2024 Kentucky Hunting Season Dates & Bags Latest Guide!

Kentucky provides hunters a variety of hunting options. With several species to pursue, Kentucky’s 2024 hunting season could be thrilling. Deer, other big-game animals such as turkey, furbearers, migratory and waterfowl birds, and upland games have the following season dates. Check the below hunting guide to confirm your dates. Additionally, the table below lists all species’ bag limitations. Happy hunting! 🦌🦃🐇🐿️🦝🦡🦊🐗🦢

Kentucky Hunting Season Dates

Deer

Archery	September 2 – January 15
Muzzle-loading	Early: 3rd Full Weekend (consecutive Sat-Sun) in Oct – Late: 2nd Sat in Dec for 9 consecutive days (closes Sun)
Modern Gun	2nd Sat in Nov for 16 days (closes Sun)
Senior/Youth Crossbow	1st Sat in Sept. thru 3rd Mon in January (MLK Day)
Crossbow	3rd Sat in Sept thru 3rd Mon in January
Youth-Only Gun	2nd Full Weekend (consecutive Sat-Sun) in Oct
Free Youth Weekend	1st Full Weekend (consecutive Sat-Sun) after Christmas

Other Big Games

Elk	Archery: Sept 15 – Oct 15 and Dec 9 – Jan 31; Muzzleloader: Oct 20 – 27; Firearms: Nov 3 – 10
Wild Boar	Year-round
Black Bear	Archery: Sept 15 – Nov 17; Muzzleloader: Oct 20 – 27; Firearms: Nov 3 – 10

Turkey

Spring Season	April 15 – May 5,
Fall Turkey Regulations	Archery: 1st Sat in Sept thru 3rd Mon in January, Crossbow: Oct 1 thru 3rd full weekend in Oct, 2nd Sat in Nov thru Dec 31, Shotgun: 4th Sat in Oct for 7 consecutive days, 1st Sat in Dec for 7 consecutive days

Migratory & Waterfowl Birds

Ducks & Geese (Early Teal)	Sep 8 – 22
Ducks & Geese (North Zone)	Oct 26 – Dec 16
Ducks & Geese (South Zone)	Nov 2 – Dec 29
Mergansers	Dec 15 – Feb 29
Coots	Oct 26 – Feb 29
Mourning Doves	Sep 1 – Dec 15
Wood Ducks	Nov 10 – Dec 29
Sora & Virginia Rail	Sep 1 – Nov 30
Common Snipe & Wilson’s Snipe	Oct 19 – Feb 29
Canada Geese (Subsequent Seasons)	Additional seasons after Dec 29 available in specific zones

Upland Games

Squirrel (Gray & Fox)	Sep 15 – Feb 29
Rabbit (Cottontail & Eastern Cottontail)	No season
Grouse & Woodcock	Nov 1 – Dec 31
Pheasant (Northern Zone)	Nov 10 – Jan 31
Pheasant (Southern Zone)	Nov 24 – Jan 31
Quail (Northern Zone)	Nov 10 – Jan 31
Quail (Southern Zone)	Nov 24 – Jan 31
Wild Turkey (Fall)	Oct 1 – Nov 10

Furbearers

Bobcat	Trapping: Nov 13 – Feb 29
Coyote	Year-round
Raccoon & Opossum	Oct 1 – Feb 29
Gray & Red Fox	Nov 18- Feb 29
Beaver	Trapping: Dec 9 – Jan 31
Muskrat & Mink	Dec 9 – Mar 31
Nutria	No season
Weasel & Skunk	No season

Bag Limits

Species	Bag Limit
Deer	2 (1 antlered and 1 antlerless) per license year
Bear	1 per license year
Turkey	2 per license year
Coyote	No limit
Quail	8 per day
Pheasant	2 per day
Rabbit	4 per day
Squirrel	6 per day
Grouse	3 per day
Woodcock	3 per day