Deer Hunting Regulations

Last Updated: Summer 2023

GENERAL INFORMATION

• The statewide deer permit and youth deer permit allow for the harvest of up to four deer. Hunters may take up to one antlered deer and three antlerless deer, or four antlerless deer using the statewide deer permit.
• A hunter may take as many deer as allowed for each zone. In order to take more than four deer statewide, an additional deer permit must be purchased.
• An additional deer permit allows a hunter to take up to two additional deer. Zone bag limits apply. Hunters who did not harvest an antlered deer using their statewide or youth deer permits can take one antlered deer and up to one antlerless deer, or up to two antlerless deer with the additional deer permit.
• Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
• Hunters must claim any deer they harvest as their own.

BAG LIMITS

Bag limits and harvest restrictions apply to all hunters. There is no daily bag limit on deer. A person may take no more than one (1) deer with visible antlers, excluding male fawns (button bucks). However, on some federally controlled areas, including Reelfoot Na- tional Wildlife Refuge, Fort Campbell and Fort Knox military reservations and Blue Grass Army Depot, a bonus ant- lered deer may be taken, as determined by the governing agency for each area.

CHECKING and TAGGING

All deer must be telechecked. Hunters must call 1-800-245-4263 or complete the online check-in process. See the “Recording,Checking, Tagging and Transporting” portion of this guide’s “General Information” section for full details.

If the hide or head is removed before the harvested deer is checked into quarter the animal, for example – it is necessary to demonstrate proof of sex by retaining the head or keeping the genitalia attached to the carcass. In such cases, it is still necessary to fill out the harvest log immediately after harvest and telecheck the animal before mid- night on the day the deer is harvested or recovered.

A carcass tag is required if a harvested deer leaves the hunter’s possession for any reason.

STATEWIDE DEER PERMIT

All deer hunters ages 16 and older, unless license exempt, must first buy and carry proof of purchasing an annual hunting license and a statewide deer permit while deer hunting. The permit allows a hunter to take four deer: one antlered and three antlerless, or four antlerless. It does not matter if the antlered or antlerless deer is taken first.

ADDITIONAL DEER PERMIT

To take more than four deer, an additional deer permit must be purchased. The additional deer permit is valid for deer of either sex. The additional deer permit allows a hunter to take up to two additional deer beyond those allowed by the statewide permit in the follow- ing combinations: one antlered and one antlerless, or two antlerless. Regardless of what permit a deer hunter carries, the statewide season limit for antlered deer is one per hunter. The additional deer permit is not valid unless the hunter has first purchased an annual hunting license and statewide deer permit and is able to show proof of that in the field. A statewide or additional deer permit may be used on public and private land, and during some quota hunts.

CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE

If you hunt big game outside of Kentucky, you may not bring any member of the deer (Cervidae) family, which includes deer, elk, moose, caribou, reindeer and any hybrids, back into Kentucky un- less the brain and spinal column have been removed.

Allowed parts from other states and provinces include: quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached, boned-out meat, antlers, antlers attached to a clean skull plate, a clean skull, clean teeth, hides and finished taxidermy products.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has not been detected in Kentucky.

Donations sought for testing The department seeks donations of deer heads from hunter harvested animals for CWD testing. This will allow Kentucky Fish and Wildlife to better manage an outbreak should CWD be detected. Bucks or does are needed. Hunters should cut off thehead a couple inches below the base of skull, then freeze the head. Contact your local biologist or drop off the head at a sample collection site freezer.

Online

Up-to-date news regarding CWD can be found online.

HUNTER ORANGE REQUIRED!

Hunters and people accompanying them must wear solid, unbroken hunter orange color visible from all sides on the head, back and chest when hunting for any species during the modern gun, muzzleloader, and youth firearm deer seasons, or a firearm elk or bear season. However, hunter orange is not required when hunting waterfowl or doves during a gun deer, elk or bear season, or when hunting furbearers at night during a legal furbearer season.​

HUNTING EQUIPMENT RESTRICTIONS

ANTLER TRAPS

Devices designed to entangle or trap the antlers of deer cannot be used.

MODERN GUN SEASON

During modern gun deer season, hunters may hunt with any centerfire rifle or pistol, including air guns of .35 caliber or larger charged by an external tank, muzzleloaders, and archery and crossbow equipment, and must follow season restrictions, zone guidelines and other hunting requirements.

All hunters, including archery and crossbow hunters, and persons accompanying hunters, must wear hunter orange clothing during modern gun season.

Persons ages 15 and younger hunt- ing deer with a firearm must be accompanied by an adult who shall be in a position to take immediate control of the youth’s firearm at all times.

ARCHERY SEASON

Hunters using archery equipment during a deer, elk or bear firearms season must follow all firearms deer season restrictions, zone guidelines and other hunting requirements, and must wear hunter orange clothing. The only ex- ception is on state-owned or managed WMAs where firearms hunting for deer or elk is prohibited.

