Who Doesn’t Need a License

Resident and nonresident kids under the age of 12 are not required to purchase hunting licenses and permits, except the elk lottery application, elk quota hunt permit, out-of-zone elk permit and bear permit.

Hunters eligible to participate in the Free Youth Hunting & Trapping Week or Free Youth Deer Hunting Weekend, and adults who accompany a youth hunter but are not hunting themselves, are not required to have a license or permit during these seasons.

The following do not have to have sport hunting or fishing licenses:

1. Resident owners of farmlands, their spouses and dependent children hunting or fishing on their lands. This also applies to tenants actually engaged in work and residing on farmlands, their spouses and dependent children. To be classed as a tenant, a person must both live and work on a farm.

2. Kentucky resident servicemen or women on furlough of more than three days, carrying proper identification and papers showing furlough status.

3. Residents or nonresident participating in a field trial authorized by the department are exempt from license requirements if game is not taken.