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2026-27 fees, KDFWR

Kentucky Hunting License Prices

All 44 hunting, trapping and permit rows of the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide with resident and nonresident prices, plus the 6 fishing rows set apart at the end. Every license on it is good from March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027.

Resident basics

Every permit

Draw applications

Hunting gear

$28.54Resident hunting

$100.42Sportsman's

$37Deer permit

$169.12Nonresident hunting

$248.40Nonresident deer

Photo: Department of the Interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Conservation Training Center. 10/1997-8888 (Public domain)

Start here: the common Kentucky licenses

License	Resident	Nonresident	Covers
Sportsman's License	$100.42	–	All-in-one resident
First Time Buyer Sportsman's License	$37	–	New buyers
Annual Hunting	$28.54	$169.12	Small game base
Deer Permit (statewide, four deer)	$37	$248.40	Four deer
Additional Deer Permit (two deer)	$15.86	$15.86	Two more deer
Spring Turkey Permit (two turkeys)	$31.71	$116.27	Two spring birds
Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit	$15.86	$15.86	Ducks, geese, doves
Bear Permit	$31.71	$264.25	One bear

The $100.42 Sportsman's License bundles the annual hunting and fishing license, the statewide deer permit, spring and fall turkey permits, the Kentucky migratory bird and waterfowl permit and the trout permit. It leaves out the additional deer permit and the bear permit, which are bought on their own. New for 2026-27, a resident buying for the first time can get the same bundle as a First Time Buyer Sportsman's License for $37.

All fees adjusted January 2026; CPI-based adjustments every even year; First-Time Buyer Sportsman's License $37 added. All licenses and permits except elk quota, pheasant quota, sandhill crane and quota-hunt permits are over the counter, including bear permits, statewide and additional deer permits, turkey permits and the Out-of-Zone Elk Permit.

Sources: 2026-27 Hunting & Trapping Guide, page 5. Checked: each number traced to its page on November 10, 2026.

All 44 Kentucky hunting and trapping fee rows

Grouped the way hunters shop: licenses first, then the species permits, the elk and quota drawings, the area permits for Land Between the Lakes, Peabody WMA and Ballard WMA, and the shooting range and hunter education permits.

Hunting licenses (4)

License or permit	Resident	Nonresident	Good for	Note
Annual Hunting	$28.54	$169.12	License year	Shooting range permit included (must register).
1-Day Hunting	$7.40	$26.43	1 day	Not valid for deer, elk, turkey or bear.
7-Day Hunting	–	$68.71	7 days	Not valid for deer, elk, turkey or bear.
Shooting Preserve Hunting	$5.29	$5.29	License year	Online only; valid only at the named shooting preserve.

Combination and Sportsman's licenses (6)

License or permit	Resident	Nonresident	Good for	Note
Combination License (Annual Hunting/Fishing)	$44.39	–	License year
Sportsman's License	$100.42	–	License year	Combination hunting/fishing license, statewide deer permit, spring and fall turkey permits, Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit and trout permit; shooting range permit (must register).
First Time Buyer Sportsman's License	$37	–	License year	Same licenses and permits as the standard Sportsman's License. New for 2026-27.
Senior OR Disabled Sportsman's License	$12.68	–	License year	Residents 65+ or with qualifying disability authorization; same licenses and permits as the Sportsman's License.
Senior Lifetime Sportsman's License	$190.26	–	Lifetime (Kentucky residency required)	Residents 65 or older; must keep Kentucky residency.
Youth Sportsman's License (ages 12-15)	$31.71	–	License year	Hunting/fishing license, statewide deer permit, spring and fall turkey permits and Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit.

Youth license (1)

License or permit	Resident	Nonresident	Good for	Note
Youth Annual Hunting (ages 12-15)	$6.34	$10.57	License year	Valid for the license year if bought before the 16th birthday.

Deer permits (3)

License or permit	Resident	Nonresident	Good for	Note
Deer Permit (statewide, four deer)	$37	$248.40	License year	1 antlered + 3 antlerless or 4 antlerless.
Youth Deer Permit (ages 12-15, four deer)	$10.57	$15.86	License year
Additional Deer Permit (two deer)	$15.86	$15.86	License year	Not included in the Sportsman's License.

