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The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources currently has the following proposed amendments to its administrative regulations filed with the Legislative Research Commission, pending, or recently enacted. For filed and pending amendments, persons interested in commenting after reviewing them should contact the department per the instructions at the end of each regulation.
Recently Amended Administrative Regulations - News Release September 8, 2026
Substantive changes that are filed and pending.
Links to the LRC website for each regulation are found below.
This administrative regulation establishes definitions for terms used in 301 KAR Chapter 1. This administrative regulation is necessary to avoid confusion when interpreting the meaning of terms used in 301 KAR Chapter 1. This amendment adds a definition for “private lake or pond” to conform with recent statute changes from 2026 RS SB 39 EO. A definition for “private waters” was also added to reduce confusion between those two types of water bodies. (See: 301 KAR 1:001.)
This administrative regulation controls the transportation of fish, fish eggs, live bait and other aquatic organisms into, within, and through the state. This administrative regulation is necessary to protect the resident fish populations of Kentucky by preventing the unwanted spread of invasive aquatic organisms or diseases. This amendment addresses the requirements for transportation of fish, other than invasive species, from a private lake or pond to another location, except public waters, and conforms with recent statute changes from 2026 RS SB 39 EO. (See: 301 KAR 1:125.)
This administrative regulation establishes the procedures for taking sport and rough fish by nontraditional fishing methods. This administrative regulation is necessary to effectively manage the fish populations of Kentucky and to provide for reasonable recreational fishing opportunities. This amendment allows bona fide owners of private land in Kentucky who are also residents of the Commonwealth to not be subject to any limits or restrictions established in this administrative regulation for daily limit, possession, size, or method of take for the fish in the private landowner's private lake or pond when using non-traditional fishing methods. It also allows the bona fide landowner to extend these privileges in written or electronic form to any other person who has a valid fishing license and requires individuals utilizing extended privileges to provide written or electronic documentation from the bona fide landowner to game wardens upon request. These amendments conform with recent statute changes from 2026 RS SB 39 EO. (See: 301 KAR 1:410.)
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 and the possession, holding, commercial activity, and transportation of rabbits for rabbit training enclosures. These amendments will establish requirements for species and number of animals that may be maintained within rabbit training enclosures, the possession and transport of native rabbits, fencing to maintain rabbits within rabbit training enclosures, size of enclosures, quarantine and disease response, record keeping and reporting, and permitting and enforcement. (See: 301 KAR 2:041.)
This administrative regulation establishes exceptions to statewide small game and furbearer requirements on public areas. This amendment will restrict night hunting for coyote and bobcat to daytime only on specified federal lands and prohibit night hunting of beaver on all public lands. The amendment removes management restrictions on Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area (OCORA) as the area has been transferred from department ownership to Meade County. The amendment is necessary to provide conformity with rules on specified federal areas and prohibit night hunting of beaver on public areas due to safety concerns. (See: 301 KAR 2:049.)
This regulation establishes season dates, bag limits, shooting hours, and other requirements for wild turkey hunting in Kentucky and is necessary to regulate wild turkey hunting for the effective management of wild turkeys in Kentucky. This amendment will consolidate language from three (3) other regulations for consistency and simplicity for future amendments, including 301 KAR 2:111, 2:142, and 2:144, each of which carry definitions and specific requirements. Definitions are added for consistency with other regulations and to constitute changes, such as what constitutes a legal wild turkey. For spring turkey season, take of female turkeys with a visible beard (hereafter “bearded hens”) is made illegal except for youth hunters. For fall turkey seasons, take of any female turkey with archery equipment or crossbow is made illegal. This amendment also accommodates the addition of Green River National Wildlife Refuge to the list of “Special Areas” where turkeys may be hunted per federal or local requirements. (See: 301 KAR 2:140.)
