Migratory Birds & Waterfowl Hunting Seasons & Limits
UNTING SEASONS & REGULATIONS
SPECIES | Season Dates | Daily Limit | Possession Limit |
Duck | Nov. 23-26 and Dec. 7, 2023 - Jan. 31, 2024 | 6; of any species singly or com- bined, except the limit may in- clude no more than 4 mallards (only 2 of which may be hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 1 pintail, 2 black ducks and 2 canvasback. 1 scaup Nov. 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 1brant | 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. Scaup limit is 2 scaup daily. | |
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 | |
Snow Goose Conservation Order | Feb. 16 - Mar. 31, 2024† ** | none | none |
Sandhill Crane | Dec. 7, 2023 - Jan. 31, 2024 (permit required) | 1 or 2* | 3 |
†Mandatory FREE permit required for hunting snow geese during this period, log on to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s homepage at fw.ky.gov or call 1-800-858-1549 to obtain a permit. Everyone who obtains the Snow Goose Permit must report hunting activity by April 10, 2024.
*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. SandhillCrane permits available only through quota hunt drawing in September at fw.ky.gov; applicants drawn to hunt sandhill cranes willbe issued printable tags attached to hunting permits, accessible through their My Profile accounts at fw.ky.gov. Hunters must possess printed or electronic proof of a valid crane hunting permit while afield.
**Pit and blind restrictions in effect for some wildlife management areas (WMAs) do not apply to hunters during Snow Goose Conser- vation Order season. These restrictions also do not apply to falconers hunting waterfowl during periods when gun and archery waterfowl seasons are not open.
YOUTH/MILITARY WATERFOWL DAYS
Seasons are statewide. Youths must be under the age of 16 on the day of the hunt (Nov. 18, 2023 and Feb. 10, 2024). Military seasons are for military on active duty and honorably discharged veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces only (Nov. 19, 2023 and Feb. 11, 2024). Per federal rule, National Guard members and reservists are only eligible if they are on active duty. Participants must have a proper license and permit, including federal duck stamp.
SHOOTING HOURS (WATERFOWL) | |
| Regular | One-half hour before sunrise to sunset |
| Exceptions below: | |
| Snow Goose Conservation Order | One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset |
| Wildlife Management Areas | Regular unless noted otherwise in the Public Hunting section |
| Sandhill Crane | Sunrise to sunset |
SANDHILL CRANE SEASON
Sandhill crane season opens Dec. 7, 2023 and closes Jan. 31, 2024. New for this season, hunters will now receive paper tags attached to the bottom of the Sandhill Crane Hunt Permit. Hunters are able to print the hunt permit containing the tags. Hunters will no longer be mailed metal tags.The paper tag must be attached before moving a harvested bird. Hunters must apply for a sandhill crane permit online during the month of September on the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources website and pay a $3 application fee.
Applicants must have a valid Kentucky hunting license or be license exempt when they apply. Results are posted to individual applicants online following the drawing. Drawn hunters must pass an online iden- tification exam before receiving a sandhill crane hunting permit.
Hunters must telecheck harvested birds on the day taken.
Hunters participating in the sandhill crane hunting season must complete a post- season survey by Feb. 14 or lose eligibility to apply the following year.
SHOT SIZE, TYPE, SHOTSHELL LENGTH RESTRICTIONS
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-ap- proved nontoxic shot no larger than size “T”is required for all waterfowl and sandhill crane hunting. Shot larger than size “T,” or shotshells longer than 3.5 inches, may not be possessed or used while hunting water- fowl orsandhill cranes. Currently, steel, bis- muth, tungsten and certain tungsten com- posite shotshells are approved for use. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may approve other types of nontoxic shot which, if ap- proved, will be permitted for waterfowl and sandhillcrane hunting. Possession or use of any lead shot or any shot not approved by USFWS while hunting or attempting to take waterfowl orsandhill cranes is prohib- ited statewide. For more information visit www.fws.gov/story/2022-04/nontoxic-shot-regulations-hunting-waterfowl-and-coots-us
REPORTING BIRD BANDS
To report bird bands, go online to www.reportband.gov. The previous toll-free number is no longer operable. Hunters who harvestbanded birds with the toll free num- ber must still go online to report.
Banding plays a critical role in the man- agement of migratory bird species. The data you provide by reporting bands gives wild- life biologists information on harvest rates and movements of migratory game birds. Please report the bands you recover.
