Licenses & Fees
WHICH LICENSE OR PERMIT DO I NEED?
The tables below provide a quick overview of current licensing requirements. See the rest of this section for exemptions and complete residency, licensing and hunter education requirements. Licenses and permits for the species below are not required for children younger than 12.
KENTUCKY RESIDENTS | Ages 12-15 | Ages 16-64 | Ages 65 and older OR Disabled |
Deer | Youth Hunting License* + Youth Deer Permit* | Annual Hunting License† + Statewide Deer Permit† | Senior/Disabled or Senior Lifetime Sportsman's License |
Fall Turkey | Youth Hunting License* + Youth Turkey Permit* | Annual Hunting License† + Fall Turkey Permit† | Senior/Disabled or Senior Lifetime Sportsman's License |
Spring Turkey | Youth Hunting License* + Youth Turkey Permit* | Annual Hunting License† + Spring Turkey Permit† | Senior/Disabled or Senior Lifetime Sportsman's License |
Small Game & Furbearer | Youth Hunting License* | Annual† or 1-Day Hunting License | Senior/Disabled or Senior Lifetime Sportsman's License |
Bobcat permit required for bobcat hunters | |||
Trapping | Annual Youth Trapping License | Annual or Landowner/Tenant Trapping License | Annual or Landowner/Tenant Trapping License |
Migratory Birds (dove, snipe, woodcock, rails, gallinules, sandhill cranes) | Youth Hunting License* | Annual† or 1-Day Hunting License + Kentucky Migratory Bird/ Waterfowl Permit† | Senior/Disabled or Senior Lifetime Sportsman's License |
Waterfowl (ducks, geese, coots and mergansers) | Youth Hunting License* | Annual† or 1-Day Hunting License + Kentucky Migratory Bird/Water- fowl Permit† + Federal Duck Stamp | Senior/Disabled or Senior Lifetime Sportsman's License + Federal Duck Stamp |
NONRESIDENTS (must buy nonresident licenses/permits) | Ages 12-15 | Ages 16 and older |
Deer | Youth Hunting License + Youth Deer Permit | Annual Hunting License + Statewide Deer Permit |
Fall Turkey | Youth Hunting License + Youth Turkey Permit | Annual Hunting License + Fall Turkey Permit |
Spring Turkey | Youth Hunting License + Youth Turkey Permit | Annual Hunting License + Spring Turkey Permit |
Small Game & Furbearer | Youth Hunting License | Annual, 1-Day or 7-Day Hunting License |
Bobcat permit required for bobcat hunters | ||
Trapping | Annual Trapping License | Annual Trapping License |
Migratory Birds (dove, snipe, woodcock, rails, gallinules, sandhill cranes) | Youth Hunting License | Annual, 1-Day or 7-Day Hunting License + Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit |
Waterfowl (ducks, geese, coots and mergansers) | Youth Hunting License | Annual, 1-Day or 7-Day Hunting License + Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit + Federal Duck Stamp |
LICENSE / PERMIT | Resident fee | Nonresident fee | |
LICENSES | Annual Fishing | $23 | $55 |
Joint Married Couple Annual Fishing | $42 | Not available | |
1-Day Fishing | $7 | $15 | |
3-Year Fishing (available online at fw.ky.gov only) | $55 | Not available | |
Nonresident 7-Day Fishing | Not available | $35 | |
Trout Permit | $10 | ||
Annual Hunting | $27 | $150 | |
1-Day Hunting (not valid for deer, elk, turkey or bear) | $7 | $25 | |
7-Day Hunting (not valid for deer, elk, turkey or bear) | Not available | $65 | |
Annual Youth Hunting (ages 12-15 only) | $6 | $10 | |
Shooting Area License (available online at fw.ky.gov only) | $5 | ||
Annual Trapping | $20 | $130 | |
Annual Landowner/Tenant Trapping | $10 | Not available | |
Annual Youth Trapping (ages 12-15) | $5 | Not available | |
