Migratory Birds & Waterfowl Hunting Seasons & Limits
HUNTING SEASONS
MIGRATORY BIRDS (WEBLESS) | Season Dates | Daily Limit | Possession Limit |
Dove | Sept. 1 - Oct. 26, Nov. 23 - Dec. 3, 2023 and Dec. 23, 2023 - Jan. 14, 2024 | 15 | 45 |
Virginia & Sora Rail | Sept. 1 - Nov. 9, 2023 | 25 singly or combined | 75 |
Woodcock | Oct. 28 - Nov. 10 and Nov. 13 - Dec. 13, 2023 | 3 | 9 |
Snipe | Sept. 20 - Oct. 29, 2023 and Nov. 23, 2023 - Jan. 28, 2024 | 8 | 24 |
Common & Purple Gallinule | Sept. 1 - Nov. 9, 2023 | 3 singly or combined | 9 |
Sandhill Crane | Dec. 7, 2023 - Jan. 31, 2024 | 1 or 2* | 3 |
Find the latest information on public dove fields online at fw.ky.gov. Always check before hunting, as fields are subjectto change due to weather conditions or crop failures.
*The daily bag limit for sandhill cranes is 2 cranes for permit holders with 2 or more tags, or 1 crane for hunters with one tag. Sandhill Crane permits available only through quota hunt drawing in September at fw.ky.gov. Sandhill crane hunters will beissued printable tags attached to hunting permits, accessible through the online sandhill crane app at fw.ky.gov.Hunters must possess printed or electronic proof of a valid crane hunting permit.
WATERFOWL | Season Dates | Daily Limit | Possession Limit |
Early Teal & Wood Duck | Sept. 16-20, 2023 | 6; may include no more than 2 wood ducks | 18; may include no more than 6 wood ducks |
Teal | Sept. 16-24, 2023 | 6 | 18 |
Sept. Canada Goose, WesternZone | Sept. 1-15, 2023 | 5 | 15 |
Sept. Canada Goose, Eastern Zone | Sept. 16-30, 2023 | 5 | 15 |
Duck | Nov. 23-26 and Dec. 7, 2023 - Jan. 31, 2024 | 6; may include no more than 4 mallards (only 2 of which may be hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 red- heads, 1 pintail, 2 black ducks, and 2canvasback. 1 scaupNov. 23-26 and Dec. 7-17; and 2 scaup Dec. 18 - Jan. 31. | Triple the daily bag limit |
Coot | 15 | 45 | |
Merganser | 5; only 2 may be hooded | Triple the daily bag limit | |
Canada/Cackling Goose, White-Fronted Goose & Brant | Nov. 23, 2023 - Feb. 15, 2024 | 5 combined; 3 Canada geese, 2 white-fronted geese and 1 brant | Triple the daily bag limit |
Snow Goose (including Ross’ Goose) | 20 | none | |
Youth-only Waterfowl | Nov. 18, 2023; Feb. 10, 2024 | Same as regular season | |
Military/Veteran-only Waterfowl | Nov. 19, 2023; Feb. 11, 2024 | ||
Falconry (ducks, coots & mergansers) | Nov. 23, 2023 - Feb. 25, 2024 | 3 | 9 |
Falconry (geese) | Same as regular season | Same as regular season | |
Light Goose Conservation Order | Feb. 16 - Mar. 31, 2024 | none | none |
Notes: The Northeast Goose Zone now mirrors the rest of the state. The Cave Run Lake refuge area remains closed to goose hunting.
* Pit and blind restrictions in effect for some wildlife management areas (WMAs) do not apply to hunters during Snow Goose Conservation Order season. These restrictions also do not apply to falconers hunting waterfowl during periods when gun and archery waterfowl seasons are not open.
**The daily bag limit to sandhill cranes is 2 cranes per permit holders with 2 or more tags, or 1 crane for hunters with one tag. Sandhill Crane permits are available only through quota hunt drawing in September. Sandhill crane hunters will be issued tags attached to hunting permits, accessible through the online sandhill crane app. Hunters must possess printed or electronic proof of a valid crane hunting permit.
† Mandatory FREE permit is required for hunting snow geese during this period, to order, click Snow Geese Conservation Order Permit or call 1-800-858-1559 to obtain one. Everyone who obtains the Snow Goose Permit must report hunting activity to the Snow Geese Conservation Order Survey by April 10, 2023.
