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Kentucky Gallinule Hunting, 2026-27 Seasons and Limits
The 2026-27 rulebook for common and purple gallinules in one page: dates, zones, limits, permits and legal light.
Photo: Birding for Climate (Public domain)
Where common and purple gallinules stand this season
Count 1 dated or pending line for common and purple gallinules across the Kentucky calendar, from September 1, 2026 to November 9, 2026. The short method line for common and purple gallinules: shotgun.
Source: Waterfowl guide p. 7 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
All gallinule windows on the KDFWR calendar
Rows run in opening order; a gallinule row with two date ranges pauses between them, and the Today column compares each window with the current date.
| Season | Area | Dates | Bag | Notes | Today | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallinule | Statewide | Sep 1–Nov 9, 2026 | 3 daily singly or combined, 9 possession | Waterfowl guide p. 7 |
Kentucky gallinule limits for 2026-27
Every gallinule limit with what it covers, from the 2026-27 tables.
| Covers | Wording |
|---|---|
| Gallinules | 3 daily combined, 9 possession |
Source: Waterfowl guide p. 7 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
How common and purple gallinules may be taken in Kentucky
The legal and not-legal columns come from the KDFWR weapon tables for common and purple gallinules.
| Hunt type | Lawful | Unlawful |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Rule | Text |
|---|---|
| Vehicles and boats | No taking wildlife from a vehicle; boats may be used (not under power) for small game, furbearers and waterfowl; disabled hunters may use a stationary vehicle with an exemption. |
| Firearms carry | Anyone who may legally possess firearms may carry them while hunting, including in archery seasons; only legal methods may take game. |
KDFWR’s short list for common and purple gallinules: shotgun.
Source: Waterfowl guide p. 10 and Guide p. 10 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Gallinule license and permit fees
Everything a gallinule hunter is likely to need, with the resident and nonresident fee for each.
| Purchase | Resident | Nonresident | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| $28.54 | $169.12 | Shooting range permit included (must register). | |
| $15.86 | $15.86 | Not needed for hunters under 16 or for crows. |
Residents qualify after 30 days of Kentucky domicile; nonresident landowners still buy the nonresident gallinule items.
Source: Guide p. 7 and Guide p. 4 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Gallinule hunting rules in Kentucky
Rule lines for common and purple gallinules; the source links open the full guide pages.
| Topic | KDFWR rule |
|---|---|
| Hunter orange | Even archers and trappers wear orange during gun deer weeks, and a gallinule hunter is no exception: solid orange on head, back and chest. |
| Harvest report | Common and purple gallinules are not on the Telecheck list, which covers deer, elk, turkey, bear, bobcat, otter and crane. |
| Hunter education | Kentucky asks for hunter education from hunters born on or after January 1, 1975; new gallinule hunters may start on the free exemption permit with a licensed mentor. |
Source: Guide p. 10, Guide p. 8 and Guide p. 9 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
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Chest waders
Flooded crop fields and slough edges both mean standing in cold water.
Duck call
Waterfowl hunters along the Ohio and Mississippi bottoms pack a duck call.
Mallard decoys
Goose and duck mornings near the big reservoirs go better with mallard decoys.
Hand warmers
From the Thanksgiving opener to late January, hand warmers stay in the boat.
When gallinule hunting starts and stops
Dates in the table are the gallinule openers plus the shortest day of the year.
1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset; dove Sept. 1 on private land and Sept. 1-Oct. 26 on public dove fields: 11 a.m. local time to sunset; sandhill crane sunrise to sunset.
| Date | Morganfield (Union) | Shepherdsville (Bullitt) | Greenup (Greenup) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | 5:51 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. CDT | 6:42 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. EDT | 6:30 a.m. to 8:04 p.m. EDT |
| Dec 21, 2026 | 6:33 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. CST | 7:25 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. EST | 7:15 a.m. to 5:14 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.
Mallard drakes taking flightPhoto: USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0)
Wood duck drake swimming on rippled waterPhoto: DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Ruffed grouse perched among bare branchesPhoto: David A Mitchell (CC BY 2.0)
Answers about Kentucky common and purple gallinules
May a gallinule hunter shoot across a highway?
No firearm, bow or crossbow discharge upon or across a public roadway. No taking wildlife from a vehicle; boats may be used (not under power) for small game, furbearers and waterfowl; disabled hunters may use a stationary vehicle with an exemption.
May I scout common and purple gallinules with a drone?
No manned or unmanned aircraft (drones) to hunt or harass wildlife.
Who needs hunter education before a gallinule hunt?
Kentucky asks for hunter education from hunters born on or after January 1, 1975; new gallinule hunters may start on the free exemption permit with a licensed mentor.
Which days can I hunt common and purple gallinules this season?
Gallinule (Statewide): Sep 1 to Nov 9, 2026.
What does KDFWR allow per gallinule hunter?
KDFWR sets it this way for common and purple gallinules: 3 daily combined, 9 possession.
How much does it cost to hunt common and purple gallinules?
Annual Hunting $28.54 resident, $169.12 nonresident; Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit $15.86 resident, $15.86 nonresident. More gallinule items sit in the license band.
What are the gallinule weapon rules?
Shotgun. 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.
When can I start hunting common and purple gallinules each day?
1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset; dove Sept. 1 on private land and Sept. 1-Oct. 26 on public dove fields: 11 a.m. local time to sunset; sandhill crane sunrise to sunset. Times for a gallinule hunt run on local clock time, Central in the western counties and Eastern elsewhere.
Does the orange rule cover common and purple gallinules?
Even archers and trappers wear orange during gun deer weeks, and a gallinule hunter is no exception: solid orange on head, back and chest.
Bait and common and purple gallinules: what is allowed?
area stays baited 10 days after removal; areas manipulated for doves are not legal for waterfowl.