Kentucky 2025-2026 Outdoor Hunting Seasons

Welcome to your ultimate resource for the Bluegrass State’s wildlife seasons! Whether you’re a seasoned Kentucky outdoorsperson or planning your first excursion, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about timing your adventures. From prime whitetail opportunities to small game pursuits, we’ve gathered the official dates, tag requirements, and zone-specific regulations to help you plan the perfect outing in Kentucky’s diverse landscapes.

Kentucky Hunting Season Overview: 2025-2026

Kentucky offers exceptional opportunities for sportspeople throughout the year. Home to the largest elk herd east of the Mississippi and consistently ranking in the top five for Boone and Crockett Club trophy bucks, the Bluegrass State provides diverse wildlife adventures across its forests, fields, and mountains.

This guide covers all official season dates, methodologies, special youth opportunities, and license requirements established by the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources.

Key Species Season Summary Table

Species	Season Opens	Season Closes	Method
🦌 Deer (Archery)	Sept. 6, 2025	Jan. 19, 2026	Bow/Crossbow
🦌 Deer (Modern Gun)	Nov. 8, 2025	Nov. 23, 2025	Firearm
🐻 Bear (Archery)	Sept. 20, 2025	Oct. 29, 2025	Varies by zone
🦌 Elk (Bull)	Sept. 27, 2025	Oct. 8, 2025	Firearm
🦃 Turkey (Fall)	Oct. 25, 2025	Dec. 12, 2025	Shotgun/Archery
🐿️ Squirrel	Aug. 16, 2025	Feb. 28, 2026	Various methods

Big Game Adventures: Archery & Rifle Opportunities

🦌 Whitetail Deer – The Crown Jewel

Kentucky’s deer population continues to thrive, with the state consistently ranking in the top five for Boone and Crockett entries. Here’s your complete schedule:

Archery Enthusiasts:

Primary Period: Sept. 6, 2025 – Jan. 19, 2026
Youth/Senior Crossbow: Sept. 20, 2025 – Jan. 19, 2026
Regular Crossbow: Sept. 20, 2025 – Jan. 19, 2026

Firearm Opportunities:

Youth-Only Gun: Oct. 11-19, 2025
Muzzleloader: Oct. 18-19 & Dec. 13-21, 2025
Modern Gun: Nov. 8-23, 2025
Free Youth Weekend: Dec. 27-28, 2025

Zone Information & Bag Limits:

Zone 1: Unlimited antlerless (with permits), one antlered per license year
Zone 2-3: Maximum four deer per zone
Zone 4: Maximum two deer, special antlerless restrictions apply

🐻 Black Bear – Growing Opportunities

The expanding bear population offers exciting opportunities across three designated zones:

Chase-Only Period:

June 1 – Aug. 31, 2025
Sept. 9-30, 2025

Hunting with Dogs:

Zones 1-3: Oct. 20-24, 2025
Zones 2-3: Oct. 30-Nov. 7, 2025

Archery/Crossbow:

Zone 1: Oct. 25-27, 2025
Zone 2: Oct. 25-29, 2025
Zone 3: Sept. 20-Oct. 3 & Oct. 25-29, 2025

Firearm Opportunities:

Zone 1: Dec. 13-15, 2025
Zones 2-3: Dec. 13-17, 2025

🎟️ Bag Limit: One bear per person per license year

🦌 Elk – Premier Eastern Experience

Kentucky’s elk zone offers world-class opportunities in designated counties including Bell, Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, McCreary, Perry, Pike, and Whitley.

Bull (Antlered) Firearm:

Week 1: Sept. 27 – Oct. 1, 2025
Week 2: Oct. 4-8, 2025

Cow (Antlerless) Firearm:

Week 1: Nov. 29 – Dec. 3, 2025
Week 2: Jan. 3-7, 2026

Archery/Crossbow (Either Sex):

Sept. 13-26, 2025
Dec. 6-12, 2025

Turkey Adventures: Spring, Fall & Youth Opportunities

🦃 Fall Turkey Pursuits

Fall turkey opportunities provide excellent action before the traditional spring season:

Shotgun Periods:

Oct. 25-31, 2025
Dec. 6-12, 2025

Archery Extended Period:

Sept. 6, 2025 – Jan. 19, 2026

Crossbow Opportunities:

Oct. 1-19, 2025
Nov. 8 – Dec. 31, 2025

Bag Limit: Two per period (maximum one with beard ≥3 inches, one with beard ❤️ inches or no beard)

Furbearer Opportunities

🦝 Raccoon & Opossum

General Period: Oct. 1, 2025 – Feb. 28, 2026 (day or night)
Trapping: Nov. 10, 2025 – Feb. 28, 2026

🐺 Coyote

Year-round opportunities (day and night with restrictions)

🐾 Bobcat

General Period: Nov. 15, 2025 – Feb. 28, 2026 (daylight only)
Trapping: Nov. 10, 2025 – Feb. 28, 2026

Other Furbearers

River otter, mink, muskrat, beaver, foxes, weasel, and skunk all share the trapping period of Nov. 10, 2025 – Feb. 28, 2026.

