SMALL GAME & FURBEARERS

 

SOME BASICS

 

Season dates and limits for the various small game and furbearer species that can be hunted or trapped in Kentucky are listed in this section. 

 

ALL hunters are required to abide by the hunter orange clothing law when it applies. Be sure you are aware of ALL deer, elk or bear firearm hunting season dates. During periods when multiple hunting seasons are open at the same time, hunters must abide by the equipment restrictions in effect for the type of hunting they engage in.

 

Rabbits and squirrels may be trapped during the dates listed in the table. Hunting bag limits apply. Trapping equipment and restrictions are the same as those listed in the furbearer section. A trapping license is required for trappers ages 12 and older. Trappers must harvest squirrels and rabbits upon capture, unless they possess a captive wildlife permit from Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.

 

SEASON DATES

 

All seasons are statewide unless otherwise indicated.

 

Squirrel hunting

 

Aug. 15 - Nov. 13, Nov. 16, 2009 - Feb. 28, 2010

 

Squirrel trapping

 

Noon Nov. 16, 2009 - Feb. 28, 2010

 

Raccoon & Opossum hunting

 

Nov. 1, 2009 - Feb. 28, 2010; hunting only at night during Modern Gun Deer Season.

 

Raccoon & Opossum trapping

 

Noon Nov. 16, 2009 - Feb. 28, 2010

 

Coyote hunting

 

year-round

 

Coyote trapping

 

Noon Nov. 16, 2009 - Feb. 28, 2010

 

Bobcat hunting

 

Noon Nov. 21, 2009 - Jan. 31, 2010

 

Bobcat trapping

 

Noon Nov. 16, 2009 - Feb. 28, 2010

 

Crow hunting

 

Sept. 1 - Nov. 7, 2009 and Jan. 4 - Feb. 28, 2010

 

Bullfrog hunting

 

Noon May 15 - Oct. 31, 2009

 

Falconry

 

Sept. 1, 2009 - Mar. 30, 2010

 

Otter, Muskrat, Mink, Beaver, Red Fox, Gray Fox, Weasel & Striped Skunk hunting and trapping

 

Noon Nov. 16, 2009 - Feb. 28, 2010

 

Wild Hog* & Groundhog hunting and trapping

 

year-round

 

* It is illegal to possess live wild hogs in Kentucky; all trapped hogs must be killed at the trap site, and not released.

 

Rabbit & Quail hunting

 

Nov. 16, 2009 - Feb. 10, 2010, in the following counties: Allen, Ballard, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Daviess, Fulton, Graves, Hancock, Henderson, Hickman, Hopkins, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, McLean, McCracken, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Simpson, Todd, Trigg, Union, Warren and Webster.

Rabbits may be trapped noon Nov. 16, 2009 - Feb. 10, 2010 in these counties.

 

Nov. 1-13 and Nov. 16, 2009 - Jan. 31, 2010 in all other counties.

Rabbits may be trapped noon Nov. 16, 2009 - Jan. 31, 2010 in these counties.

 

Grouse hunting

 

Nov. 1-13 and Nov. 16, 2009 - Feb. 28, 2010 in the following counties only: Adair, Bath, Bell, Boyd, Bracken, Breathitt, Campbell, Carter, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Garrard, Greenup, Harlan, Harrison, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, Madison, Magoffin, Martin, Mason, McCreary, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Owsley, Pendleton, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Russell, Wayne, Whitley and Wolfe.

 

Free Youth Small Game Hunting & Trapping Week

 

Dec. 26, 2009 - Jan. 1, 2010

 

FREE YOUTH HUNTING & TRAPPING WEEK

 

Youth hunters and trappers ages 15 and under are permitted to hunt and trap small game and furbearers without a hunting or trapping license Dec. 26, 2009 - Jan. 1, 2010. (Since youth hunters are also permitted to hunt deer with a firearm Dec. 26-27, 2009, the hunter orange clothing law applies these two days for ALL hunters.)

