carp and Scaled Rough Fish Harvest Program and Experimental Commercial Fishing Methods Program and is necessary to provide two important mechanisms for the removal of invasive carp from waters critical to sport fishing and recreational boating. This amendment removes any reference to fees and replaces them with a reference to the fee regulation, 301 KAR 5:022, and similarly updates any applicable material incorporated by reference. In addition, two new documents were added to the Incorporation by Reference section in an effort to consolidate fee information into one regulation for the end user. (See: 301 KAR 1:152.)

This administrative regulation establishes commercial fishing requirements, protects certain species from overharvest, and regulates the buying and selling of roe-bearing species of rough fish in order to effectively manage rough fish populations in Kentucky. This amendment removes any reference to fees and replaces them with a reference to the fee regulation, 301 KAR 5:022, and similarly updates any applicable material incorporated by reference. In addition, two new documents were added to the Incorporation by Reference section. Finally, this amendment replaces the improper name “Barkley Lake” with the correct name “Lake Barkley” throughout the regulation.(See: 301 KAR 1:155.)

This administrative regulation establishes the requirements for pay lake operators, including signage, documentation, and stocking restrictions and is necessary to provide oversight on the pay lake industry and ensure that overharvest of trophy catfish originating from public waters is prevented. This amendment removes any reference to fees and replaces them with a reference to the fee regulation, 301 KAR 5:022, and similarly updates any applicable material incorporated by reference. In addition, this amendment adds a Pay Lake License Application to the Incorporation by Reference section and removes the Definitions section due to the creation of a new definitions regulation 301 KAR 1:001.(See: 301 KAR 1:185.)

This administrative regulation establishes size limits, daily limits, and possession limits for sport fish that may be taken from Kentucky waters and is necessary to properly manage the sport fish populations of Kentucky. This amendment will remove the special catch and release regulations on Clear Fork in Logan and Warren counties and return all sport fish to statewide regulations. This amendment will also remove the special 4-fish daily limit on Channel Catfish and 15-fish daily limit on sunfish for all ponds on the Kentucky River WMA, Boone Tract and place these species under statewide regulations. In addition, this amendment will increase the current 9-inch crappie size limit at Nolin River and Rough River lakes to 10 inches and add the Rockcastle River to the list of waterbodies with an 18- to 26-inch slot limit and 2-fish daily limit for walleye. As cleanups, “Barkley Lake” and “Cumberland Lake” were changed to “Lake Barkley” and “Lake Cumberland”. (See: 301 KAR 1:201.)​

This administrative regulation establishes a bobwhite shoot-to-train season and requirements to regulate the operation of shooting areas, dog training areas, and commercial and noncommercial foxhound training enclosures. This administrative regulation establishes requirements for the possession, holding, commercial activity, and transportation of red fox and coyote for foxhound training enclosures. Provisions in this regulation are necessary to provide a defined process for the permitting, holding, and transportation of wildlife used during shoot-to-train season, shooting areas, dog training areas, and commercial and noncommercial foxhound training enclosures. This amendment removes any reference to fees and replaces them with a reference to the fee regulation, 301 KAR 5:022, and similarly updates any applicable material incorporated by reference in an effort to consolidate fee information into one regulation for the end user. (See: 301 KAR 2:041.)

This administrative regulation establishes requirements for the buying, selling, holding, and transportation of live native wildlife and is necessary to provide a defined process for the holding and transportation of live native wildlife. These processes are necessary to provide for the health and welfare of native wildlife and the safety of Kentucky citizens. This amendment removes any reference to fees and replaces them with a reference to the fee regulation, 301 KAR 5:022, and similarly updates any applicable material incorporated by reference in an effort to consolidate fee information into one regulation for the end user. (See: 301 KAR 2:081.)

This administrative regulation establishes requirements for importation, transportation, and possession of exotic wildlife and are necessary to provide for the protection of our native ecosystem, health and welfare of native wildlife from disease, and the safety of Kentucky citizens. This amendment removes any reference to fees and replaces them with a reference to the fee regulation, 301 KAR 5:022, and similarly updates any applicable material incorporated by reference in an effort to consolidate fee information into one regulation for the end user. (See: 301 KAR 2:082.)

