Season Dates Search


Select Species

Currently in Season

 print

License and Permit needed:

  • Annual Hunting License (Hunting/Sportsman's/Disability/Senior)
  • Bear Permit

BEAR ZONES

Zone 1: McCreary, Bell, Harlan and Letcher County

Zone 2: Clinton, Jackson, Laurel, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Whitley, Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Lawrence, Leslie, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Adair, Bath, Boyd, Carter, Casey, Clark, Cumberland, Elliot, Estill, Fleming, Garrard, Greenup, Lee, Lewis, Lincoln, Madison, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Powell, Rowan, Wolfe and Wayne County


For more information, click exemptions and requirements or check our current Hunting Guide. Buy or renew your license here.




Archery & Crossbow

Upcoming Season

Location:
Bear Zone 1
Season Dates:
Oct 28 2023 - Oct 30 2023
either sex

Upcoming Season

Location:
Bear Zone 2
Season Dates:
Oct 28 2023 - Nov 1 2023
either sex


Chase-Only

Currently in Season

Location:
Bear Zones
Season Dates:
Jun 1 2023 - Aug 31 2023
either sex

Upcoming Season

Location:
Bear Zones
Season Dates:
Sep 9 2023 - Sep 30 2023
either sex


Firearm

Upcoming Season

Location:
Bear Zone 1
Season Dates:
Dec 9 2023 - Dec 11 2023
either sex

Upcoming Season

Location:
Bear Zone 2
Season Dates:
Dec 9 2023 - Dec 13 2023
either sex


Hunt with Dogs

Upcoming Season

Location:
Bear Zone 1
Season Dates:
Oct 23 2023 - Oct 27 2023
either sex

Upcoming Season

Location:
Bear Zone 2
Season Dates:
Nov 2 2023 - Nov 10 2023
either sex
 print

Bag Daily limit (noon to noon) is 15. Possession limit 30.


LICENSE NEEDED:

  • Day (1 or 7 day) hunting license or annual* hunting license (If taken by gun or bow/arrow)
  • Day (1 or 7 day) fishing license or annual* fishing license (If taken by pole and line)
  • Fishing or Hunting license (If taken by gig or hand)

*Included in Sportsman's and Disability/SeniorLicense


For more information, click exemptions and requirements or check our current Hunting Guide. Buy or renew your license here.





General

Currently in Season

Location:
Statewide
Season Dates:
May 19 2023 - Oct 31 2023
either sex
Opens at noon.
 print


Tickling and Noodling

*** Proposed Season Date Currently in Season

Location:
Statewide
Season Dates:
Jun 1 2023 - Aug 31 2023
Some exceptions apply. Please check the current Kentucky Fishing and Boating Guide for more information.
 print

Coyotes may be hunted year-round with no bag limit.


A person may take a coyote after daylight hours, except that:

  1. It shall not be allowed in a county or area where a deer or elk firearm season is open;
  2. A person shall not use artificial light or other means designed to make wildlife visible at night from April 1st through May 15th and July 1st through November 30;
  3. Any artificial light or other means designed to make wildlife visible at night shall not be connected to or cast from a mechanized vehicle;
  4. On public lands (if open to nighttime coyote hunting) a person shall not use any equipment other than a bow, crossbow, or shotgun loaded with a multiple projectile shell.
  5. On private lands, coyote hunters may only use a bow, crossbow or shotgun loaded with pelleted shells. However, from Dec. 1 - March 31, and May 16 - June 30, hunters on private land at night may also use any breech-loading rifle or pistol of any caliber, a shotgun firing a single projectile or a muzzleloader of .54-caliber or less.



HUNTING

Ages 16 and Older:

  • Day Hunting License (1 or 7 Day)
    - OR -
  • Annual Hunting License
    - OR -
  • Sportsman's License
    - OR -
  • Disability/Senior License

Youth (12-15):

  • Annual Youth Hunting License
    - OR -
  • Youth Sportsman's License

Younger than 12:

  • License Exempt



TRAPPING

Ages 16 and Older:

  • Trapping License

Youth (12-15):

  • Youth Trapping License

Younger than 12:

  • License Exempt

For more information, click exemptions and requirements or check our current Hunting Guide. Buy or renew your license here.



Hunting

Currently in Season

Location:
Statewide
Season Dates:
Year Round
either sex
Coyotes may be hunted year-round, day or night, with no bag limit. Hunters may only use artificial light or other means designed to make wildlife visible at night from Dec. 1 – March 31, and May 16 - June 30. Artificial light or other means designed to make wildlife visible at night cannot be connected to or cast from a mechanized vehicle. Coyote hunters with valid Mobility-Impaired Access Permits or Hunting Methods Exemption Vehicle Permits may use a stationary vehicle as a hunting platform and may use lights or other means designed to make wildlife visible at night so long as the means used are not connected to the vehicle. On public land after daylight hours, coyote hunters may only use a bow, crossbow or shotgun loaded with pelleted shells. However, from Dec. 1 - March 31, and May 16 - June 30, hunters on private land at night may also use any breechloading rifle or pistol of any caliber, a shotgun firing a single projectile or muzzleloader of .54-caliber or less. Night hunting shall not be allowed in a county or area where a deer or elk firearm or muzzleloader season is open. Night hunting for coyotes is prohibited on Kentucky lands managed by Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Daniel Boone National Forest, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area, Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge and Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge, including Beaver Creek, Cane Creek, Mill Creek, Pioneer Weapons and Redbird wildlife management areas (WMAs). Hand or mouth-operated calls and electronic calls that imitate wounded prey or coyote calls are legal. It is legal to hunt coyotes over animal carcasses. Animal carcasses are considered bait. A hunter shall not place or distribute bait or otherwise participate in baiting wildlife on all WMAs, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Daniel Boone National Forest, Jefferson National Forest, Land Between The Lakes and state parks open to hunting.