CROSSBOW SEASON

Hunters using crossbows during a deer, elk or bear firearms season must follow all firearms deer season restrictions, zone guidelines and other hunting requirements, and must wear hunter orange clothing. The only exception is on state-owned or managed WMAs where firearms hunting for deer or elk is prohibited. A legal resident hunter age 65 years or older and a youth hunter age 15 or younger may hunt deer with a cross- bow from the first Saturday in September through the third Monday in January.

MUZZLELOADER SEASON

Muzzleloaders, archery and cross- bow equipment may be used during this season. All hunters must comply with the hunter orange clothing law. Youths ages 15 and younger hunting deer with a muzzleloader must be accompanied by an adult who shall remain able and in a position to take immediate control of the youth’s muzzleloader at all times.

TREE STANDS

Construction and use of tree stands on private lands is regulated by land- owners.

LEGAL DEER HUNTING EQUIPMENT

Scopes are allowed on all hunting equipment (used for statewide seasons).

MODERN GUN EQUIPMENT

• Any caliber centerfire rifle or centerfire handgun.
• Rifle, handgun or shotgun magazines may not be capable of hold- ing more than 10 rounds.
• Rifles or handguns may not be fully automatic (capable of firing more than one round with one trigger pull).
• Full metal jacketed or tracer bullet ammunition is prohibited.
• Shotguns, no larger than 10-gauge, shooting slug ammunition only (includes saboted bullets).
• Muzzle-loading rifles, handguns, or shotguns shooting round balls, conical bullets, or saboted bullets.
• Air guns of .35 caliber or larger charged by an external tank, shoot- ing single projectile ammunition designed to expand upon impact.

ARCHERY EQUIPMENT

• Longbows, recurves and com- pound bows of any draw weight (no minimum).
• Wood, carbon or metal arrows, but arrows may not be chemically treated.
• Fixed blade or mechanical broad- heads at least 7/8” wide (when blades extended), but broadheads may not be chemically treated.

CROSSBOW EQUIPMENT

• Crossbows of any draw weight (no minimum), with a working safety.
• Wood, carbon or metal arrows (bolts), but arrows (bolts) may not be chemically treated.
• Fixed blade or mechanical broad- heads at least 7/8” (when blades extended), but broadheads may not be chemically treated.

MUZZLELOADING EQUIPMENT

• Muzzle-loading rifles or handguns of any caliber, shooting round balls, conical bullets or saboted bullets.
• Muzzle-loading firearms equipped with open sights or telescopic sights (scopes).
• Muzzle-loading shotguns no larger than 10-gauge, shooting round balls, conical bullets or saboted bullets.

AFTER YOUR HARVEST

CHECKING AND TAGGING

All deer must be telechecked . Hunters must call 1-800-245-4263 or complete the online check-in process through My Profile. See the “Recording, Checking, Tagging and Transportation” portion of this guide's "General Information" section for full details.

If the hide or head is removed before the harvested deer is checked in – to quarter the animal, for example – it is necessary to demonstrate proof of sex by retaining the head or keeping the genitalia attached to the carcass. In such cases, it is still necessary to fill out the harvest log immediately after harvest and telecheck the animal before midnight on the day the deer is harvested or recovered.

A carcass tag is required if a harvested deer leaves the hunter’s possession for any reason.

TRANSPORTATION RESTRICTIONS

The state of Kentucky prohibits the transportation from any other state or country into or through Kentucky any brain matter or spinal column from deer, elk, moose and caribou due to the risk of Chronic Wasting Disease transmission. It is also prohibited to transport carcasses from the CWD Surveillance Zone to any other part of Kentucky. This includes transporting entire carcasses or heads through Kentucky. Here is what can and cannot be brought into Kentucky.

Allowed

• Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of spinal column or head attached
• Boned out meat
• Antlers only
• Antlers attached to a clean skull plate
• Clean skull
• Clean upper canine teeth
• Hides with no head attached
• Finished taxidermy mounts

Prohibited

• Brain (or skull tissues/contents)
• Spinal Column

YOUTH DEER HUNTING

YOUTH DEER HUNTING

Youths may hunt deer during any open season, including two special deer seasons for resident and nonresident hunters who have not reached their 16th birthday. Adults accompanying youth deer hunters during either of these hunts may not use firearms to take deer.

Adults accompanying youth hunters are not required to possess a hunting license or deer permit if the adult is not deer hunting, but by law, the hunter and the accompanying adults must wear hunter orange clothing.

YOUTH-ONLY GUN SEASON/ FREE YOUTH DEER HUNTING WEEKEND

The first special youth deer season is on the second weekend of October.