This regulation repeals multiple regulations relating to deer and turkey hunting since they are now consolidated and found in other regulations. The language from 301 KAR 2:111 for deer hunting is now consolidated and can be found in 301 KAR 2:172. The provisions from 301 KAR 2:111, 2:142, 2:144 is now in one turkey hunting regulation found in 301 KAR 2:140. (See: 301 KAR 2:141.)
This administrative regulation establishes seasons and legal methods of take for white-tailed deer in Kentucky and is necessary to outline provisions for legal methods of take to prevent overharvest of deer. This amendment clarifies how the department manages deer by categorizing deer hunting zones, establishes zone 1 counties are overpopulated with deer, and adds additional days of antlerless deer hunting in Zone 1-3 counties. This amendment is necessary to conform with recent statutory changes in 2026RS HB 142 EO. (See: 301 KAR 2:172.)
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 and is necessary to alleviate wildlife damage in a regulated manner. This amendment establishes reporting mechanism for control tags and wildlife taken under KRS 150.170 authorization, and clarifies destruction tag issuance process for white-tailed deer damage. The amendment is necessary to comply with changes made to KRS 150 in 2026RS HB 142 EO. (See: 301 KAR 2:176.)
This administrative regulation establishes waterfowl seasons, bag limits and requirements on public lands within federal migratory bird hunting frameworks established in 50 CFR Part 20 and 21 according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and is necessary to establish the waterfowl hunting requirements on public lands in accordance with the USFWS frameworks and Department management objectives. Amendments to the regulation include limiting public land hunters the ability to apply for or be assigned to a single hunting unit in Ballard County, removing primitive weapons restrictions for waterfowl hunters at Barren River Lake WMA; adding a 2pm closure of hunting and limits entry before 4 am daily on Blackford Oaks, Clear Creek, and Harris-Dickerson WMAs; changing closed rest days at Sloughs WMA from Tuesday and Wednesday to Monday and Tuesday; requiring hunters utilizing Sloughs WMA to check into the area before hunting each day; removing the automatic online assignment of surrendered blinds at Boatwright WMA; changing the time people shall apply for stand-by drawings at Boatwright WMA; and removing the forfeiture of hunting privileges and the ability to apply for limited access hunts for anyone cited for violating state of federal law while participating in a limited access waterfowl hunt. These amendments will improve the experience of waterfowl hunters utilizing public land hunts in Kentucky while also providing quality public hunting opportunity with minimal area use conflict that is consistent with meeting state and federal waterfowl management objectives. (See: 301 KAR 2:222.)
This administrative regulation establishes sandhill crane hunting seasons, bag limits, permit requirements, and hunting requirements on public and private lands within federal migratory bird hunting frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 50 C.F.R. Parts 20 and 21. This modification changes the fee structure according to the passage of CPI formula utilized for all licenses and permits, including the application for a sandhill crane hunting permit. The new fee will prescribed in 301 KAR 5:022. This amendment improves administrative efficiency, simplifies season administration and enforcement, and provides hunting opportunity consistent with federal migratory bird management frameworks. (See: 301 KAR 2:228.)
(Filed as agency amendment to comply with statutory requirements from 2026 legislative session; amended language is underlined.) This regulation establishes furbearer hunting and trapping seasons, bag limits, legal methods of take, and other furbearer hunting and trapping requirements and is necessary to provide adequate furbearer hunting and trapping opportunities to properly manage furbearer populations in Kentucky. This amendment will increase the otter bag limit to 15 per season, only 10 of which can be taken from zone 2. The bobcat limit will increase to 10 per season, only 3 of which can be taken with a gun by hunting. The agency amendment added provisions for the night hunting of beavers and bobcats to comply with statutory changes to KRS 150.360 arising from 2026RS SB 39 EO. This amendment will provide additional opportunities for the harvest of river otter and bobcat and is necessary to comply with statutory changes to KRS 150.360 arising from 2026RS SB 39 EO. (See: 301 KAR 2:251.)