This administrative regulation establishes legal methods of holding and intrastate transportation of captive cervids and is necessary to establish guidelines for the holding of captive cervids. This amendment removes any reference to fees and replaces them with a reference to the fee regulation, 301 KAR 5:022, and similarly updates any applicable material incorporated by reference. Also, this amendment removes the need to report the number of captive cervids being held in captivity since that is required by the Department of Agriculture. (See: 301 KAR 2:083.)

This administrative regulation establishes the requirements for the elk permit drawing and quota hunts, the conditions under which special commission permits, landowner cooperator permits, elk restoration permits, and cooperator voucher permits can be used, and procedures for elk damage abatement and is necessary to effectively manage elk populations in Kentucky, while providing optimal elk hunting and tourism opportunities. This amendment will (1) require landowner cooperator permits to be used only on land contained within the access agreement, (2) require hunters to remove any bait 30 days prior to hunting in that area, (3) move the second cow elk gun season to the first Saturday in January to remove the overlap with Christmas, and (4) open Paul VanBooven WMA and Fishtrap Lake WMA to elk hunting. The goal of these amendments is to increase elk hunting opportunity, remove calendar conflicts, and more fairly regulate the use of bait and landowner cooperator elk permits. (See: 301 KAR 2:132.)

This regulation establishes the framework for deer hunting on publicly owned properties in Kentucky and is necessary to manage white-tailed deer populations on public lands and provides the legal framework for the same. This amendment removes any reference to fees and replaces them with a reference to the fee regulation, 301 KAR 5:022, and similarly updates any applicable material incorporated by reference. This amendment also streamlines the regulation to make public lands deer management and hunting regulations as consistent as possible across the state, and provides state parks with more flexibility for managing wildlife on the park properties. (See: 301 KAR 2:178.)

This administrative regulation establishes permitting, taking, possessing, and reporting requirements for people engaged in falconry and raptor propagation in order to provide safe guidelines for falconers to operate in a manner that will protect their operation and the wildlife in the Commonwealth of KY. This amendment removes any reference to fees and replaces them with a reference to the fee regulation, 301 KAR 5:022, and similarly updates any applicable material incorporated by reference in an effort to consolidate fee information into one regulation for the end user. (See: 301 KAR 2:195.)

This administrative regulation establishes waterfowl seasons and bag limits within federal migratory bird hunting frameworks established in 50 CFR Parts 20 and 21 according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). This amendment will change the bag limit for northern pintails from 1 pintail daily to 3 pintails daily. New harvest models employed by the USFWS allow for increased harvest and this would allow Kentucky hunters to participate. Waterfowl seasons and limits are set on an annual basis following the establishment of federal frameworks by the USFWS each year. It is the Department’s responsibility to allow quality hunting opportunities within these federal frameworks. The changes in the bag limit maximize the hunting opportunity allowed by federal frameworks. (See: 301 KAR 2:221.)

This administrative regulation establishes seasons and bag limits within federal migratory bird hunting frameworks established in 50 C.F.R. Parts 20 and 21 according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). In addition, it establishes requirements for the hunting of migratory birds. This amendment will reduce the length of the September teal season from nine (9) days to five (5) days. Further, this amendment will disallow the use of decoys by dove hunters on Department-controlled lands during the month of September.​ (See: 301 KAR 2:225.)

This administrative regulation establishes seasons, permit application procedures, game bird marking, and other requirements for conducting a shoot-to-retrieve field trial on department owned or controlled lands. This amendment removes any reference to fees and replaces them with a reference to the fee regulation, 301 KAR 5:022, and similarly updates any applicable material incorporated by reference. The regulation is also updated to reflect any reference to “game wardens” to be consistent with KRS 150 and KRS 235 statutory language.​ (See: 301 KAR 2:230.)

