Hunting Seasons in Kentucky 2025: Big Game and Small Game, Licenses, and Regulations Guide

Plan your 2025–26 KY hunt with our state‑by‑state guide—season dates, bag limits, licenses, bow & rifle rules, and key game species from whitetail deer to wild turkey to ducks. Whether you’re drawing your rifle for fall deer seasons in ridge‑and‑valley woodlands or slipping into flooded timber for early teal flights, Kentucky offers diverse opportunities backed by clear regulations and accessible licensing. What Is There to Hunt in Kentucky? Kentucky’s varied landscape of hardwood forests, farmlands, and river bottomlands supports abundant game: whitetail deer, wild turkey, black bear, furbearers like raccoon and opossum, and predators such as coyote. Waterfowl hunters pursue ducks, geese, and light geese across public and private wetlands, while small‑game enthusiasts chase rabbits, squirrels, grouse, and quail in the state’s rolling hills. What Animals Can You Hunt Year‑Round in Kentucky? On private lands, unprotected or open‑season species like coyote, groundhogs, and furbearers (raccoon, opossum) carry no closed season and no bag limits, offering off‑season predator‑control and trapping opportunities. Public‑land hunts must still follow season and method rules set by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Kentucky Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26 Whitetail Deer Archery (Rifle‑season archery): Oct 1 – Dec 31, 2025 Firearms: Nov 21 – Dec 1, Dec 5 – Dec 28, 2025 Muzzleloader: Dec 2 – Dec 4, 2025 Youth Deer Hunt: Oct 24 – 25, 2025 Kentucky’s deer seasons include extended archery windows overlapping rifle and muzzleloader splits. Bag limits and local WMU quotas ensure balanced herd management across zones. Wild Turkey (Spring) Season: Apr 6 – May 25, 2026 Youth Hunt: Mar 30 – Apr 5, 2026 Fall Turkey: Sept 1 – Sept 30, 2025 Calling in gobblers across oak ridges and creek hollows, spring turkey hunters choose bows or shotguns under season‑specific permit rules, while a fall archery season offers additional opportunities. Black Bear Fall Season: Nov 1 – Dec 31, 2025 (quota‑based permit) Limited bear harvests via draw permits help maintain healthy populations; hunters must follow strict tagging and reporting protocols. Kentucky Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025–26 Small Game & Upland Birds Rabbit: Oct 1 – Feb 28, 2026 Squirrel: Sept 1 – Feb 28, 2026 Ruffed Grouse: Sept 1 – Jan 15, 2026 Bobwhite Quail: Dec 1 – Jan 31, 2026 Shotgunners and bird dogs patrol field edges and hardwood ridges for small game opportunities throughout fall and winter. Waterfowl & Migratory Birds Ducks & Geese: Nov 7 – Dec 13, Dec 21 – Jan 31, 2026 Youth Waterfowl Day: Oct 24, 2025 Rails & Coots: Sept 1 – Oct 13, 2025 Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset; non‑toxic shot required Kentucky’s waterfowl seasons align with migration through the Mississippi Flyway, with daily limits designed to sustain healthy waterfowl populations and robust license revenues. Bag Limits by Species Whitetail Deer: 1 buck per license; antlerless tags via WMU quotas Wild Turkey: 1 gobbler per spring; fall archery youth only Black Bear: 1 per permit Ducks: 6 per day; sub‑limits on mallard and teal Geese: 5 Canada geese per day Rabbit & Squirrel: 8 per day each Coyote & Furbearers: No limits on private lands Bag limits combine season length with daily limits to achieve management objectives; confirm WMU‑specific quotas and harvest reporting duties. License & Tags Information for Kentucky Hunters (2025–26) All hunters must carry a valid Kentucky hunting license and appropriate permits: Resident License: ~$25 Nonresident License: ~$175 Deer Harvest Permits: Antlered and antlerless, drawn or OTC by WMU Turkey Permits: Spring applications; fall archery open OTC Waterfowl Stamps & HIP Registration: Required for ducks and geese Hunter Education: Mandatory for hunters born after Jan 1 1990 Licenses and permits fund conservation and access programs; purchase early and note draw deadlines for limited hunts. Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader Kentucky permits multiple gear types: Archery: Compound, recurve bows, crossbows (archery seasons) Firearms: Center‑fire rifles, shotguns with slugs during firearm seasons Muzzleloaders: Single‑shot black‑powder firearms in designated windows Dogs & Bait: Permitted for raccoon and turkey under specific guidelines Weapon choice must align with season regulations and WMU restrictions to maintain safety and fair chase. Regulations & Resources Kentucky DFW regulations include: Shooting Hours: Sunrise to sunset; migratory birds vary WMU Boundaries: Defined for deer, turkey, and waterfowl seasons; maps online Mandatory Harvest Reporting: Required for deer and turkey Special Zones: Wildlife management areas, DOW properties, and bait restrictions Before you head out, always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources website to stay compliant and ensure a legal, ethical hunt. This guide was created based on information from the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources (KDFWR): https://fw.ky.gov/Hunt/Pages/default.aspx With extensive archery and firearms seasons, generous small game and waterfowl opportunities, and accessible license structures, Kentucky delivers rewarding hunts across its woodlands, fields, and wetlands. Secure your permits, review WMU quotas, and prepare for a safe, ethical 2025–26 hunting season in the Bluegrass State.