Night Hunting with Lights
Location: Statewide Season Dates: Dec 1 2024 - Mar 31 2025 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. |
Location: Statewide Season Dates: Jan 1 2025 - Mar 31 2025 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. |
Location: Statewide Season Dates: May 16 2025 - Jun 30 2025 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. |
Location: Statewide Season Dates: Dec 1 2025 - Mar 31 2026 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
Location: Statewide Season Dates: Nov 11 2024 - Feb 28 2025 Either Sex One-half hour before sunrise on Nov. 11, 2024 - Feb. 28, 2025. |
Location: Statewide Season Dates: Nov 10 2025 - Feb 28 2026 One-half hour before sunrise on Nov. 11, 2024 - Feb. 28, 2025. |
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License needed:
Younger than 12:
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
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Hunting
Location: Statewide Season Dates: Mar 1 2024 - Feb 28 2025 Either Sex |
Location: Statewide Season Dates: Mar 1 2025 - Feb 28 2026 |
Trapping
Location: Statewide Season Dates: Nov 11 2024 - Feb 28 2025 Either Sex |
Location: Statewide Season Dates: Mar 1 2025 - Feb 28 2026 |
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Gigging and Snagging
Location: Statewide Season Dates: Feb 1 2024 - May 10 2024 Some exceptions apply. Please check the current Kentucky Fishing and Boating Guide for more information. |
Location: Statewide Season Dates: Feb 1 2025 - May 10 2025 Some exceptions apply. Please check the current Kentucky Fishing and Boating Guide for more information. |
Tickling and Noodling
Location: Statewide Season Dates: Jun 1 2024 - Aug 31 2024 Some exceptions apply. Please check the current Kentucky Fishing and Boating Guide for more information. |
Location: Statewide Season Dates: Jun 1 2025 - Aug 31 2025 Some exceptions apply. Please check the current Kentucky Fishing and Boating Guide for more information. |
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BAG LIMITS:
A hunter may take a male turkey or a turkey with a visible beard. No more than one (1) bird may be taken per day. No more than two (2) birds may be taken per spring season. Any combination of male turkeys, or female turkeys with visible beards, may be included in this two-bird season limit. Turkeys taken by youth during the youth-only season count toward the spring turkey bag limit.
Check the Spring Turkey Hunting page here for regulations, reports and surveys you can participate in.
License and permit needed:
Younger than 12
- License and permit exempt
Youth 12-15
- Annual youth hunting license*
- Youth turkey permit*
*Included in Youth Sportsman's License
Ages 16 and older
- Annual hunting license**
- Spring Turkey Permit**
**Included in Sportsman's and Disability/Senior License
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General
Location: Statewide Season Dates: Apr 12 2025 - May 4 2025 Either Sex (must have visible beard) |
Youth-Only
Location: Statewide Season Dates: Apr 5 2025 - Apr 6 2025 Either Sex (must have visible beard) |
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