How to Get Your Kentucky Hunting License
Kentucky requires hunter education certification for anyone age 12 or older who was born on or after January 1, 1975, before that person can hunt in the state. Once you're certified, and once you've picked the right license type for your age and residency, you can purchase a license and head into the field.
A resident annual hunting license costs $28.54, while a non-resident annual hunting license costs $169.12. Most hunters also need a species-specific permit, such as the $37 resident deer permit or $31.71 resident turkey permit, on top of the base license.
Purchase your hunting license through the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources website or an approved license agent, and every license runs on Kentucky's license year, from March 1 through the last day of February.
Today, we walk through how to get your Kentucky hunting license and Hunter Education Certificate, step by step.
What Is a Hunting License in Kentucky?
A Kentucky hunting license is the base document the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) requires before you can legally pursue game in the state. It's separate from the species-specific permits you'll need for deer, turkey, elk, bear, or migratory birds, which are purchased individually once you hold a valid license.
Your Hunter Education Certificate works differently. It's a one-time credential proving you completed a KDFWR-approved safety course, and it lasts for life, while your hunting license has to be renewed every license year.
Who Needs a Hunting License in Kentucky?
Kentucky requires a hunting license for all residents and non-residents age 12 or older who hunt in the state, and hunter education adds an extra layer depending on your birth date. Birth year, not a flat age cutoff, determines which path applies to you.
Hunter education runs on a separate track from the license itself. Anyone 12 or older who was born on or after January 1, 1975, must complete a certified hunter education course before hunting, unless they qualify for one of Kentucky's alternatives instead:
- Under 12: No hunting license or hunter education certification required.
- 12 and older, born before January 1, 1975: Hunting license required, hunter education not required.
- 12 and older, born on or after January 1, 1975: Hunting license and hunter education certification both required.
- Not ready for the course yet: Apply for Kentucky's free, one-time Temporary Hunter Education Exemption Permit, valid for one year and open to residents and non-residents alike, provided you hunt under the supervision of a licensed adult who has already met the hunter education requirement.
How to Get Your Kentucky Hunting License (Step-by-Step)
Getting licensed in Kentucky comes down to a few specific steps, though the order shifts slightly depending on your birth year. Here's the full process from start to finish.
- Complete an approved hunter education course if you were born on or after January 1, 1975, then attend the required Range Day if you took the course online.
- Choose your license type: standard resident or non-resident, youth, senior, or disabled combination license.
- Purchase your license through the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources website, by phone, or through an approved license agent.
- Add any species-specific permits you need, such as deer, turkey, elk, bear, or migratory bird permits.
- Carry your license, permits, and Hunter Education Certificate any time you hunt.
Elk permits are drawn by lottery, with applications accepted from August 1 through April 30, so plan ahead if that's on your list. Once your license and any needed permits are in hand, you're ready for the field.
The sections below cover the hunter education course and license purchase in more detail.
Step 1: Complete an Approved Hunter Education Course
Kentucky's hunter education path splits by format rather than by age. Anyone required to certify can either complete the course entirely online with a follow-up Range Day, or finish everything in person in a single day.
- Online course plus Range Day: Complete the Hunter-Ed Kentucky course ($39.95) online at your own pace, then register separately for the required in-person Range Day, typically 4 to 6 hours, to receive your certificate.
- In-person course (complete certification): Attend a full one-day KDFWR course combining classroom instruction, a written test, and a live-fire exercise, completing certification in that single session at no cost.
- Military and law enforcement exemption: Complete the online course, then submit your course certificate and proof of active duty, veteran, or peace officer status to your regional coordinator to waive the live-fire requirement.
Passing the online course doesn't guarantee a Range Day seat, so register for both well ahead of the season you're planning to hunt.
Step 2: Buy Your Hunting License
Once you have your Hunter Education Certificate, if it applies to you, you can buy your license through the KDFWR website, by phone, or at an approved license agent.
You'll need a valid ID, your date of birth and Social Security number, proof of hunter education if required, and payment.
Step 3: Add Species Permits and Go Hunting
A standard Kentucky hunting license doesn't cover deer, turkey, elk, or bear. Those species each require their own permit, purchased separately, and elk permits are lottery-only.
Once your license and any needed permits are in hand, you're ready to hunt.
Kentucky Hunting License Requirements by Age
Here's a high-level overview of the requirements for hunting licenses in Kentucky by age.
Kentucky Hunting License Requirements (by Age) | ||
| Age | Requirement | Supervision/Hunter Education |
| Under 12 | No license or permit required | No |
| Ages 12 through 15 (resident) | Youth Annual Hunting License ($6.34) or Youth Sportsman's License ($31.71, bundles deer, turkey, trout, and migratory bird permits) | Yes, since every hunter in this age range today was born after January 1, 1975 |
| Ages 12 through 15 (non-resident) | Youth Annual Hunting License ($10.57) | Yes |
| Ages 16 through 64 (resident) | Annual Hunting License ($28.54) or Sportsman's License ($100.42, bundles deer, turkey, trout, and migratory bird permits) | Yes, unless born before January 1, 1975 |
| Ages 16 and older (non-resident) | Annual Hunting License ($169.12) | Yes, unless born before January 1, 1975 |
| 65 and older (resident) | Senior Sportsman's License ($12.68) or Senior Lifetime Sportsman's License ($190.26, one-time purchase) | No, since anyone 65 or older in 2026 was born before the 1975 cutoff |
| Disabled residents (any age) | Disabled Sportsman's License ($12.68) | Depends on birth year, per the general rule above |
A practical way to read the birth-year rule: since anyone 65 or older today was born before 1975, hunter education is effectively mandatory for every hunter under that age and moot for those above it, until the cutoff eventually ages out of relevance entirely.