 

Statewide equipment requirements and bag limits for small game and furbearer hunting and trapping remain in effect. Hunter education is not required for license-exempt hunters; however, it is strongly recommended. Adults accompanying youth hunters/trappers during the Free Youth Hunting & Trapping Week are license exempt if the adult is not hunting/trapping.

 

Check first!

 

Seasons on Wildlife Management Areas and other public hunting lands not managed by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife may be different from those listed above. Please check individual area listings in the Public Land Hunting section.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS FOR SMALL GAME SEASONS

 

The following animals are considered small game: squirrels, rabbits, northern bobwhite (quail) and grouse. However, these species may have different hunting seasons as listed in the season dates table.

 

BAG LIMITS

 

• Squirrel: Daily limit is 6; possession limit is 12.

• Rabbit: Daily limit is 4; possession limit is 8.

• Quail: Daily limit is 8; possession limit is 16.

• Grouse: Daily limit is 4; possession limit is 8.

 

SMALL GAME EQUIPMENT RESTRICTIONS

 

Note: On some WMAs, special equipment restrictions apply, as noted in the Public Land Hunting section of this guide.

 

Legal

Hunters shall use any of the following to take small game:

• Rimfire gun

• Shotguns no larger than 10-gauge

• Muzzle-loading gun

• .22 caliber handgun           

• Bow and arrow, or crossbow

• .177, .20 or .22 caliber airgun with pellets

• Dogs   

• Falconry                  

 

Shotguns used to hunt small game must be plugged to hold a maximum of three shells (two in magazine and one in chamber).

 

Illegal

Small game hunters shall not possess:

• A shotshell containing larger than number 2 size shot

• Single-projectile shotgun ammunition, except during the modern gun deer season as a legal deer hunter

 

Hunting these species with slingshots is prohibited.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Is there a limit on the number of rounds I can have in the magazine of my rimfire .17 or .22 when hunting small game?

A: No. There is no limit on a rimfire gun’s magazine capacity when hunting small game.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS FOR FURBEARER SEASONS

 

The following animals are considered furbearers: mink, muskrat, beaver, raccoon, opossum, gray fox, red fox, weasel, river otter, bobcat, coyote and striped skunk. However, these species may have different hunting or trapping seasons as listed above.

 

EQUIPMENT RESTRICTIONS

 

See below. Also, on some WMAs, special equipment restrictions apply, as noted in the Public Land Hunting section of this guide.

 

RIVER OTTER

 

Otters may be taken statewide and the season limit is six (6) otters per person.

 

BOBCAT HUNTING & TRAPPING

 

Bobcats may be taken statewide and the season limit is five (5) bobcats per person. Only three (3) may be taken with a gun.

 

Legal Methods of Take

 

Bobcats and otters may be taken by hunting during daylight hours or by trapping. The appropriate hunting or trapping license is required. Hunters may use hand- or mouth-operated calls, electronic calls, or attracting devices. Harvested bobcats and otters must be telechecked by calling 1-800-245-4263 by midnight of the day the animal is recovered. (This is the same checking system as for deer, elk and turkeys).

 

A hunter or trapper who wants to have a bobcat or otter mounted shall provide his or her Telecheck confirmation number to the taxidermist.  Taxidermists cannot legally accept an unchecked otter or bobcat for mounting.

 

Hunters or trappers who intend to sell the raw fur of an otter or bobcat must call 1-800-858-1549 or go online to fw.ky.gov, provide their Telecheck confirmation number and request a CITES tag. The CITES tag shall be attached to and remain with the pelt until it is processed. Possession of an unused bobcat or otter CITES tag is prohibited, unless expressly authorized by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. 

 

Bobcat hunting and trapping is also permitted at Land Between the Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area. (See the Public Land Hunting section for contact information.)

 

RACCOON & OPOSSUM HUNTING SEASON

 

During modern gun deer season raccoon and opossum hunters may not hunt during daylight hours or carry guns other than .22-caliber rimfire while hunting at night. Night hunting on Friday, Nov. 13 shall conclude by ½-hour before sunrise on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, which is when shooting hours for modern gun deer season open. No bag limit.

