Buying a hunting license in Kentucky is simple once you sort out two things: whether you need hunter education first, and which license and permits match what you plan to hunt. This guide walks through both, based on rules from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR).
Step 1: Settle hunter education before you buy
Kentucky requires hunter education for anyone born on or after January 1, 1975 who is 12 or older and is not otherwise license exempt. You carry your hunter education card (a hard copy or an electronic copy) along with your license whenever you hunt. The rule applies to residents and nonresidents alike.
- Under 12: exempt from certification, but must hunt with an adult.
- Ages 9 to 11: can take hunter education early, so it is done before it is required.
- Certified in another state? Kentucky accepts hunter education certification from any state.
- Want to try it first? KDFWR offers a free, one-time Hunter Education Exemption Permit, available online and valid for one year. You must hunt with a licensed adult, 18 or older, who meets the hunter education requirement and can take immediate control of your firearm. It is a way to try hunting, not a substitute for certification.
CertifiedHunter’s Kentucky course is approved by KDFWR and built to IHEA-USA standards. You complete the online portion at home, at your own pace, then finish with a single in person Range Day through KDFWR. For the full walkthrough, see our guide: How to Get Hunter Education Certified in Kentucky.
Step 2: Pick the right license
Kentucky’s license year runs from March 1 through the last day of February. Every annual license expires at the end of February, no matter when you buy it, so a license bought in December is only good for a few months. A hunting license lets you hunt; most big game also needs a separate permit, covered in Step 3.
Resident options
- Annual Hunting License for hunters 16 and older, with a reduced-cost youth version for ages 12 to 15.
- 1-Day Hunting License for a single day afield.
- Sportsman’s License, the all-in-one option for residents.
- First Time Buyer Sportsman’s License, a reduced-cost Sportsman’s License for new license buyers.
- Youth, Senior (65 and older), and Disabled Sportsman’s Licenses at reduced cost for those who qualify.
Nonresident options
- Annual Hunting License for hunters 16 and older, with a youth version for ages 12 to 15.
- 7-Day and 1-Day Hunting Licenses for short trips.
The Sportsman’s License is not available to nonresidents, so nonresident hunters buy a license and add permits separately.
The Sportsman’s License is the best value for most residents. It bundles a hunting and fishing license with a statewide deer permit, spring and fall turkey permits, the state migratory bird and waterfowl permit, and a trout permit. It does not include the federal duck stamp, bear or elk permits, or a trapping license.
New to hunting? Look at the First Time Buyer Sportsman’s License. If you are a Kentucky resident who has not bought an annual Kentucky hunting or fishing license (or a combination license that includes one) since 1996, you qualify for the full Sportsman’s package at a reduced cost. It is one of the best deals in the state for a brand-new hunter.
Note that 1-day and 7-day licenses are not valid for deer, elk, turkey, or bear.
Step 3: Add the permits your hunt requires
If you did not buy a Sportsman’s License, add permits for the game you plan to hunt:
- Deer: a statewide deer permit, with a youth version for ages 12 to 15. An additional deer permit is available if you want to take more deer.
- Turkey: separate spring and fall turkey permits, plus a youth turkey permit.
- Waterfowl and doves: the Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit. Duck and goose hunters also need a federal duck stamp.
- Elk and black bear: quota-based. You apply, and you only buy the permit if you are drawn.
Each permit carries its own bag limit, so check the current Kentucky hunting guide at fw.ky.gov for limits, seasons, and current fees before you buy.
Step 4: Buy the license
- Online: through the license sales portal at fw.ky.gov, paying by credit card.
- My Profile: KDFWR’s My Profile lets you buy, store, and reprint licenses. A lost license can be reprinted free.
- In person: at licensed agents across the state, including sporting goods stores and other retailers. KDFWR lists agents by county or ZIP code under “Licenses” on its website.
Have your date of birth and Social Security number ready; Kentucky asks for both when you buy a license or permit. Questions about licensing go to the KDFWR Information Center at 1-800-858-1549.
Who does not need a license?
- Children under 12 do not need licenses or permits, though they must still apply for quota hunts.
- Resident landowners, their spouses, and dependent children hunting their own land, and tenants and their families hunting farmland where they live and work.
- Kentucky residents on military leave of more than three days, carrying ID and leave papers.
- Eligible youth during Youth Hunting and Trapping Week and the free youth deer weekend.
License-exempt hunters still follow bag limits, hunter orange rules, and harvest recording, tagging, and checking requirements.
Questions new Kentucky hunters ask
Do I need hunter education before I can hunt?
If you were born on or after January 1, 1975 and are 12 or older, you need to be certified, or hold the one-time exemption permit, to hunt. Take care of it before your first season so you are not scrambling for a Range Day date.
Which license should a first-time adult hunter buy?
If you are a resident and qualify, the First Time Buyer Sportsman’s License. It covers hunting, fishing, deer, and turkey in one purchase at a reduced cost.
Can I deer hunt on a 1-day or 7-day license?
No. Short-term licenses are not valid for deer, elk, turkey, or bear. Buy an annual license and the deer permit.
I am visiting from another state. What do I need?
A nonresident annual hunting license plus the permits for your game, such as the nonresident deer permit. Your home-state hunter education certification is accepted in Kentucky.
When does my license expire?
At the end of February, every year. Buy early in the license year to get the most out of it.
I lost my hunter education card. What now?
Kentucky lets you print a replacement card free at fw.ky.gov.
Finish the step that comes first
The license takes minutes to buy. Hunter education is the step that takes planning, so start it now. Complete the online course at your own pace, pass the exam, book your Range Day, and you will be ready to buy your license and hunt this season.