Waterfowl Hunting Seasons & Limits
NEW FOR 2022-23 HUNTING SEASON!
Youth/ Military Waterfowl DaysSeasons are statewide. Youths must be under the age of 16 on the day of the hunt. Military seasons are for military on active duty and honorably discharged veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces only. 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.
WATERFOWL HUNTING SEASONS
| WATERFOWL | Season Dates | Daily Limit | Possession Limit |
| Early Teal & Wood Duck | Sept. 17-21, 2022 | 6; may include no more than 2 wood ducks | Triple the daily bag limit |
| Teal Only | Sept. 22-25, 2022 | 6 | 18 |
| September Canada Goose (all zones) | Sept. 16-30, 2022 | 5 | 15 |
| Duck | Nov. 24-27, 2022; Dec. 7, 2022 - Jan. 31, 2023 | 6; may include no more than 4 mallards (only 2 of which may be hens), 3 wooducks, 2 redheads, 1 pintail, 2 black ducks and 2 canvasback.1 scaup Nov. 25-28 and Dec. 7-17; and 2 scaup Dec. 18 - Jan. 31 | Triple the daily bag limit |
| Coot | Nov. 24-27, 2022; Dec. 7, 2022 - Jan. 31, 2023 | 15 | Triple the daily bag limit |
| Merganser | Nov. 24-27, 2022; Dec. 7, 2022 - Jan. 31, 2023 | 5; only 2 may be hooded | Triple the daily bag limit |
| Canada/Cackling Goose, White-Fronted Goose & Brant | Nov. 24, 2022 - Feb. 15, 2023 | 5 combined; 3 Canada geese, 2 white fronted geese and 1 brant | Triple the daily bag limit |
| Snow Goose (including Ross' Goose) | Nov. 24, 2022 - Feb. 15, 2023 | 20 | None |
| Youth/Military Waterfowl Days | Nov. 19, 2022 and Feb. 11, 2023 (Youth) Nov. 20, 2022 and Feb. 12, 2023 (Military) | Same as duck and goose seasons | Same as duck and goose seasons |
| Falconry (ducks, coots & mergansers) | Nov. 28 - Dec. 6, 2022; Feb. 1-15, 2023 | 3 | Triple the daily bag limit |
| Falconry (geese) | Same as regular season | Same as regular season | Same as regular season |
| Snow Goose Conservation Order | Feb. 16 - March 31, 2023 | none | none |
| Sandhill Crane | Dec. 7, 2022 - Jan. 31, 2023 | 1 or 2* | 3 birds |
*The Daily bag limit for Sandhill Cranes is 2 cranes for permit holders with 2 or more tags or 1 crane for permit holders with one tag.
SHOOTING HOURS
| SHOOTING HOURS (WATERFOWL) | |
| Regular | One-half hour before sunrise to sunset |
| Exceptions Below | 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 |
DAILY BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS
Daily Bag Limit- The total limit of a specific migratory game bird species that may be taken during legal shooting hours for one calendar day, regardless of state boundaries.
Posession limit- The total limit of a specific migratory game bird species that may be in your possession at anytime, whether on your person or stored in another location (including your home or taxidermist).
Important Note:
Migratory birds shot in another state, count toward a hunter's daily and possession limits.
YOUTH WATERFOWL SEASONS
Hunters age 15 and younger can hunt ducks, coots, mergansers and geese on these days (Eastern Zone: November 6-7, 2021; Western Zone: February 5-6, 2022). Youth hunting during these seasons must comply with hunter education and hunting license requirements and be accompanied by an adult (at least 18 years of age).
Bag limits are the same as for regular duck and goose seasons.
SANDHILL CRANE SEASON
Sandhill crane season opens Dec. 7, 2022 and closes Jan. 31, 2023. The daily bag limit is two birds. Hunters must apply for a sandhill crane permit online from Sept. 1 through Sept. 30, 2022 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 identification 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 no later than 14 days after the close of the season or lose eligibility to apply the following year.