Upland Bird Excitement

🐦 Grouse Adventures

Primary Period: Nov. 1-7, 2025
Extended Period: Nov. 10, 2025 – Feb. 28, 2026
Location: Grouse zone counties only

🐦 Quail Opportunities

Eastern Zone:

Nov. 1-7, 2025
Nov. 10, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026

Western Zone:

Nov. 10, 2025 – Feb. 10, 2026

Upland Animals & Small Game

Species	Opening Date	Closing Date	Notes
🐿️ Squirrel	Aug. 16, 2025	Feb. 28, 2026	Split season: Aug. 16-Nov. 7, then Nov. 10-Feb. 28
🐰 Rabbit (Eastern)	Nov. 1, 2025	Jan. 31, 2026	Split season: Nov. 1-7, then Nov. 10-Jan. 31
🐰 Rabbit (Western)	Nov. 10, 2025	Feb. 10, 2026	Continuous season
🐸 Bullfrog	May 16, 2025	Oct. 31, 2025	Noon to midnight
🐗 Groundhog	Year-round	Year-round	No closed season

Migratory Birds

🕊️ Dove Opportunities

Early Period: Sept. 1 – Oct. 26, 2025
Mid Period: Nov. 27 – Dec. 7, 2025
Late Period: Dec. 20, 2025 – Jan. 11, 2026

Other Migratory Species

Rails (Virginia & Sora): Sept. 1 – Nov. 9, 2025
Woodcock: Oct. 25 – Nov. 7 & Nov. 10 – Dec. 10, 2025
Snipe: Sept. 17 – Oct. 26 & Nov. 27, 2025 – Feb. 1, 2026
Gallinule: Sept. 1 – Nov. 9, 2025
Sandhill Crane: Dec. 7, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026 (permit required)

Waterfowl: Ducks, Scaup, Mergansers & Geese

🦆 Early Waterfowl

Teal & Wood Duck: Sept. 20-24, 2025

🦢 Canada Goose

West Zone: Sept. 1-15, 2025
East Zone: Sept. 16-30, 2025

🦆 Regular Duck Period

Split Season: Nov. 27-30, 2025 & Dec. 7, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026

🦆 Mergansers

Same as ducks: Nov. 27-30, 2025 & Dec. 7, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026

🦢 Geese (Canada, Cackling, White-fronted, Brant)

Regular Period: Nov. 27-30, 2025 & Dec. 7, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026

Other Waterfowl Species

🦢 Snow Geese & Ross’s Geese

Regular Period: Nov. 27, 2025 – Feb. 22, 2026
Conservation Order: Feb. 16 – Mar. 31, 2026

🦆 Coots

Extended Period: Nov. 27, 2025 – Feb. 15, 2026

Special Waterfowl Days

Youth-Only: Nov. 22, 2025 & Feb. 14, 2026
Military/Veteran: Nov. 23, 2025 & Feb. 8, 2026

Additional Game Opportunities

🐦‍⬛ Crow

Fall Period: Sept. 1 – Nov. 7, 2025
Winter Period: Jan. 4 – Feb. 28, 2026

🐢 Turtle Species

Snapping & Softshell: Year-round opportunities
Note: Alligator snapping turtles are protected

🎣 Falconry Opportunities

General Period: Sept. 1, 2025 – Mar. 30, 2026
Waterfowl: Nov. 27, 2025 – Feb. 15, 2026 (ducks, coots, mergansers)
Geese: Feb. 16 – Mar. 31, 2026

🎲 More Game Seasons

Rough Fish

Gigging and Snagging: February 1 – May 10, 2025
Tickling and Noodling: June 1 – August 31, 2025

Sandhill Crane

Quota hunt by permit only, generally December through January

Check the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources website for permit application dates.

🗺️ Kentucky Hunting Zones

Kentucky uses a zone management system for deer and various other species to optimize wildlife populations and tailor regulations to habitat conditions.

Deer Management Zones:

Zone 1: Highest deer densities; unlimited antlerless harvest
Zone 2: Good deer numbers; up to four deer may be taken
Zone 3: Building populations; up to four deer, with limits on antlerless
Zone 4: Lowest deer densities; more restrictive, emphasis on buck harvest

For detailed zone maps, visit the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources website.

🎟️ License Details

Resident License Options:

Annual Hunting License: $27
Youth Hunting License (12-15): $6
Senior/Disabled Sportsman’s License: $5
Sportsman’s License (includes hunting, fishing, deer and turkey permits): $95

Non-Resident License Options:

Annual Hunting License: $150
Youth Hunting License (12-15): $10
1-Day Hunting License: $25
7-Day Hunting License: $65

Permits (Additional):

Statewide Deer Permit (four deer): $35 resident/$235 non-resident
Spring Turkey Permit: $35 resident/$85 non-resident
Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit: $15

Youth under 12 are generally exempt from license requirements. Landowners hunting on their own property may also qualify for exemptions.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need a license to hunt on my own property in Kentucky?

A: Kentucky residents hunting on their own property, along with their spouses and dependent children, are exempt from license and deer permit requirements.

Q: Is Sunday hunting allowed in Kentucky?

A: Yes, Sunday hunting is permitted throughout Kentucky.

Q: What are the hunter orange requirements?

A: During modern gun, muzzleloader, and youth firearm deer seasons, all hunters (including archery) must wear solid hunter orange head covering and vest, jacket, or coveralls visible from all sides.

Q: Can I hunt deer at night in Kentucky?

A: No, deer hunting at night is prohibited. Night hunting is only permitted for certain species like coyotes, under specific regulations.

Q: Where can I find public hunting land in Kentucky?

A: Kentucky offers numerous Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), state forests, and federal lands. Visit the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Public Lands search tool for details.

Related Resources

Final Thoughts

Kentucky offers tremendous opportunities for wildlife enthusiasts throughout the year. From world-class whitetail experiences to exciting small game and waterfowl adventures, the Bluegrass State has something for every outdoorsperson. Before heading afield, always check the current regulations, verify your zone, and ensure you have the proper licenses and permits. Good luck and safe hunting!

Remember that regulations can change, and this guide serves as a general reference. For the most up-to-date information, always consult the official Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources website or call their information line at 800-858-1549.

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