This regulation establishes black bear chase and hunt seasons, chase and hunt requirements, bag limits, and legal methods of take. This administrative regulation is necessary to establish bear hunting season requirements and methods of take to provide reasonable hunting and chasing opportunity, while properly managing bear populations in Kentucky. This amendment will remove the physical check requirement for harvested black bears, expand the chase only season forward to the day after spring turkey season, close bear chase season on wildlife management areas during the month of September, expand archery and modern gun seasons in zone one to five days, and establish two days of youth-only bear hunting season. This amendment is necessary to provide an increased level of bear hunting opportunity to more properly manage some bear populations within the state. (See: 301 KAR 2:300.)
This 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. This amendment contains definitions to terms used in chapter 3 regulations and also removes definitions for terms no longer used in chapter 3 regulations. (See: 301 KAR 3:001.)
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. The necessity of this administrative regulation is to allow safe public use of Wildlife Management Areas for hunting, fishing, and related recreational uses. This amendment will allow group fishing or boating activities occurring at a boating access area within a KDFWR Wildlife Management Area to operate without the requirement of a WMA use permit. In addition, these activities will be exempted from commercial activity restrictions. access areas across the state. On boating access areas owned or managed by KDFWR outside of Wildlife Management Areas, there are no permit requirements to conduct these activities unless they involve more than 100 boats. This amendment will standardize the way fishing and boating activities are handled at all KDFWR owned or managed boating access areas, including those on KDFWR Wildlife Management Areas. (See: 301 KAR 3:010.)
This regulation repeals two regulations in Chapter 2 and is necessary to clean up old language and consolidate current policies and provisions. The repeal is necessary as amendments to land usage have been included in other regulations within Chapter 3, thus making these regulations outdated and redundant. Additionally, Otter Creek Recreational Area is now under ownership of Meade Co. and no longer needs to have provisions for usage listed in KDFWR regulations with respect to the campground area and recreational activity outside of the department’s purview. (See: 301 KAR 3:014.)
This administrative regulation establishes procedures to allow individuals meeting defined criteria for mentored events to boat, fish, hunt, shoot, or trap as part of a department-approved activity or program. KRS 150.0241 authorizes the department to impose and enforce special administrative regulations on lands managed for public hunting, fishing, and related recreational uses. This administrative regulation prohibits certain actions inconsistent with the intended purpose of conservation camp properties, establishes requirements for other uses, and stipulates the guidelines for participation in events This administrative regulation is necessary to establish guidelines under which the department may operate special mentored events and regulate activity on property owned or managed by the department that is not a wildlife management area (WMA). This amendment will combine and simplify regulatory language dealing with department land that is not a WMA, add provisions for property set aside for other uses and add provisions for closure of land by signage. This amendment is necessary to allow the property utilization of land owned or managed by the department that is not a WMA and to consolidate redundant language in other regulations. (See: 301 KAR 3:130.)
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 creates a rabbit training enclosure permit to allow operation of rabbit training enclosures. It removes all reference to Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area and it changes the name of 2 permits. The amendment also adds permit information for dog training activity at West Kentucky WMA. (See: 301 KAR 5:022.)
This administrative regulation establishes the requirements for the issuance and use of Special Agency Fundraising Permits. The regulation is necessary to legally authorize and regulate agency fundraising hunting permits that generate revenue for Kentucky wildlife programs while maintaining fair access and conservation controls. The amendment changes the title of the regulation and titles of the special agency fundraising permits to further distinguish the difference between this program and special commission permits. It also incorporates provisions of 2026 RS HB142 EO. (See: 301 KAR 5:210.)
This administrative regulation establishes the requirement for an annual registration for boat manufacturers and dealers and established the requirements for registering as a boat manufacture and boat dealer. Updates the material incorporated by reference to include reporting requirements that we already within the administrative regulation. This amendment is needed to comply with the reporting requirements within the regulation and to comply with federal law. (See: 301 KAR 6:070.)