Privileges and stamps:
- Deer, turkey, elk, and bear hunting each require a separate species-specific permit beyond the base license.
- Waterfowl hunters age 16 and older also need the Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit and a Federal Duck Stamp.
- Kentucky's Sportsman's License bundles the base license with deer, turkey, trout, and migratory bird permits at a discount, and first-time buyers can get an even lower introductory rate.
Season dates and bag limits vary by species, zone, and method, so check before you plan a hunt.
Hunter Safety Course: Format and Cost
Kentucky is one of the few states where new hunters can skip the online course altogether and complete everything, classroom instruction, exam, and live fire, in a single in-person session at no cost. The chart below offers a quick overview of those formats.
Kentucky Hunter Safety Course Formats Comparison | ||||
| Format | Provider | Cost | Time | Exam |
Online course | Hunter-Ed | $39.95 | Self-paced, about 3 to 4 hours online | 80% passing score on unit quizzes and final exam, plus final exam and skills check at Range Day |
In-person course (KDFWR) | KDFWR | Free | One day, several hours of classroom instruction plus live fire | Written test and live-fire exercise, completed the same day |
Whichever format you choose, your Hunter Education Certificate is permanent once KDFWR issues it. Only your hunting license needs renewing, and that happens every year by the last day of February.
The Documents You Need To Buy Your License
Make sure you have the right documentation handy to purchase your Kentucky hunting license. You'll need:
- A valid form of identification
- Your date of birth and Social Security number, both required at purchase
- Proof of hunter education certification, if you were born on or after January 1, 1975
- Payment for your license and any species-specific permits
Kentucky Hunting Laws and Penalties
Kentucky's most common hunting citations are hunting without a valid license, hunting without landowner permission, illegally taking game, exceeding bag limits, and failing to tag or check harvested game. Fines for standard violations generally start in the $100 to $300 range for a first offense and climb for repeat offenses, and more serious violations, such as illegally taking deer, turkey, elk, or bear, can also carry license forfeiture for one to three years.
Repeat or especially severe violations can escalate to misdemeanor charges, multi-thousand-dollar fines, and forfeiture of hunting privileges for up to ten years. You can read more on Kentucky's hunting laws and regulations before you head out.
What About Reciprocity?
Kentucky accepts hunter education certifications from any U.S. state, Canadian province, or country that meets International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) standards. States and provinces with their own mandatory hunter education requirements return the favor and accept a Kentucky Hunter Education Certificate, so your card travels with you if you hunt elsewhere.
What Out-of-State Visitors Should Know
Non-resident hunters need a non-resident license, which costs more than the resident rate and, for deer hunting, comes with a significantly higher non-resident deer permit fee.
Additionally, non-residents born on or after January 1, 1975, must meet Kentucky's hunter education requirement, though they can use the same Temporary Hunter Education Exemption Permit residents use if they aren't ready to complete the course yet.
Start Your Kentucky Hunter Safety Course Today, Then Get Your Hunting License
Ready to get certified? The Hunter-Ed Kentucky course is approved by KDFWR, self-paced, and available on any device, with a required in-person Range Day to complete your certification. Complete the course and get your lifetime Kentucky hunter education certificate.
Approved by Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) | Last verified August 13, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Do I need a hunting license to hunt in Kentucky?
A: Yes, Kentucky residents and non-residents age 12 or older need a hunting license to hunt in the state. Hunters younger than 12 don't need a license, though they should still hunt under the supervision of a licensed adult.
Q: How much does a Kentucky hunting license cost?
A: A Kentucky resident annual hunting license costs $28.54, while a non-resident annual hunting license costs $169.12. Species-specific permits, such as the deer or turkey permit, cost extra and vary significantly between residents and non-residents.
Q: Who needs hunter education certification in Kentucky?
A: Kentucky requires hunter education certification for anyone 12 or older who was born on or after January 1, 1975. Hunters born before that date can hunt without the certification, no matter their current age.
Q: Can I take Kentucky's hunter education course entirely online?
A: No, Kentucky's online hunter education course still requires an in-person component. After finishing the online portion, you must attend a Range Day for a written test and live-fire exercise before you're fully certified.
Q: What is Kentucky's Range Day?
A: Kentucky's Range Day is the mandatory in-person session that completes hunter education certification for anyone who took the online course. It runs 4 to 6 hours and includes classroom instruction, a written test, and a live-fire exercise, with all firearms and ammunition provided at no charge.
Q: Is there a way to hunt in Kentucky before completing hunter education?
A: Yes, Kentucky offers a free, one-time Temporary Hunter Education Exemption Permit for new hunters who aren't ready to complete the course immediately. It's valid for one year and requires the permit holder to hunt under the supervision of a licensed adult who has already met the hunter education requirement.
