Kentucky has grown to be a well-liked hunting location because of its abundant Turkey population. However, shooters should acquaint themselves with the rules and specifications established by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources before entering the area. There are many guidelines that hunters must follow to ensure a secure and effective search, from documenting and examining their catch to abiding by equipment and game technique limitations. This page will cover all the information you need, including the dates and times of the season, license requirements, and other rules.
Kentucky Turkey Season
Starting in April, the game begins. Kentucky is a top turkey hunting location with 220,000 wild birds. Premier Outfitters and Long Creek Outfitters offer guided hunts in the Daniel Boone National Forest.
Spring
| Schedule | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Spring Season | April 13, 2024 | May 5, 2025 |
KY Youth Turkey
| Schedule | Start | End Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Youths 15 and younger | April 6, 2024 | April 7, 2024 |
Fall
| Schedule* | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| Crossbow | 1-Oct | 22-Oct |
| 11-Nov | 31-Dec | |
| Archery | 2-Sep | 15-Jan |
| Shotgun | 28-Oct | 3-Nov |
| 2-Dec | 8-Dec |
*Fall dates are tentative
During the youth-only hunting weekend and the regular spring season, children under 15 are permitted. Permits are not required for children under 12. Still, those between the ages of 12 and 15 must have evidence of receipt of a legitimate Kentucky hunting license and a valid Spring Permit.
A Youth Permit, available to young shooters between 12 and 15, permits them to take one turkey during the registration year. Youth shooters are subject to harvest limitations and season sack limits. Two Youth Permits are included with the Youth Sportsman’s License for residents only. When bought before the child’s 16th birthday, youth hunting licenses and permits are good for the full calendar year. If young shooters use a handgun, they must do so in the company of an adult who must always be able to assume instant control of the weapon.
Bag Limits
A maximum of two bearded turkeys may be taken by shooters during the spring season, with a daily restriction of one bearded per WMA. Any mix of male or sporting a noticeable goatee is included in the two-bird season maximum. Young people’s weight limits for spring will be increased by any turkeys they capture during the youth-only days.
| Type of Game | Bag Limit |
|---|---|
| Wild turkeys (male or visible beard) during spring season | One (1) bird per day, two (2) birds per season (any combination of male turkeys or turkeys with visible beards) |
| Wild turkeys (male or visible beard) during youth-only season | Counts towards the two-bird spring season limit |
KY Turkey License
Certain individuals might not need to buy hunting licenses or permits. Except for the elk hunt drawing application, no license or permission is needed to shoot on one’s farmland during open seasons if one is a Kentucky citizen, a proprietor of farmland, their partner, and their dependent children. Additionally, licenses and permits are not required for renters, their wives, or their dependent children to shoot on farms where they live and work. Exemptions may also apply to residents on military leave for more than three days, who can provide documentation of their leave status, and to US military personnel who are shooting or fishing for pleasure on specific Kentucky National Guard lands.
| License Types | Resident Cost | Nonresident Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Hunting | $27.00 | $150.00 |
| Sportsman's License | $95.00 | NA |
| Sportsman's License* | $95.00 | NA |
| Senior Sportsman's* | $12.00 | NA |
| Disabled Sportsman's* | $12.00 | NA |
| Youth (ages 12-15) Sportsman's License* | $30.00 | NA |
Note: For complete list of Licenses read it onapp.fw.ky.gov website.
Turkey Permits
| Permits | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (statewide 2 turkeys) | $30.00 | $85.00 |
| Youth (ages 12-15) | $10.00 | $15.00 |
| Fall (statewide 4 turkeys) | $30.00 | $85.00 |
Hunting Regulations
- Spring turkey hunters must use special tools. Breech-loading or muzzle-loading shotguns between 10 gauge and.410 must be sealed to hold a maximum of three rounds (two in the magazine and one in the barrel) and lead or non-toxic shot no bigger than No. 4. Hunters can use any draw-weight longbow, recurve, compound, or crossbow with a working safety device. Hunters must use non-barbed broadheads with a 7/8-inch cutting width.
- Kentucky bans several spring bird hunting tactics. Hunters can only hunt over lure for farming or wildlife management zones with corn, feed, or other substances. They cannot use a dog in spring, hunt from a boat or car (unless allowed by rules), use or acquire an electronic or digital calling device, capture a resting turkey, or use live decoys. These rules can lead to arrest and punishment.
- All adult spring hunters must have a license and a spring bird pass. Turkey hunting requires a long-term pass. Spring permits allow hunters to take the spring season’s bird bag limit. The youth-only days are for hunters under 16.
- Spring hunters don’t have to wear hunter orange, but hauling a bird should.
- It is illegal to mimic the sound of a turkey in an area where hunting is allowed, and they are likely to be present from March 1 until the youth-only game opens and from the end of that season until the state-wide turkey game opens. Scouting birds with owl, crow, wolf, or woodpecker cries is allowed.
- Turkey calls and assistants do not need hunting licenses or permits. Callers and assistants can tote tools in the field.
- From March 1 to July 31, feeding animals corn, seed, or synthetic animal feed is illegal outside a home or group of homes. This rule does not apply to food plots, farming practices, or city areas where hunting and fishing are illegal.
- Log and telecheck harvests. See the Recording, Checking, Tagging, and Transporting part for instructions.
- Hunters with certain bodily impairments are free from certain hunting rules. They can hunt with a crossbow or a fixed car during archery seasons. They must first secure a physician-signed exemption form to prove the exemption’s necessity. The exemption form is the hunter’s exemption pass. Exempt hunters must bring the signed exemption form and a valid license.
- Hunters can openly bring weapons. However, KRS 527.020 must be followed when concealing a weapon.
- Kentucky prohibits felons from hunting or owning firearms. Handguns are banned for those guilty after January 1, 1975, and other weapons after July 15, 1994.
- Hunters must log, check, and tag their harvest. Recording, Checking, Tagging, and Transporting explains this method. Hunters can also find Telecheck County Code Numbers here.
FAQ
When does the Kentucky Turkey Hunting Season start and end?
The youth-only period is conducted over the weekend of April 6-7, 2024, while the regular season runs from April 13 through May 5, 2024.
What is the bag limit for Kentucky Turkey Hunting Season 2024?
A shooter may take one bearded or male turkey each day, with a maximum of two birds per spring. This two-bird season cap may include any mix of male or female with discernible whiskers.
Can non-residents hunt turkey in Kentucky?
Yes, turkey hunting is legal outside of Kentucky. Non-residents must pay $150 for a Non-Resident Hunting License to hunt. Non-residents are additionally required to buy a Non-Resident Permit, which costs $85 and entitles them to two bearded turkey harvests during the spring. It is significant to observe that visitors to Kentucky are subject to the Governor’s executive order, which mandates that they self-quarantine for 14 days as soon as they arrive.
Do I need a license for turkey hunting in Kentucky?
To pursue birds in Kentucky, you must have a current hunting registration and a spring poultry pass. Under-12-year-olds are not required to have a registration or a poultry certificate. Short-term hunting permits are not available.
What are the best Turkey hunting locations in Kentucky?
Many places in Kentucky provide excellent opportunities for turkey shooting, making it a well-known top choice. Kentucky’s biggest public land region is the Daniel Boone National Forest, which is especially well-liked for poultry shooting. You can go turkey shooting with Premier Outfitters and Long Creek Outfitters. Locals advise using a box call or an owl hooter to attract a gobbler while traveling on backroads.
