Hunting

deer1.jpgBring out your inner Daniel Boone with a hunting trip in Kentucky’s beautiful forests, rolling open fields and spectacular mountains. In Kentucky, you’ll discover abundant public lands to explore in search of wild game.

Here you’ll find the largest elk herd east of the Mississippi River. Our herd of nearly a million deer produces enough trophy bucks to keep Kentucky consistently in the top five rankings of the Boone and Crockett Club listings. Bear hunting opportunities are expanding as more bruins colonize the state from the southeast.

Kentucky is home to a variety of smaller game including squirrels, rabbits, quail and grouse. Migratory bird opportunities include doves, ducks, geese, sandhill cranes and more. Sunday hunting is allowed in Kentucky. Explore all the hunting that Kentucky has to offer on this website. Then come on out and join us for a day afield.turkey.jpg

Perry County is in KDFWR's Southeast Region.

Game Species

 

PUBLIC HUNTING AREAS QUICK REFERENCE

The chart below should be used as a quick reference only. WMAs and other public lands may be open to hunting and trapping during statewide seasons or have different dates and regulations, as determined by the managing agency. Go here for all the details on these public lands.  Also note that some of these public lands may have areas that are off-limits to hunting or trapping, as noted by signs, and that units within these areas may have different season dates or regulations.

Southeast Region 
EXCEPTIONS
    1. Open Nov. 1 - Dec. 31.
    2. Open Oct. 1 - Dec. 31.
    3. Open under statewide regulations for two consecutive days starting the second Saturday in November.
    4. A deer hunter shall not take an antlered deer with an outside spread of less than 15 inches
    5. Only portions of these public hunting areas within the bear zone are open to bear hunting.
    6. Pheasant quota hunts, either sex, limit two, Nov. 18, 19 and 20, 2016; Open Nov. 21, 2016 only to drawn pheasant quota hunters, either sex, limit three; Open Nov. 22 – Dec. 31, 2016, either sex, daily limit three.
    7. Furbearer trapping open with permission; Closed for furbearer hunting.
    8. Open from Sept. 1 through the last day of February.
    9. Archery and crossbow only.
    10. Portions open during quota elk hunts to persons who possess the appropriate elk hunting permit.
Southeast Region Map

OTHER RESTRICTIONS

  • Big South Fork NRRA: Open for wild pigs from the first Saturday in September through the end of February, but a National Park Service hog hunting permit is required at times.  Call for specific dates.  Permits may be purchased at park visitor centers or online at http://www.nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/hog-hunting.htm.
  • Green River Lake WMA:  Area closed to all hunting except archery deer hunting and the quota pheasant hunt for four consecutive days starting on the third Friday in November.
  • Hidden Valley Training Area:  Area closes periodically for training exercises. Call (606) 878-9595 for more information about training dates.
Furbearer: Trapping on WMAs requires permission. Obtain permission from Kentucky Fish and Wildlife by calling the WMA office.  Night hunting for coyotes may be prohibited on some areas.

Contact KDFWR

Call 800-858-1549 for our Information Center
Call 800-25-ALERT to Report a law violation

Who's My Districts Fisheries Biologist?

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
#1 Sportsman's Lane
Frankfort, KY 40601
800-858-1549

E-Mail our Information Center for fish and wildlife​ related questions 

We attempt to promptly respond to every email received. However, due to the volume of email received, some responses may take a week or more to research. You may find a quicker answer by searching our web site or calling our toll free Information Line at 1-800-858-1549.

Voucher Cooperator Elk Permit Program

If you own or lease 100 or more acres within the 16 county elk restoration zone please fill out this online request form so a biologist can contact you to discuss signing up for the Voucher Cooperator Elk Permit Program.

  • Under this new system, landowners/lessees receive points for each elk harvested from their enrolled property.
  • Only hunters placed on the property through the KDFWR’s online system will be eligible to contribute harvest points to the landowner’s total.
  • Each harvested bull counts for 2 points, and a harvested cow counts for 1 point.
  • Upon the accrual of 20 points, the landowner will receive an either-sex elk permit that can be used the following elk hunting season on the enrolled property or any other property owned or leased by the enrolled landowner or lessee.
  • This elk permit is fully transferable to any legal Kentucky hunter on or before August 15th of the applicable year.
  • Each enrolled voucher property will have a set limit as to the number of hunters allowed on the land at any given point in the hunting season.
  • This number will be based on biologist discretion, landowner input, and the number of elk using the area.
  • Additionally, landowners and lessees will have the option to close elk hunting on their property while other hunting seasons are taking place.
For more information, please call Joe McDermott at 800-858-1549 or email Joe.McDermott@ky.gov


All information on this page taken from the KDFWR WEBSITE.

Hunting