what hunting season is it in ky
Current Hunting Seasons in Kentucky (February 2026) As of late February 2026, Kentucky's primary big game seasons like deer archery (which ran through Jan 19, 2026) have closed, but several small game and other opportunities remain open statewide or in specific zones.
Active Seasons Now
Here's what's open based on the 2025-2026 license year schedules:
Species| Season/Method| Dates| Key Notes| Required License 15
---|---|---|---|---
Coyote| Hunting| Mar 1, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026| Statewide, no bag limit| Annual
hunting license
Coyote| Night Hunting with Lights| Dec 1, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026| Statewide|
Annual hunting license
Coyote| Trapping| Nov 10, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026| Statewide| Trapping license
Quail| Shotgun| Eastern Zone: Nov 1–13, 2026 & Nov 19, 2026–Jan 31, 2027 (but
check prior overlaps); Western Zone through Feb 2027| Daily/season limits
apply| Annual hunting license + PIT permit
Rabbit| Shotgun| Varies by zone, often through Feb/Mar 2026| Statewide small
game| Annual hunting license
Squirrel| Shotgun| Through Feb 28, 2026 in many zones| 6 per day typical|
Annual hunting license 7
Deer modern gun and muzzleloader seasons ended in late December 2025, with youth weekends in late Dec 2025–early Jan 2026. Turkey spring season (bearded only) kicks off approx. April 12–May 4, 2026.
Zone-Specific Details
Kentucky divides deer into Zones 1-4 with antlerless limits; bear and elk are quota-based and closed now. Always verify zones via KDFWR apps or site—e.g., Zone 4 has stricter antlered-only rules.
Regulations & Tips
- Licenses : Youth/seniors have specials; free youth weekends may apply later. CWD zones expanded—check for transport rules.
- Upcoming : Spring turkey youth April 5-6, 2026. Waterfowl (ducks/geese) often lingers into Feb in splits.
- Pro tip: Download KDFWR's Seasons Planner or app.fw.ky.gov/seasonviewer for real-time updates, as quotas can close seasons early.
TL;DR : In KY right now (Feb 24, 2026), focus on coyote (hunting/trapping year-round-ish), small game like rabbits/squirrels, and late quail/waterfowl—deer/turkey big seasons are done till fall/spring.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.