This administrative regulation outlines the process for individuals seeking nomination for the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission. This administrative regulation is necessary to provide the public with detailed information for participation in the nomination and selection process for consideration as a Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission Member. The amendment will conform to changes made to KRS statutes governing the nomination and selection of commission members in 2026 HB 10 EO and 2026 SB 39 EO. (See: 301 KAR 11:002.)
This administrative regulation designates the counties within each district. This administrative regulation is necessary to inform the public of their representation on the Fish and Wildlife Resources Commission by county of residence. This amendment will change the term “wildlife districts” to “commission districts” consistent with statutory language used in KRS 150 and KRS 235. (See: 301 KAR 11:003.)
Changes to regulations or statutes in recent months that are now effective:
An agency amendment was filed during the current review process for 301 KAR 1:201. The agency amendment conforms with changes to KRS 150.170, resulting from SB 39 2026RS exceptions for creel, possession, size, and methods of take for owners of private lakes and ponds. The agency amendment is necessary to avoid conflict with the statute. SB 39’s final passage occurred contemporaneously with the original file date of 301 KAR 1:201. Additionally, an agency amendment was filed during the review process for 301 KAR 1:201. The agency amendment conforms with changes to KRS 150.170, resulting from SB 39 2026RS exceptions for creel, possession, size, and methods of take for owners of private lakes and ponds. The agency amendment is necessary to avoid conflict with the statute. SB 39’s final passage occurred contemporaneously with the original file date of 301 KAR 1:201. (See: 301 KAR 1:201.)
This administrative regulation establishes the permitting and operating requirements for wildlife rehabilitators and is necessary to provide safe guidelines for wildlife rehabilitators to operate in a manner that will protect both their operation and the wildlife in the commonwealth. This amendment removed any reference to fees and replaced them with a reference to the fee regulation, 301 KAR 5:022, and similarly updated any applicable material incorporated by reference. This amendment established a sub-permit to allow volunteers to assist permitted wildlife rehabilitators, redefined the Enhanced Rabies Surveillance Zone, expanded options for release of rabies vector species, allows for an exemption to hold wildlife undergoing rehabilitation for longer than 180 days, and designated bats as rabies vector species. (See: 301 KAR 2:075.)
This administrative regulation establishes deer hunting seasons and zones, bag limits, legal methods of taking, and checking and recording requirements for deer hunting. This amendment changed county-wide deer hunting zones and is necessary to allow more liberal taking of white-tailed deer to better control population growth. (See: 301 KAR 2:172.)
This administrative regulation establishes the process and requirements for landowners or leaseholders to receive assistance while experiencing wildlife damage, and is necessary to ensure that constituents are receiving this assistance in a regulated manner that is reportable to the department. This amendment removes all references to “deer” specifically and replaces it with the general term “wildlife” as we recognize other species can cause damage to landowners and farmers. This amendment also provides better clarification on approval and denial parameters for tag issuance and updated definitions(See: 301 KAR 2:176.)
An agency amendment was filed during the current review process for 301 KAR 2:178. The amendment is necessary as public deer hunting on government owned lands was previously prohibited unless open under statewide regulations. Due to statutory changes resulting from HB 142 2026RS during the 2026 regular session, provisions for additional anterless deer seasons in overpopulated areas need to be created in this regulation to conform with KRS 150.390. Those additional seasons were instituted as zone-specific seasons in 301 KAR 2:172. These agency amendments adopt zonewide designations for deer hunting to incorporate new zone-specific seasons for public lands hunting. Additionally, an agency amendment was filed during the current review process for 301 KAR 2:178. The amendment is necessary as public deer hunting on government owned lands was previously prohibited unless open under statewide regulations. Due to statutory changes resulting from HB 142 2026RS during the 2026 regular session, provisions for additional anterless deer seasons in overpopulated areas need to be created in this regulation to conform with KRS 150.390. Those additional seasons were instituted as zone-specific seasons in 301 KAR 2:172. These agency amendments adopt zonewide designations for deer hunting to incorporate new zone-specific seasons for public lands hunting. (See: 301 KAR 2:178.)