 

RACCOON & OPOSSUM TRAPPING SEASON

 

No bag limit. Raccoons and opossums may not be taken with the aid of lights from a boat except by trapping. 

 

MINK, MUSKRAT, BEAVER, RED FOX, GRAY FOX, WEASEL & STRIPED SKUNK

 

These species may be taken by hunting or trapping. No bag limits.

 

COYOTE HUNTING

 

The hunting season on coyotes is open statewide and year-round with no bag limit. The appropriate hunting license is required, unless exempt.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Can I hunt coyotes at night?

A: No. The only furbearers that can be taken at night are raccoons and opossums.

 

FURBEARER EQUIPMENT RESTRICTIONS

 

Legal

Furbearer hunters may use the following to take furbearers:

• Muzzle-loading or modern rifles or handguns of any caliber

• Shotguns no larger than 10-gauge

• Archery or crossbow equipment

• Dogs

• Falconry                  

 

Shotguns used to hunt furbearers must be plugged to hold a maximum of three shells (two in magazine and one in chamber).

 

Illegal

The following is prohibited:

• Hunting these species with slingshots

• Using or carrying buckshot when hunting these species

 

COYOTE TRAPPING SEASON

 

Trapping coyotes is permitted only during the furbearer season. The appropriate trapping license is required, unless exempt.

 

BUYING AND SELLING FURS & HIDES

 

There is no time restriction on the holding of raw furs of furbearers by a trapper or hunter after the close of furbearer season. Raw furs (including hides from legally harvested deer) may be sold only to licensed taxidermists, licensed fur buyers or licensed fur processors. Wildlife carcasses (except certain species produced by licensed propagators) may not be bought or sold. Inedible parts of wildlife (including the hooves or other inedible parts of legally taken deer) and wildlife mounts may be sold to or purchased from licensed taxidermists only.

 

Spotted skunks are protected year-round and may not be taken or possessed.

 

RUNNING THE TRAP LINE

 

All traps must bear a metal tag giving the name and address of the trapper, or a unique identification number as specified in KAR 2:251. Any trap found without a tag can be immediately confiscated by the department without a court order. Landowner permission is required for trapping.

 

All traps must be visited at least once every 24 hours and all animals removed.

It is illegal to intentionally obstruct or disrupt the right of a person to lawfully take wildlife by trapping.

 

 

TRAPPING EQUIPMENT RESTRICTIONS

 

Legal

The following equipment is permitted for dry-land sets:

• Deadfalls, wire cages or
box traps

• Foothold traps with a maximum inside jaw spread of six (6) inches measured perpendicular to the hinges

• Body-gripping traps with a maximum inside jaw spread of seven and one-half (7.5) inches measured parallel with the trigger

• Snares (see Definition & Index section for definition of snare)

 

There are no restrictions on traps used as water sets.

 

Illegal

A person trapping on dry land shall not:

• Set traps closer than ten (10) feet apart

 

A trap shall not be set in trails/paths commonly used by humans or domestic animals. Trappers may use lights from boats or vehicles.

 

CALLING ALL HUNTERS & TRAPPERS!

 

HOW SMALL GAME HUNTERS CAN HELP

 

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife conducts a variety of surveys with hunters and trappers about their pursuits and observations of wildlife. You can greatly assist effective wildlife management by participating in these surveys. The samples and information you provide are essential for determining the size, trends and health of game populations. Survey forms are available from the department.

 

Small game hunters can help gather information about various types of wildlife using the report forms on our website at fw.ky.gov/smallgamelogs.asp. All hunting log cooperators will receive an annual report and FREE hunting cap. Small game hunters can also help by obtaining pre-addressed survey envelopes and sending in one wing from each bobwhite quail they take. Pre-addressed wing envelopes are available from Conservation Officers or by calling 1-800-858-1549.