Youth hunters may take deer with firearms, or any other legal method, statewide. During the October youth-only firearms season, the appropriate hunting license and deer permits are required for hunters ages 12-15. Youth hunters younger than age 12 are not required to have a hunting license or deer permit. On the first weekend following Christmas, resident and nonresident youth 15 years of age and younger, who are accompanied by an adult, are eligible to participate in the free youth weekend. Youth hunters may hunt deer with fire- arms, or any other legal method, state-wide without a hunting license or deer permit. During these seasons, youth hunters may harvest antlered or antler- less deer regardless of zone but must still abide by all bag limits and other deer hunting requirements.

SPECIAL DEER REGULATIONS affecting Calloway, Fulton, Graves, Hickman and Marshall counties

A Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Surveillance Zone is in effect for Calloway, Fulton, Graves, Hickman and Marshall counties because CWD was found nearby in Tennessee in 2021. Special regulations will help detect and contain any potential spread of CWD to Kentucky. Hunters are a vital part of this monitoring process. Surveillance zones may be expanded if CWD is detected in new areas; go online to fw.ky.gov/cwd for the latest information.

Chronic wasting disease is an always fatal disease of deer and elk. Although CWD has been detected nearby in Tennessee, it has not been found in Kentucky. To date, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Inclusion in a Surveillance Zone does not change deer seasons or bag limits in the county. However, some special regulations apply:

• Mandatory CWD Check Stations for some season dates (see details below).
• No feeding or baiting of deer or other wildlife at any time in the CWD Surveillance Zone.
• No transportation of harvested deer out of the CWD Surveillance Zone. Whole deer carcasses and high-risk parts, including intact heads containing brain material, cannot be moved out of the zone.

CWD SURVEILLANCE ZONE INFORMATION

MANDATORY DEER CWD CHECK STATIONS

Hunter participation is vital to disease monitoring efforts. To obtain an adequate sample size for scientific testing, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is operating 13 mandatory CWD Check Stations within the CWD Surveillance Zone.

All deer harvested within the CWD Surveillance Zone (Calloway, Fulton, Graves, Hickman and Marshall counties) by any method during the following dates in 2023 must be brought to a CWD Check Station for sampling.

Check stations will only operate during dates listed to the right. There is no mandatory deer check station requirement outside of Nov. 11-13, 2023. However, free voluntary testing is available through Deer Sample Collection Sites.

Mandatory CWD Check Station requirements include license exempt hunters, such as landowners hunting on their own property, and those who take deer during these dates by other methods, such as muzzleloader or archery equipment. Deer given to others by a hunter during these dates must be physically checked as well. All deer should be telechecked before coming to the check station.

Check stations will operate from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. (Central). Hunters may bring in an intact deer carcass, a field-dressed deer or just the head of the deer for sampling at a check station. Biologists will take samples at the check stations to monitor for the presence of CWD. Hunters will be asked for an approximate location where they harvested the deer, name of taxidermist or processor if being used, and provide telecheck and licensing information.

Hunters will receive a card verifying their visit to the check station. Cards will contain information about how to view test results for their deer. Test results are generally available within six weeks or less.

VOLUNTARY DEER SAMPLE COLLECTION STATIONS

Freezers are available at 12 self-serve Voluntary Deer Sample Collection Stations in the CWD Surveillance Zone, and at several other locations throughout the state. Deer Sample Collection Stations allow hunters to voluntarily have their deer tested when the mandatory CWD Check Stations are not open. Testing is available through these sites for deer taken anywhere in the state. Only the deer head is needed for sampling; instructions, bags and tags are located at each sampling site. A location map of Deer Sample Collection Stations is available online.

NO DEER BAITING OR WILDLIFE FEEDING

Grain, feed, mineral blocks, salt blocks and other baits used to attract deer cannot be used in CWD Surveillance Zone counties year-round. This helps prevent deer from concentrating, which increases spread of disease. Bird feeders in yards, planted food plots and normal agricultural practices such as mineral blocks or feed for cattle are allowed. Hunters can use products that are not ingested by deer, such as scent attractors and deer urine products.

SPECIAL CARCASS TAGS NO LONGER REQUIRED

Carcass tags are required if the deer leaves a hunter’s possession. Special CWD Surveillance Zone carcass tags are no longer required. Hunters must complete a harvest log prior to moving the carcass and telecheck their deer before midnight on the day the animal is recovered, prior to processing.

CARCASS TRANSPORTATION RESTRICTIONS

Carcasses or high-risk parts of deer harvested within the 5-county CWD Surveillance Zone may not be taken outside of the zone. Only de-boned meat, antlers, antlers attached to a clean skull cap, a clean skull, clean teeth, hides and finished taxidermy products may be taken out of the CWD Surveillance Zone.

CARCASS IMPORTATION PROHIBITED

Whole carcasses or high-risk parts (head, skull cap or skull with any brain material, or spine) of any deer, elk, moose or caribou harvested in another state cannot be brought back into Kentucky.

DOES CWD INFECT LIVESTOCK OR PEOPLE?

CWD is not known to infect people. It does not appear to naturally infect cattle or other domesticated animals. As a precaution, however, people should avoid eating deer or elk that appear to be sick or have tested positive for CWD.