COMBOS | Annual Combination Hunting/Fishing | $42 | Not available |
Senior/Disabled Sportsman’s License* (Includes same license andpermits as Resident Sportsman’s License. For residents age 65 andolder.) | $12 | Not available | |
Sportsman’s License* (Includes combination hunting/fishing license, statewide deer permit, spring and fall turkey permits, statemigratory game bird-waterfowl permit and trout permit.) | $95 | Not available | |
Youth (ages 12-15) Sportsman’s License* (Includes youth hunting license, youth deer permit and 2 youth turkey permits.) | $30 | Not available | |
Senior Lifetime Sportsman’s License* (Must maintain Kentuckyresidency; includes all senior sportsman’s licenses and permits. For residents age 65 and older.) | $180 | Not available | |
DEER | Statewide Deer Permit (four deer) | $35 | $185 |
Youth (ages 12-15) Deer Permit (four deer) | $10 | $15 | |
Additional Deer Permit (two deer) | $15 | ||
BIRDS | Spring Turkey Permit (statewide) (two turkeys) | $30 | $85 |
Youth (ages 12-15) Turkey Permit (one turkey, spring or fall) | $10 | $15 | |
Fall Turkey Permit (statewide)(two turkeys) | $30 | $85 | |
Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit | $15 | ||
Federal Duck Stamp (available at post offices and online atwww.duckstamp.com) | $25 | ||
Pheasant Quota Hunt Permit (if drawn) | $25 | ||
Sandhill Crane Permit (quota hunt, apply in Sept. at fw.ky.gov) | $3 | $3 | |
ELK | Elk Drawing Application (deadline April 30) | $10 | |
Youth Elk Drawing Application (ages 15 and under) | $10 | ||
Quota Bull Elk Firearm Permit (if drawn) | $100 | $550 | |
Quota Cow Elk Firearm Permit (if drawn) | $60 | $400 | |
Quota (either sex) Archery/Crossbow Permit (if drawn) | $100 | $550 | |
Quota Youth (ages 12-15) Elk Permit (if drawn; youth drawn for otherpermits pay full cost) | $30 | $200 | |
Out-of-Zone Elk Permit | $30 | $400 | |
BEAR | Bear Permit | $30 | $250 |
Youth Bear Permit (ages 12-15) | $10 | $100 | |
Bear Chase Permit | $30 | $50 | |
Youth Bear Chase Permit (ages 12-15) | $10 | $15 | |
Combination Bear Permit (includes Bear Permit and Bear Chase Permit) | $50 | Not available | |
AREAS | Ballard WMA 1-Day Waterfowl Permit | $15 | |
Peabody WMA User Permit | $15 | ||
Land Between The Lakes (LBL) Hunter Use Permit (other LBL permits available online at www.landbetweenthelakes.us) | $25 | ||
Otter Creek ORA Admission Fees (per person) (available online at fw.ky.gov) | Daily: $3, annual: $30, children under 12: free. | ||
Otter Creek ORA Special Activity Fees (per person, for use of horsetrails, mountain bike trails and shooting range) (available online at fw.ky.gov) | Daily: $7, annual: $70 | ||
OTHER | Bobcat Permit (required for hunters) | Free | |
Temporary Hunter Education Exemption Permit (Hunter Apprentice Opportunity; available online at fw.ky.gov only) | Free | ||
Habitat Improvement and Public Access Donation (voluntary; available at fw.ky.gov only) | Any amount | ||
*Peabody, LBL and Otter Creek permits, elk drawing application, elk quota hunt permit, out-of-zone elk permit, bear permit, federal duckstamp and trapping license not included. An additional deer permit is not included with a Sportsman’s License.
Kentucky’s license year begins March 1 and continues through the last day of February. New licenses are required annually, except for the 3-year fishing license. A 1-day or 7-day hunting license is valid only for the period shown on license. Resident and nonresident youths under theage of 12 are not required to purchase licenses or permits (except the elk drawing application).