This regulation establishes black bear chase and hunt seasons, chase and hunt requirements, bag limits, and legal methods of take and is necessary to provide reasonable hunting and chasing opportunities, while properly managing bear populations in Kentucky. This amendment will establish a 14-day hunting season in Clinton and Wayne Counties as well as add the Siberian Laika to the list of approved dogs to be used during bear chase and the hunt with dogs seasons. The 14-day season addition in Clinton and Wayne Counties is necessary to attempt to reduce the level of crop depredation in the area. ​ (See: 301 KAR 2:300.)

This new administrative regulation establishes definitions for terms used in 301 KAR Chapter 3 and is necessary to avoid confusion when interpreting the meaning of terms used in 301 KAR Chapter 3. By providing definitions for the terms used in 301 KAR Chapter 3, misinterpretation of the regulations should be minimized. (See: 301 KAR 3:001.)

This regulation establishes provisions for the department to place restrictions for hunting, fishing, trapping and access for newly acquired or managed lands or other lands for safety or wildlife management concerns. The amendments will change the time allowed for temporary restrictions on newly acquired or managed lands, increasing the duration from one year to three years. It also establishes the closure of areas to hunting, fishing or trapping when said properties are incompatible for those activities or deemed unsafe. This amendment is necessary to expand the time available to promulgate permanent regulations, prepare properties for public use and perform wildlife or habitat management activities for newly acquired or managed lands. The amendment is also necessary to establish public safety protections for temporary or long-term safety concerns. (See: 301 KAR 3:005.)

This administrative regulation authorizes the department to impose and enforce special administrative regulations on lands acquired for public hunting, fishing, and related recreational uses. This administrative regulation prohibits certain actions inconsistent with the intended purpose of Wildlife Management Areas, establishes requirements for other uses, and stipulates the procedure for obtaining group use permits on these areas. This amendment will create Special Use Wildlife Management Areas that restrict certain public uses due to the size of the property, its location, or because of deed restrictions at the time of purchase. It allows for the use of trail cameras on WMAs if they are properly identified. Language was added to conform to hunter orange requirements as found in the current Chapter 2 regulations. Also, a provision was added to require groups with a valid WMA user permit that hold events at a shooting range to provide the department with a sign-in sheet from those events within 30 days. This amendment is necessary to allow safe public use of Wildlife Management Areas for hunting, fishing, and related recreational uses. (See: 301 KAR 3:010.)

This administrative regulation establishes the requirements for commercial wildlife control permits and wildlife control operators and authorizes the department to issue permits to qualified persons to take and transport wildlife causing damage under commercial wildlife control permits. This amendment removes any reference to fees and replaces them with a reference to the fee regulation, 301 KAR 5:022, and similarly updates any applicable material incorporated by reference in an effort to consolidate fee information into one regulation for the end user. This amendment also removes all reference to “nuisance” wildlife and establishes the legal means and methods for WCOs who wish to take deer causing damage. (See: 301 KAR 3:120.)

This new administrative regulation establishes the use of aircraft or unmanned aircraft for the taking of wildlife and is necessary to effectively manage wildlife populations in Kentucky, specifically with the growing use of technology available for outdoor recreation. This administrative regulation will assist in the effective administration of statutes by establishing requirements for the use of aircraft in the field. (See: 301 KAR 3:140.)

This new administrative regulation establishes the requirements for hunting and fishing outfitters and hunting and fishing guides and is necessary to establish minimum regulatory standards and qualifications for hunting or fishing outfitters and hunting or fishing guides. Provisions outlined in the new regulation establish the minimum standards and qualifications for outfitters and guides and ensures that an applicant is qualified to act as an outfitter or a guide to the public. (See: 301 KAR 3:150.)

This administrative regulation identifies all current reciprocal agreements established between Kentucky and bordering states pertaining to hunting and fishing and establishes procedures for applying the administrative regulations of Kentucky and the states bordering Kentucky who share common waters. This new regulation replaces dated documents previously found in Chapter 1 and reorganizes both hunting and fishing agreements in Title 301 Chapter 3. (See: 301 KAR 3:160.)

