An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Kentucky has a growing black bear population and a regulated bear hunting season in place. Hunters can pursue bears through archery, crossbow, firearm, or dog hunts, with specific dates as listed below, based on three specific zones and seasons. Hunters must obtain the necessary permits and adhere to regulations regarding firearms, baiting, and bag limits.
This is only a SUMMARY of the black bear hunting rules and regulations as found under 301 KAR 2:300. You can always review our Kentucky Hunting Guide, contact your Local F&W Law Enforcement Officer, or call our Info Center (1-800-858-1549) to help with unanswered questions.
Bear season has been expanded to include Zone 3, which includes Clinton and Wayne counties. This Zone's season dates mostly overlap with Zone 2's dates for all seasons, except there is an additional Archery/Crossbow season from Sept. 20 to Oct. 3, 2025.
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For Chase Only and Hunt with Dogs
For All Other Hunting Seasons
Hunters who harvest a bear during any bear hunting season must telecheck it by 8 p.m. Eastern time on the day of harvest. Hunters must call 1-800-858-1549 within 24 hours of harvest (and before removing the harvested bear from the Bear Zone) to arrange for a physical check of the animal and receive a tag issued by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.
Bear hunters and those who accompany them, or any other person hunting on public or private lands in the bear hunting zones during a firearm season for bears, must comply with the hunter-orange clothing law. This requirement also applies to any person chasing bears during the bear hunting season with dogs.
Please Note: Hunter orange isn't required for Bear Archery/Crossbow season.
Please contact our Information Center at 1-800-858-1549 or Info.Center@ky.gov if you have any questions not answered below.
The annual bag limit is one (1) bear per person per year, regardless of the season.
Yes. Hunters cannot kill bears less than seventy-five (75) pounds. This restriction will protect bears of the year and smaller females.
No. The quota has been removed, and harvest will be regulated by a set season length for each of the three bear zones (1, 2 and 3).
Unleashed dogs can be used only during the chase-only and bear hunting seasons with dogs seasons. Leashed tracking dogs may be used to recover wounded bears during any open bear season on public or private lands with permission. Any dog used for hunting bears must be on the department-approved breed list.
Successful hunters must first telecheck the bear by 8 p.m. on the day of the harvest, and then call the KDFWR at 800-858-1549 (press 4 for special season information) within 24 hours of harvest and before exiting the bear hunting zone, to arrange for KDFWR personnel to attach a metal kill tag and inspect the carcass. There will be no permanent check stations. Instead, the successful hunter and biologist will decide on a place to meet.
Hunters traveling outside the bear zone must call and arrange to have their bear checked prior to leaving the bear hunting zone.
Yes. To check a legal bear, the hunter must present an intact hide that contains the skull and proof of sex, at a minimum.
No. Successful hunters must first telecheck the bear, then call the KDFWR at 800-858-1549 (press 4 for special season information) within 24 hours of harvest and prior to leaving the bear zone, to arrange for KDFWR personnel to attach a metal kill tag and inspect the carcass. The Department no longer has permanent check stations. Instead, the successful hunter and biologist will decide on a place to meet.
No. Garbage cans and open dumpsters are classified as baiting and hunting over or near these attractants is illegal.
No. It is illegal for anyone to disturb or harass a bear from its den. This includes during all bear hunting seasons.
No. It is illegal for hunters to harvest a female bear with any young. In nearly all cases in the fall of the year, a group of bears will actually be a female with her young. Other age groups of bears do not interact or travel in groups.
No.
Yes. Non-resident hunters may take part in the archery, firearms and all chase and dog seasons.
No. Bear permits ($30), Youth Bear Permits ($10), and Non-resident Bear Permits ($250) are available over the counter from all licensed vendors. Unless license exempt, all persons hunting bears must have a Bear Permit in addition to an Annual Hunting License.
Unless license-exempt, a person must possess an Annual Hunting License and a Bear Chase Permit ($30) or Junior Bear Chase Permit ($10).
No. Bear Chase Permits and Youth Bear Chase Permits are only available for purchase on our website in your MyProfile account.
Bear Chase Permits are available for purchase during the entire license year.
Archery/Crossbow season: archery equipment and crossbows only.
Modern firearm season: archery, crossbow or firearms. Muzzleloader firearms must be at least .45 caliber, and modern firearms must be at least .264 caliber (6.5mm) to hunt bears.
Bear quota hunt with dogs: archery, crossbow or firearms. Muzzleloader firearms must be at least .45 caliber, and modern firearms must be at least .264 caliber (6.5mm) to hunt bears.
Yes. Firearms, crossbows and archery equipment are legal weapons during the modern firearm season.
No. Hunter orange is not required for bear archery/crossbow season.
Yes. Because this season is open to firearms, all hunters must wear hunter orange, visible from all sides on the head, back and chest.
No. The intentional or unintentional feeding (i.e. garbage) of black bears is illegal in Kentucky, especially during the hunting season.
No. Any substance capable of luring a bear is considered bait, and the area where it is used is considered a baited area.
Yes. In any bear zone, a dog can be used to chase a bear on public hunting areas or on private land with permission of the landowner except the chase-only and quota hunt with dogs seasons are closed in the Daniel Boone National Forest, Miller-Welch Central Kentucky WMA, Beaver Creek WMA, Cane Creek WMA, Mill Creek WMA, Pioneer Weapons WMA and Redbird WMA.
The chase-only season will not open on Wildlife Management Areas until the third Saturday in August due to leash law restrictions designed to protect young wildlife during the summer months.
Unless license-exempt, all hunt party members must possess an Annual Hunting License, Bear Chase Permit, and Bear Permit in order to participate. Youth hunters must have a Youth Hunting Permit, Youth Chase Permit, and Youth Bear Permit to participate.
No. Bears may only be chased during the Chase-Only Season and during the Bear Hunt with Dogs season.
No. It is illegal to harass or disturb bears in den sites for the purpose of chase or harvest.
No. Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, and Hensley-Pine Mountain Wildlife Management Area are each closed to all bear hunting. Only portions of wildlife management areas within the Bear Zone are open to bear hunting.
Almost a decade of research has shown that this WMA on Pine Mountain serves as an important denning area for female bears. Currently, bear hunting is prohibited in this area to protect reproducing females while they den with their young.
Yes. In 2019, the restricted area around Hensley-Pine Mountain WMA was removed.
Yes. Public land restrictions were removed in McCreary County for the 2019 season. Archery and Modern Gun season are open on any public land in McCreary County except for the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, which is a bear sanctuary closed to hunting.