This regulation establishes furbearer hunting and trapping seasons, bag limits, legal methods of take, and other furbearer hunting and trapping requirements and is necessary to properly manage furbearer populations in Kentucky. This amendment extended the season for trapping furbearers with water sets through March, which is intended to help alleviate wildlife damage issues and provide an opportunity for the take of furbearers. (See: 301 KAR 2:251.)
This administrative regulation establishes a permit for public use of the Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area and places necessary restrictions on its use by the public. This amendment outlines 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 removes the definitions section since Chapter 3 has a definition regulation. This amendment is necessary to comply with the provisions in 301 KAR 3:015 and ensure the public is not over charged for permits to participate in activity on the Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area. (See: 301 KAR 3:012.)
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 outlines 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 removes the definitions section since Chapter 3 has a definition regulation. This amendment is necessary to comply with the provisions in 301 KAR 3:015 and ensure the public is not over charged for permits to participate in activity on the Peabody Wildlife Management Area. (See: 301 KAR 3:013.)
This administrative regulation establishes the rules for the use of department-owned public shooting ranges. The regulation is necessary to establish rules for the safe and equitable usage of department-owned shooting ranges, track usage at department-owned shooting ranges, and generate income to use as a match for federal shooting range grants. This amendment added a free annual shooting range permit for holders of a valid Kentucky annual hunting or fishing license, as well as a paid annual permit and a paid one-day permit for shooting range use on lands owned or managed by the department through ownership, lease, license, or cooperative agreement, or a facility owned or managed by an affiliated partner of the department that is designated for the shooting of firearms or archery equipment. (See: 301 KAR 3:015.)
This 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 all manner of 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. This regulation provides a mechanism for the Department to maintain chain of custody for the evidence while providing for the needs of wildlife. (See: 301 KAR 4:112.)
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. This amendment contains additional terms that are to be utilized in conjunction with other Chapter 6 amendments. (See: 301 KAR 6:001.)
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 and to minimize interference with other users. 301 KAR 6:015 is the recodified regulation 301 KAR 1:015, and the amendment addresses 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. (See: 301 KAR 6:015.)
This administrative regulation establishes authority for the department to place safety requirements for motorboat operators to maintain and use the engine cut-off switch and is necessary to establish the requirements for boating safety equipment to protect against common hazards when boating. The amendment will set forth requirements for when and how the manufacturer installed engine cut-off switch shall be used and maintained by a motorboat operator. This amendment will also ensure waterway safety requirements are in place that promote the waterway safety of the citizens of the Commonwealth by addressing the specific hazards associated with potential incapacitation or ejection of an operator while a boat is underway. (See: 301 KAR 6:020.)
This regulation establishes various rules and requirements for individuals engaging in boating or boating related recreational activities upon the waters of the Commonwealth, and is necessary to ensure safe and equitable use of the waters of the Commonwealth. The amendment removes references to a repealed statute, clarifies that floatation devices are to be US Coast Guard approved, and requires individuals operating motor vessels to minimize their wake when near law enforcement or public safety vessels when their lights are flashing. This amendment was discussed and approved by the Commission in the spring of 2025 to eliminate references to a previously repealed regulation, ensure the safety of the citizens utilizing devices approved by the USCG, and to protect law enforcement or public safety personnel who are actively engaged in their duties. (See: 301 KAR 6:030.)
This administrative regulation established the requirement for an annual registration for boat manufacturers and dealers and established the requirements for registering as a boat manufacturer and boat dealer. This amendment removed any reference to fees and replaced them with a reference to the fee regulation, 301 KAR 5:022, and similarly updated any applicable material incorporated by reference and removed definitions which are no longer necessary as the definitions for the chapter have been consolidated into 301 KAR 5:001. (See: 301 KAR 6:070.)
New Regulations are Upcoming
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