Turkey permits (3)

License or permit	Resident	Nonresident	Good for
Spring Turkey Permit (two turkeys)	$31.71	$116.27	License year
Youth Turkey Permit (ages 12-15, one turkey spring or fall)	$10.57	$15.86	License year
Fall Turkey Permit (two turkeys)	$31.71	$116.27	License year

Elk drawing and permits (7)

License or permit	Resident	Nonresident	Good for	Note
Elk Hunt Drawing Application	$10	$10		Deadline April 30.
Youth Elk Drawing Application (15 and under)	$10	$10
Elk Quota Bull Permit (if drawn)	$105.70	$581.35	License year
Elk Quota Cow Permit (if drawn)	$63.42	$422.80	License year
Elk Quota Archery/Crossbow Permit (if drawn)	$105.70	$581.35	License year	Bull or cow.
Youth Elk Quota Permit (if drawn, ages 12-15)	$31.71	$211.40	License year	Youths drawn for other elk permits pay full cost.
Out of Zone Elk Permit	$31.71	$422.80	License year

Bear permits (5)

License or permit	Resident	Nonresident	Good for	Note
Bear Permit	$31.71	$264.25	License year	Not included in the Sportsman's License.
Youth Bear Permit (ages 12-15)	$10.57	$105.70	License year
Bear Chase Permit (dog training)	$31.71	$52.85	License year
Youth Bear Chase Permit (ages 12-15)	$10.57	$15.86	License year
Combo Bear/Chase Permit	$52.85	–	License year

Migratory bird permits (2)

License or permit	Resident	Nonresident	Good for	Note
Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit	$15.86	$15.86	License year	Not needed for hunters under 16 or for crows.
Federal Duck Stamp	$25	$25	License year	E-stamp sold at fw.ky.gov; physical stamp at post offices must be signed.

Quota drawings (2)

License or permit	Resident	Nonresident	Good for	Note
Pheasant Quota Hunt Permit (if drawn)	$26.43	$26.43	License year
Sandhill Crane Hunt Drawing	$3	$3		Apply in September.

Area permits (4)

License or permit	Resident	Nonresident	Good for	Note
1-Day Ballard Waterfowl Permit	$15.86	$15.86	1 day	Ballard WMA quota waterfowl hunts; buy online before the hunt.
Peabody WMA Permit	$15.86	$15.86	License year	Required for anyone 16+ on Peabody WMA (Hopkins, Muhlenberg and Ohio counties).
Land Between The Lakes Hunt Permit	$25	$25	License year	Required with a Kentucky hunting license to hunt LBL.
Land Between The Lakes Hunt/Backcountry Camp	$50	$50	License year

Trapping licenses (3)

License or permit	Resident	Nonresident	Good for
Annual Trapping	$21.14	$137.41	License year
Annual Landowner/Tenant Trapping	$10.57	–	License year
Youth Annual Trapping (ages 12-15)	$5.29	–	License year

Other permits (4)

License or permit	Resident	Nonresident	Good for	Note
Bobcat Permit	$10.57	$10.57	License year	Required for bobcat hunters.
Annual Shooting Range Permit	$26.43	$26.43	License year	Free on registration with an annual hunting or fishing license (new in 2026).
1-Day Shooting Range Permit	$5.29	$5.29	1 day	Free on registration with an annual hunting or fishing license.
Temporary Hunter Education Exemption Permit	Free	Free	1 year, one time	One-time, valid 1 year, online only; must hunt with a licensed adult 18+ who meets hunter education.

A dash means the license is not sold to that group. Sources: 2026-27 Hunting & Trapping Guide, page 5. Checked: each number traced to its page on November 10, 2026.