Night Hunting - No Lights Allowed

Currently in Season

Location:
Statewide
Season Dates:
Jun 1 2023 - Nov 30 2023
either sex
Coyotes may be hunted year-round, day or night, with no bag limit. Hunters may only use artificial light or other means designed to make wildlife visible at night from Dec. 1 – March 31, and May 16 - June 30. Artificial light or other means designed to make wildlife visible at night cannot be connected to or cast from a mechanized vehicle. Coyote hunters with valid Mobility-Impaired Access Permits or Hunting Methods Exemption Vehicle Permits may use a stationary vehicle as a hunting platform and may use lights or other means designed to make wildlife visible at night so long as the means used are not connected to the vehicle. On public land after daylight hours, coyote hunters may only use a bow, crossbow or shotgun loaded with pelleted shells. However, from Dec. 1 - March 31, and May 16 - June 30, hunters on private land at night may also use any breechloading rifle or pistol of any caliber, a shotgun firing a single projectile or muzzleloader of .54-caliber or less. Night hunting shall not be allowed in a county or area where a deer or elk firearm or muzzleloader season is open. Night hunting for coyotes is prohibited on Kentucky lands managed by Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Daniel Boone National Forest, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area, Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge and Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge, including Beaver Creek, Cane Creek, Mill Creek, Pioneer Weapons and Redbird wildlife management areas (WMAs). Hand or mouth-operated calls and electronic calls that imitate wounded prey or coyote calls are legal. It is legal to hunt coyotes over animal carcasses. Animal carcasses are considered bait. A hunter shall not place or distribute bait or otherwise participate in baiting wildlife on all WMAs, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Daniel Boone National Forest, Jefferson National Forest, Land Between The Lakes and state parks open to hunting.


Night Hunting with Lights

Currently in Season

Location:
Statewide
Season Dates:
May 16 2023 - Jun 30 2023
either sex
Coyotes may be hunted year-round, day or night, with no bag limit. Hunters may only use artificial light or other means designed to make wildlife visible at night from Dec. 1 – March 31, and May 16 - June 30. Artificial light or other means designed to make wildlife visible at night cannot be connected to or cast from a mechanized vehicle. Coyote hunters with valid Mobility-Impaired Access Permits or Hunting Methods Exemption Vehicle Permits may use a stationary vehicle as a hunting platform and may use lights or other means designed to make wildlife visible at night so long as the means used are not connected to the vehicle. On public land after daylight hours, coyote hunters may only use a bow, crossbow or shotgun loaded with pelleted shells. However, from Dec. 1 - March 31, and May 16 - June 30, hunters on private land at night may also use any breechloading rifle or pistol of any caliber, a shotgun firing a single projectile or muzzleloader of .54-caliber or less. Night hunting shall not be allowed in a county or area where a deer or elk firearm or muzzleloader season is open. Night hunting for coyotes is prohibited on Kentucky lands managed by Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Daniel Boone National Forest, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area, Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge and Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge, including Beaver Creek, Cane Creek, Mill Creek, Pioneer Weapons and Redbird wildlife management areas (WMAs). Hand or mouth-operated calls and electronic calls that imitate wounded prey or coyote calls are legal. It is legal to hunt coyotes over animal carcasses. Animal carcasses are considered bait. A hunter shall not place or distribute bait or otherwise participate in baiting wildlife on all WMAs, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Daniel Boone National Forest, Jefferson National Forest, Land Between The Lakes and state parks open to hunting.


Trapping

Upcoming Season

Location:
Statewide
Season Dates:
Nov 13 2023 - Feb 29 2024
either sex
One-half hour before sunrise on Nov. 13, 2023 - Feb. 28, 2024.
 print

License needed:


Younger than 12:

  • License exempt

Youth 12-15:
  • Annual youth hunting license*

*Included in Youth Sportsman's License

Ages 16 and older:

  • Day (1 or 7 day) hunting license or annual hunting license**
**Included in Sportsman's and Disability/Senior License


For more information, click exemptions and requirements or check our current Hunting Guide. Buy or renew your license here.




Hunting

Currently in Season

Location:
Statewide
Season Dates:
Year Round
either sex


Trapping

Upcoming Season

Location:
Statewide
Season Dates:
Nov 13 2023 - Feb 29 2024
either sex
 print


Gigging and Snagging

Past Season

Location:
Statewide
Season Dates:
Feb 1 2023 - May 10 2023
Some exceptions apply. Please check the current Kentucky Fishing and Boating Guide for more information.


Tickling and Noodling

Currently in Season

Location:
Statewide
Season Dates:
Jun 1 2023 - Aug 31 2023
Some exceptions apply. Please check the current Kentucky Fishing and Boating Guide for more information.
 print

License needed:


Younger than 12:

  • License exempt

Youth 12-15:

  • Annual youth hunting license*
  • *Included in Youth Sportsman's License


    Ages 16 and older:

    • Day (1 or 7 day) hunting license or annual hunting license**

    **Included in Sportsman's and Disability/Senior License


    For more information, click exemptions and requirements or check our current Spring Hunting Guide. Buy or renew your license here.




    Hunting

    Currently in Season

    Location:
    Statewide
    Season Dates:
    May 20 2023 - Jun 16 2023
    either sex

    Sync Your Calendar With Ours!