Migratory birds
Crow Hunting in Kentucky, 2026-27
Season windows, legal methods and licenses for American crows, straight from the 2026-27 KDFWR guides.
Photo: GerryT (CC BY 2.0)
Crow in Kentucky by the numbers
American crows get 1 separate line in the KDFWR calendar this license year; the earliest opens September 1, 2026. Among the crow details, KDFWR stresses this: hunting license only. For American crows the method list reads: shotgun etc.; electronic calls legal.
Source: Guide p. 29 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Kentucky crow dates, line by line
The table carries every crow line in the 2026-27 guides, each linked to its source page.
| Season | Covers | Date range | Take | Note | Right now | Doc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crow | Statewide | Sep 1–Nov 7, 2026 Jan 4–Feb 28, 2027 | No limit | Hunting license only (no migratory permit or HIP); 30 min before sunrise to sunset. | Guide p. 29 |
How many American crows you may take
Possession limits govern what a crow hunter carries home; daily limits reset each day.
| Species or group | Limit as printed |
|---|---|
| Crow | No daily or possession limit |
Source: Guide p. 29 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
What a crow hunter may use
Weapon rules for American crows follow the season type, so check which season you are in before reading across.
| Season type | Legal | Not legal |
|---|---|---|
| Waterfowl and migratory birds | Shotgun 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells; non-toxic shot no larger than T for waterfowl and cranes; shells max 3.5 in. | Lead shot for waterfowl/cranes; rifles; recorded calls (except light goose conservation order); sink boxes. |
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Electronic calls | Not for deer, turkey or elk; legal for furbearers in season and crows. |
| Firearms carry | Anyone who may legally possess firearms may carry them while hunting, including in archery seasons; only legal methods may take game. |
| Fire, explosives, gas | No taking wildlife with fire, explosives, smoke or gas. |
The species table sums up legal methods for American crows as: shotgun etc.; electronic calls legal.
Source: Waterfowl guide p. 10, Guide p. 11 and Guide p. 10 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Licenses and permits for American crows
Kentucky sells these crow items online and through license agents; nothing is mailed.
| Item | Resident | Nonresident | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| $28.54 | $169.12 | Shooting range permit included (must register). | |
| $7.40 | $26.43 | Not valid for deer, elk, turkey or bear. |
Hunters under 12 need no license for American crows; ages 12 to 15 buy the youth versions, and an adult must accompany youth with a firearm after deer, elk, turkey or bear.
Source: Guide p. 7 and Guide p. 4 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Before you hunt American crows
A short rule list for American crows, from hunter orange to reporting.
| Subject | What it says |
|---|---|
| Hunter orange | American crows share the woods with deer hunters, so whenever a deer firearm or muzzleloader season is open, a crow hunter wears solid orange on the head, back and chest. |
| Harvest report | Unlike deer or turkeys, American crows need no Telecheck call or online report. |
| Hunter education | Hunter education is required for anyone born on or after January 1, 1975; a first-time crow hunter can instead use the free one-time exemption permit and hunt beside a qualified licensed adult. |
Source: Guide p. 10, Guide p. 8 and Guide p. 9 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Public places that list American crows
Of 2 public areas tied to American crows in the KDFWR records, the largest twelve are listed with their counties.
| Area | Type | Counties | Acreage | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refuge | 11,852 | Listed species | ||
| Refuge | 381 | Listed species |
Source: KDFWR land records and Guide p. 30 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Kentucky American crows hunting gear picks
Kentucky American crows hunters get four items suited to a Kentucky year, from the September bow opener to February rabbits.
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Dove decoys
Opening day field hunts start in the heat, so dove decoys are worth carrying.
Shooting time for Kentucky American crows
The times are worked out for three county seats on the crow dates that matter, each on its own clock.
30 minutes before sunrise until sunset.
| Date | Henderson (Henderson) | Frankfort (Franklin) | Somerset (Pulaski) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | 5:50 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. CDT | 6:38 a.m. to 8:11 p.m. EDT | 6:38 a.m. to 8:09 p.m. EDT |
| Dec 21, 2026 | 6:32 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. CST | 7:22 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. EST | 7:18 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. EST |
Hours rule from the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide; sunrise and sunset from the NOAA solar formula for each county seat on its own clock (KDFWR prints no sunrise table, so sunrise and sunset are worked out with the NOAA solar formula for the exact point, on Central Time in the 41 western counties and Eastern Time elsewhere, with daylight time ending November 1, 2026 and starting March 14, 2027.); checked November 10, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
White-tailed deer buck in the treesPhoto: USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0)
Wild turkey gobbler strutting with tail fannedPhoto: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain)
White-tailed doe in profile in warm evening lightPhoto: Mary Ellen Urbanski (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) (CC BY 2.0)
Answers about Kentucky American crows
How many American crows may I take?
The current crow rule: No daily or possession limit.
Do American crows need a special permit?
Annual Hunting $28.54 resident, $169.12 nonresident; 1-Day Hunting $7.40 resident, $26.43 nonresident. Other crow permits appear in the license table.
What gear is legal for a crow hunt?
Shotgun etc.; electronic calls legal. Shotgun 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells; non-toxic shot no larger than T for waterfowl and cranes; shells max 3.5 in.
How early may a crow hunter shoot?
30 minutes before sunrise until sunset. Mind the time zone on a crow trip; the western part of the state keeps Central Time.
Is hunter orange required for American crows?
American crows share the woods with deer hunters, so whenever a deer firearm or muzzleloader season is open, a crow hunter wears solid orange on the head, back and chest.
What are the bait rules for American crows?
area stays baited 10 days after removal; areas manipulated for doves are not legal for waterfowl.
Which public areas list American crows?
2 public areas in the KDFWR records list American crows or open them on the 2026-27 chart; the land table above names the biggest.
Can I use a drone to find American crows?
No manned or unmanned aircraft (drones) to hunt or harass wildlife.
Do I need hunter education to hunt American crows?
Hunter education is required for anyone born on or after January 1, 1975; a first-time crow hunter can instead use the free one-time exemption permit and hunt beside a qualified licensed adult.
What are the 2026-27 dates for American crows?
Crow (Statewide): Sep 1 to Nov 7, 2026; Jan 4 to Feb 28, 2027.