Kentucky hunting license

How much is a Kentucky hunting license?

A resident Kentucky hunting license (Annual Hunting) costs $28.54 and a nonresident one costs $169.12, as listed by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources for the current license year. That license covers small game, but deer and turkey hunters also need a permit. For residents, the deer permit is $37.00 and covers four deer, and spring and fall turkey permits are $31.71 each.

The best value for many residents is the Sportsman's License at $100.42. It bundles hunting and fishing with a statewide deer permit, spring and fall turkey permits, the migratory bird and waterfowl permit and a trout permit. First-time buyers can get the same Sportsman's License for just $37.00, which is close to the cost of a deer permit alone.

The table below lists the basic licenses, short-term options, youth prices, the senior lifetime license and discounts. KDFWR's fee page shows no extra transaction fee. Fees are indexed to inflation and were raised slightly in January 2026, so check the official fee schedule before you buy.

Do you need hunter education for a Kentucky hunting license?

Yes, if you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1975, you must carry proof of hunter education while hunting in Kentucky. Hunters born before that date are not required to take the course. Children under 12 are exempt, but they must hunt under adult supervision.

The minimum age to take the course is 9. You can study online, but the online course must be followed by an in-person live-fire Range Day before you are certified. KDFWR also offers a one-day classroom course that covers everything in a single session. Class schedules and sign-up links are on the KDFWR hunter education page.

If you want to try hunting before taking the class, Kentucky sells a Temporary Hunter Education Exemption Permit online. It is good for one year from the date issued, and each person can get it only once in a lifetime. You must hunt with a licensed adult who meets the hunter-ed requirement, and the permit is not valid on Blue Grass Army Depot or Fort Campbell.

Where can you buy a hunting license in Kentucky?

The fastest way is online through KDFWR's License Sales site at fw.ky.gov, or in the My Profile app, which you can also use to telecheck deer. License agents across the state sell them in person, and the agency lists agents by county. Questions go to the Info Center at 1-800-858-1549, weekdays from 8 to 4:30 Eastern.

Before you start, decide whether you only need the license or a bundle that already includes your deer and turkey permits. A resident who plans to hunt deer and both turkey seasons would pay $28.54 for the license, $37.00 for deer and $31.71 for each turkey season if bought separately. The $100.42 Sportsman's License adds fishing, waterfowl and trout permits on top, so compare the two before you check out. If this is your first Kentucky license, look for the $37.00 first-time Sportsman's price.

1. Finish hunter education if you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1975, or buy the one-time Temporary Hunter Education Exemption Permit.
2. Go to the KDFWR licenses page, open the My Profile app or visit a license agent.
3. Choose the annual license, a Sportsman's bundle, or a 1-day or 7-day license, and add deer or turkey permits if you need them.
4. Pay, then carry your license and permits every time you hunt.

Buy a Kentucky hunting license on the official site

How do deer, turkey and elk permits work in Kentucky?

Deer and turkey are not included in the base annual license: adults add a deer permit (good for four deer) or a turkey permit (two birds). Black bear permits are sold to residents only, and elk tags come only through a drawing.

Every deer must be recorded on your harvest log and then telechecked by midnight on the day you recover it. You can telecheck by phone at 1-800-245-4263 or in the My Profile app. KDFWR's After the Harvest guide explains the steps.

Telecheck applies to landowners too. Resident farmland owners and tenants who hunt their own land without a license must still follow the telecheck rules, along with bag limits and hunter orange. Recording the deer on your harvest log first, then telechecking it the same day, keeps you legal wherever you hunt in the state.

The elk quota hunt drawing costs $10 to enter. For 2026, applications closed at midnight on April 30, 2026, and 500 permits were offered across bull, cow, either-sex archery and crossbow, and youth hunts. Nonresidents can make up no more than 10% of the drawn permits. Watch KDFWR news for the next drawing window.

Do kids need a Kentucky hunting license?

No license is needed for hunters under 12, resident or nonresident, and they need no permits either, except to apply for the elk drawing. They still need adult supervision, and one adult can supervise up to two young hunters.

From ages 12 through 15, youth buy the Youth Annual Hunting license: $6.34 for residents and $10.57 for nonresidents. Resident youth can also choose the Youth Sportsman's License at $31.71. Youth deer and turkey permits are $10.57 each for residents. Once they turn 12, young hunters need hunter education or the one-time temporary exemption permit.

How much is a nonresident Kentucky hunting license?

A nonresident annual Kentucky hunting license costs $169.12, and big game permits are extra: a nonresident deer permit is $248.40, and spring or fall turkey permits are $116.27 each. Like residents, visitors born on or after Jan. 1, 1975 need hunter education.

If you are coming for a short small game or waterfowl trip, Kentucky sells shorter licenses. A 1-day hunting license is $26.43 for nonresidents (residents pay $7.40), and a 7-day license, sold only to nonresidents, is $68.71. Neither is valid for deer, elk, turkey or bear, so big game hunters still need the annual license plus the matching permit. Nonresidents cannot buy a bear permit.

Nonresidents who want an elk tag enter the same $10 drawing as residents, but no more than 10% of drawn permits go to nonresidents. If you hunt both sides of the Ohio River, the Ohio hunting license guide covers the rules on the other bank.

Other Kentucky license rules to know

A few rules catch hunters off guard every year, especially visitors used to other states. The key ones are below, and the agency's FAQ page covers more. Hunting across the line? Compare the Tennessee hunting license rules, or browse every hunting license by state.

• License year: licenses run March 1 through the last day of February. The 2026-27 year started March 1, 2026. 1-day and 7-day licenses are valid only on the dates printed.
• Hunter orange: during modern gun, muzzleloader and youth firearm deer seasons, and firearm elk or bear seasons, hunters and their companions must wear orange visible from all sides on the head, back and chest. Waterfowl and dove hunters are exempt, and it is not required for spring turkey.
• Landowners: resident owners of farmland, their spouse and dependent children, and tenants on that farmland may hunt that property without a license during open seasons. They must still follow bag limits, hunter orange and telecheck rules.
• Seniors and disabled residents: residents 65 and older can buy the Senior Sportsman's License for $12.68, and qualifying disabled residents get the Disabled Sportsman's License for $12.68.
• Military: active-duty Kentucky residents home on leave need no license or permits during their leave, but they should carry their leave papers.