This administrative regulation establishes the requirements for the issuance and use of scientific and educational collecting permits to protect the wildlife of Kentucky. This amendment removes any reference to fees and replaces them with a reference to the fee regulation, 301 KAR 5:022, and similarly updates any applicable material incorporated by reference in an effort to consolidate fee information into one regulation for the end user. (See: 301 KAR 4:070.)

This administrative regulation establishes the requirements for taxidermy licensure, the buying and selling of inedible wildlife parts, and the proper disposal of cervid carcasses and parts. The provisions of this regulation establish the requirements to acquire a taxidermy license and corresponding storage of records, establishes the parameters for the buying and selling of inedible wildlife parts, and the proper disposal of cervid carcasses and parts in order to protect wildlife in the Kentucky. This amendment removes any reference to fees and replaces them with a reference to the fee regulation, 301 KAR 5:022, and similarly updates any applicable material incorporated by reference. It also makes a technical update to change the name of Conservation Officer to Game Warden. (See: 301 KAR 4:090.)

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 for safety. This amendment removes any reference to fees and replaces them with a reference to the fee regulation, 301 KAR 5:022, and similarly updates any applicable material incorporated by reference. This amendment also removes Starfire and Robinson Forest from the name of the permit because KDFWR does not own those properties and no longer has public access to these areas. (See: 301 KAR 4:100.)

This new regulation establishes reporting requirements for diseases of concern found in wildlife and establishes authority for various officials to perform euthanasia of wildlife suspected to have reportable diseases. This regulation is necessary to provide local animal control agencies with a mechanism to euthanize wildlife suspected of disease, to provide public health officials with authority to euthanize animals suspected of rabies, and to help control the spread of wildlife diseases. This administrative regulation will assist in the effective administration of the statutes by providing means for which local officials can eliminate diseased wildlife, public health officials can protect against rabies, and provide a centralized reporting system for wildlife diseases so Department staff can track the spread of diseases and coordinate efforts to combat them. (See: 301 KAR 4:120.)

This regulation establishes definitions for terms used within 301 KAR, Chapter 5. By defining specific terms used in the other regulations within 301 KAR, Chapter 5, it will assist the effective administration of the statutes by clarifying the specific meanings of the terms in one consolidated location. This amendment reflects additional definitions or edits to existing definitions used 301 KAR, Chapter 5 based on amendment language in other regulations and will conform to include terms that need to be defined for consistency. (See: 301 KAR 5:001.)

This administrative regulation establishes fees and terms for licenses, permits, and tags sold by the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and is necessary for the department to establish reasonable license fees, permit terms, and the expiration dates of licenses and permits. This amendment will move fees that were previously listed in other regulations to a central fee regulation for all Department licenses, registrations, and permits. The amendment modifies pre-exiting boat registration fee categories reducing the categories from 6 to 4. The amendment also adds newly created fees for hunting and fishing guides and outfitters, a new reduced-price fee for first time resident sportsman’s licenses, a three-day non-resident fur buyer license, updates the bobcat permit fee, and establishes shooting range permit fees. The amendment removes defunct rental fees that are no longer necessary. Additionally, the amendment adjusts the fees associated with all licenses, registrations, and permits based upon the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the two prior years. The adjustments will be established as the baseline fees for future biennial price adjustments based upon CPI-U. (See: 301 KAR 5:022.)

This regulation is necessary to establish motorboat registration fees for motorboat owners of Kentucky. This regulation is a repeal of 301 KAR 6:005 and is necessary as the amendments to 301 KAR 5:022 shall include updated sections to address the subject matter contained in these regulations, thus making 301 KAR 6:005 outdated and redundant. The repeal of this regulation and inclusion of its subject matter in 301 KAR 5:022 shall consolidate the regulatory requirements for motorboat registration fees in one regulation for all department fees, organizing fee content into one regulation for the public. (See: 301 KAR 6:006.)