 

HOW FURBEARER HUNTERS & TRAPPERS CAN HELP

 

The raccoon strain of rabies has not been detected in Kentucky. However, it occurs in neighboring states east of the Appalachians. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is working in cooperation with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture to monitor the westward spread of raccoon rabies and the potential occurrence in Kentucky.

 

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is asking that hunters and trappers donate heads from raccoons, coyotes, skunks, and red and gray foxes from the following counties: Bell, Boyd, Bracken, Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Floyd, Greenup, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Martin, Mason, McCreary, Morgan, Perry, Pike, Robertson, and Whitley. Please remove the animal’s head and place it in a zip-loc bag and freeze it. Label the bag with the species, county, specific location, date the animal was collected, sex and age if known, and collector name, address, and phone number. Please call 1-800-858-1549 when you are ready for the heads to be picked up. 

 

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife thanks you for your assistance in managing Kentucky’s furbearer populations!

 

HELP WITH BOBCAT STUDIES!

 

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is collecting bobcat carcasses for statewide studies of reproduction and age structure. If you would like to donate a carcass, please write the county, specific location (GPS location, creek name, road name, intersection, etc.), date the animal was trapped, hunted, or road-killed and collector name, address, and phone number on a piece of paper. Enclose the paper in a zip-loc bag and attach it to the carcass. Please keep the carcass frozen and call 1-800-858-1549 to have it picked up.

 

OTHER SEASON RESTRICTIONS

 

FALCONRY SEASON

 

The limit for this hunting method is two (2) of any small game or furbearer species per falconer per day, except during the regular hunting season when the limits are the same as for other methods. Falconers must possess a falconry permit, as well as a valid Kentucky hunting license, and obey all applicable state and federal laws.

 

CROW SEASON

 

There is no daily or possession limit on crows.

 

Crows observed committing or about to commit acts of depredation may be taken year-round; however, persons attempting to take depredating crows shall not use blinds, decoys, calls or other lures to attract birds into shooting range during the closed season.

 

BULLFROG SEASON

 

The daily limit (noon to noon) is 15; possession limit is 30.

 

If frogs are taken by gun or bow and arrow, a hunting license is required. If taken by pole and line, a fishing license is required. If frogs are taken by gig or by hand, either a hunting or fishing license is valid. It is illegal to possess a gig on a stream or lake, or in a boat, from November 1 through January 31.

 

WILD HOG & GROUNDHOG HUNTING

 

The hunting season on wild hogs and groundhogs is open statewide and year-round with no bag limit. The appropriate hunting license is required, unless exempt. Hog hunters in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area must have a permit.

 

Wild hog hunting

 

Wild hogs are an exotic species that compete with native wildlife for food, damage crops and carry diseases that can be passed to domestic swine and humans. Landowners are encouraged to remove wild hogs from their property by hunting or trapping. All trapped hogs, however, must be killed at the trap site. In Kentucky, it is illegal to possess or transport live wild hogs. Please report sightings, harvests or activities relating to the illegal possession or transportation of wild hogs to the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Info Center at 1-800-858-1549.

 

EXOTIC SPECIES OPEN TO YEAR-ROUND HUNTING

 

Except as stated here, no person shall take any other wildlife species except during an open season for that species.        

 

Persons may hunt the following exotic wildlife year-round without a hunting license, and with no bag limit or checking requirement:

 

English sparrows, starlings, Eurasian collared doves, free-ranging NON-native cervid species or NON-domesticated bovid species. NON-native cervids include any deer species EXCEPT whitetails and elk. NON-domesticated bovids include any type of NON-domesticated sheep, antelope, goat, bison or other exotic hoofed species.

Equipment restrictions for hunting these species are the same as for coyote, groundhog and wild hog.

 

Pheasants released during Kentucky Fish and Wildlife pheasant quota hunts, and fallow deer on Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area are NOT open to year-round hunting.

All birds of prey, songbirds, spotted skunks and threatened or endangered species are strictly protected at all times under state and federal laws.

 

All species of mice, moles, rats, shrews and terrestrial invertebrates (except threatened or endangered species) are unprotected species and may be taken year-round without a hunting license.