The Kentucky license requirements

Topic	KDFWR rule
Proof of license	Unless license-exempt, hunters and trappers must carry proof of license (vendor copy, printout, customer ID plus photo ID if 16+, or phone screenshot).
Residency for license purposes	Permanent domicile in Kentucky for 30 days before buying; full-time Kentucky students enrolled 6 months; military on permanent assignment in Kentucky. Nonresident landowners buy nonresident licenses.
Young hunters	Under 12 need no license or permits (except elk drawing application and quota hunt applications); 12-15 buy youth licenses; adults must accompany youth under 16 hunting deer, elk, turkey or bear with a firearm.
License-exempt	Resident farm owners/tenants, spouses and dependent children on their own land; youth during free youth seasons; residents on military leave; US Armed Forces on Hidden Valley Training Area and Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center.
Buying	Online at fw.ky.gov (no paper copy mailed) or license agents; date of birth and SSN required; 1-800-858-1549.
Migratory birds	Migratory bird and waterfowl hunters must complete the HIP survey (My Profile) and write the confirmation number on the license.

Hunter education in Kentucky

Topic	KDFWR rule
Who needs it	Required for hunters born on or after January 1, 1975 who are not license-exempt; carry hard or electronic proof; any state's card accepted.
Ages	Test at 9 or older; required at 12-15; optional 9-11; under 12 exempt (must be supervised).
Exempt	Resident landowners, tenants, spouses and dependent children on their own land.
One-time exemption	Free one-time Temporary Hunter Education Exemption Permit (1 year, online): hunt with a licensed adult 18+ who meets hunter education; not valid at Blue Grass Army Depot or Fort Campbell.
Classes	In-person classes statewide or online at fw.ky.gov (classroom/online plus live fire).

Sources: 2026-27 Hunting & Trapping Guide, page 2; 2026-27 Hunting & Trapping Guide, page 7; 2026-27 Hunting & Trapping Guide, page 8. Checked: each number traced to its page on November 10, 2026.

The Kentucky fishing rows of the fee table

The hunting guide prints 6 fishing rows in the same fee table; the combination license and the Sportsman's License already include annual fishing.

Fishing license	Resident	Nonresident	Good for
Annual Fishing	$24.31	$58.14	License year
Joint Married Couple Annual Fishing	$44.38	–	License year
1-Day Fishing	$7.40	$15.86	1 day
3-Year Fishing	$58.14	–	3 years
7-Day Fishing Nonresident	–	$37	7 days
Trout Permit	$10.57	$10.57	License year

Sources: 2026-27 Hunting & Trapping Guide, page 5. Checked: each number traced to its page on November 10, 2026.

Kentucky license questions

Do I need a special permit for Land Between the Lakes or Peabody WMA?

Yes: the LBL hunt permit costs $25 on top of a Kentucky license, and anyone 16 or older on Peabody WMA needs the $15.86 Peabody WMA permit.

When does the Kentucky license year start?

March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027; licenses bought now run to the last day of February.

Which permits come bundled in the Kentucky Sportsman's License?

Combination hunting/fishing license, statewide deer permit, spring and fall turkey permits, Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit and trout permit; shooting range permit (must register). It costs $100.42 and is sold to residents only.

What does a Kentucky annual hunting license cost this year?

$28.54 for a resident annual hunting license and $169.12 for a nonresident, for the license year March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027.

Is the bear permit sold over the counter?

Yes. No bear quota; bear permits are over the counter. A resident pays $31.71 for it, a nonresident $264.25, and the Sportsman's License does not include it.

Do I need a deer permit on top of the hunting license?

Yes: the statewide deer permit ($37 resident, $248.40 nonresident) covers four deer, one antlered and three antlerless or four antlerless; the additional deer permit adds two antlerless deer for $15.86.

Who has to pass hunter education before buying a Kentucky license?

Required for hunters born on or after January 1, 1975 who are not license-exempt; carry hard or electronic proof; any state's card accepted. Free one-time Temporary Hunter Education Exemption Permit (1 year, online): hunt with a licensed adult 18+ who meets hunter education; not valid at Blue Grass Army Depot or Fort Campbell.

What does a nonresident 7-day license cover in Kentucky?

It costs $68.71 and is not valid for deer, elk, turkey or bear.

Before a Kentucky hunt: the guides

Every fee, date and count on this page was read from a KDFWR guide, a 301 KAR section or a KDFWR app and looked over once more on November 10, 2026.

Other photos on this page: ShenandoahNPS (Public domain); PierreSelim (CC BY 3.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); Calistemon (CC BY-SA 4.0).