Kentucky features excellent white-tailed deer and wild turkey hunting across Appalachian foothills, hardwood forests, and agricultural bottomlands, with growing elk populations in the eastern coalfields region.
| GMU | Weapon | Season | Harvest | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Archery | Sep 6 — Jan 19 | — | — |
| 1 | Crossbow | Sep 20 — Jan 19 | — | — |
| 1 | Muzzleloader | Oct 18 — Oct 19 | — | — |
| 1 | Rifle | Nov 8 — Nov 23 | — | — |
| 1 | Muzzleloader | Dec 13 — Dec 21 | — | — |
| 2 | Archery | Sep 6 — Jan 19 | — | — |
+ 14 more Deer seasons
| GMU | Weapon | Season | Harvest | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shotgun | Apr 12 — May 4 | — | — |
| 1 | Archery | Sep 6 — Jan 19 | — | — |
| 1 | Shotgun | Oct 25 — Oct 31 | — | — |
| 2 | Shotgun | Apr 12 — May 4 | — | — |
| 2 | Archery | Sep 6 — Jan 19 | — | — |
| 2 | Shotgun | Oct 25 — Oct 31 | — | — |
+ 6 more Turkey seasons
| GMU | Weapon | Season | Harvest | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shotgun | Sep 1 — Oct 26 | — | — |
| 1 | Shotgun | Dec 20 — Jan 11 | — | — |
| 2 | Shotgun | Sep 1 — Oct 26 | — | — |
| 2 | Shotgun | Dec 20 — Jan 11 | — | — |
| 3 | Shotgun | Sep 1 — Oct 26 | — | — |
| 3 | Shotgun | Dec 20 — Jan 11 | — | — |
+ 2 more Dove seasons
| GMU | Weapon | Season | Harvest | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Any Legal | Aug 16 — Nov 7 | — | — |
| 1 | Any Legal | Nov 10 — Feb 28 | — | — |
| 2 | Any Legal | Aug 16 — Nov 7 | — | — |
| 2 | Any Legal | Nov 10 — Feb 28 | — | — |
| 3 | Any Legal | Aug 16 — Nov 7 | — | — |
| 3 | Any Legal | Nov 10 — Feb 28 | — | — |
+ 2 more Squirrel seasons
| GMU | Weapon | Season | Harvest | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Zone 1 | Archery | Oct 25 — Oct 27 | — | — |
| Bear Zone 1 | Rifle | Dec 13 — Dec 15 | — | — |
| Bear Zone 2 | Dog | Oct 20 — Oct 24 | — | — |
| Bear Zone 2 | Archery | Oct 25 — Oct 29 | — | — |
| Bear Zone 2 | Dog | Oct 30 — Nov 7 | — | — |
| Bear Zone 2 | Rifle | Dec 13 — Dec 17 | — | — |
| GMU | Weapon | Season | Harvest | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk Zone | Archery | Sep 13 — Sep 26 | — | — |
| Elk Zone | Rifle | Sep 27 — Oct 1 | — | — |
| Elk Zone | Rifle | Oct 4 — Oct 8 | — | — |
| Elk Zone | Rifle | Nov 29 — Dec 3 | — | — |
| Elk Zone | Archery | Dec 6 — Dec 12 | — | — |
| Elk Zone | Rifle | Dec 27 — Dec 31 | — | — |
| GMU | Weapon | Season | Harvest | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shotgun | Nov 10 — Feb 10 | — | — |
| 2 | Shotgun | Nov 10 — Feb 10 | — | — |
| 3 | Shotgun | Nov 10 — Feb 10 | — | — |
| 4 | Shotgun | Nov 10 — Feb 10 | — | — |
| GMU | Weapon | Season | Harvest | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Any Legal | Nov 10 — Feb 10 | — | — |
| 2 | Any Legal | Nov 10 — Feb 10 | — | — |
| 3 | Any Legal | Nov 10 — Feb 10 | — | — |
| 4 | Any Legal | Nov 10 — Feb 10 | — | — |
Always verify season dates and regulations with the official state wildlife agency:
Kentucky Official Hunting Regulations →See GMU boundaries, public land, and walk-in access areas for Kentucky on our interactive hunting map.
Hunting in Canada? Explore Crown Land Maps, Hunting Seasons, Licence Guide, and Regulations for Canadian provinces.