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Special small game seasons
Falconry and Youth Small Game in Kentucky, 2026-27 Seasons and Permits
Where and when small game taken by falconers and young hunters may be taken in Kentucky this license year, with sources on every table.
Photo: Ligocsicnarf89 (CC BY 4.0)
Quick facts on Kentucky small game taken by falconers and young hunters
The 2026-27 KDFWR rules give small game taken by falconers and young hunters 2 rows of dates, the last one closing March 30, 2027. A falconry hunter may use the following: falconry; youth legal equipment.
Source: Guide p. 27 and Guide p. 28 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Falconry and Youth Small Game season dates in Kentucky
Dates below are the KDFWR dates for small game taken by falconers and young hunters; a WMA or other public area can be shorter, so check its own page as well.
| Hunt type | Area | Calendar | Bag | Fine print | Today? | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falconry | Statewide | Sep 1–Mar 30, 2027 | 2 small game or furbearers per day when only falconry is open | Falconry permit plus hunting license. | Guide p. 27 | |
| Free youth week | Statewide | Dec 26–Jan 1, 2027 | Statewide bag limits | Youth under 16, no hunting or trapping license needed; hunter orange Dec. 26-27. | Guide p. 27 |
Falconry and Youth Small Game limits in KDFWR wording
Group lines appear when KDFWR prints small game taken by falconers and young hunters together with other species.
| Group | Bag |
|---|---|
| Falconry and Youth Small Game | Statewide limits; 2/day falconry-only. |
Source: Guide p. 27 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Legal weapons and methods for small game taken by falconers and young hunters
Kentucky sets method rules by season group; the lines that apply to small game taken by falconers and young hunters are below, with a few general rules every hunter follows.
| Method group | Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Small game | Rimfire rifle or handgun, .410 handgun, shotguns 10 ga or smaller (plugged to 3) with shot No. 2 or smaller, muzzleloading rifles, archery/crossbow, .177-.25 air guns, falconry, slingshots, dogs. | – |
| Subject | What KDFWR says |
|---|---|
| Dogs | No dogs for deer or elk or spring turkey; dogs may flush turkeys in fall; bear dogs only in legal seasons with approved breeds; leashed tracking dogs may recover deer, elk and bear; rabbits, foxes, coyotes, raccoons and opossums may be run year-round. |
| Suppressors | Suppressors may be used to hunt legal game with a valid license. |
In one line, small game taken by falconers and young hunters may be taken with: falconry; youth legal equipment.
Source: Guide p. 28 and Guide p. 11 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
What it costs to hunt small game taken by falconers and young hunters
Prices are the 2026-27 KDFWR fees for what a falconry hunter may carry; the license year runs March 1, 2026 – February 28, 2027.
| Permit | In-state | Out-of-state | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| $28.54 | $169.12 | Shooting range permit included (must register). | |
| $6.34 | $10.57 | Valid for the license year if bought before the 16th birthday. | |
| $21.14 | $137.41 | – | |
| $5.29 | Not sold | ages 12-15 |
A falconry hunter aged 12 to 15 buys the youth license or permit where one exists; children under 12 need none.
Source: Guide p. 7 and Guide p. 4 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Rules on the ground for small game taken by falconers and young hunters
What KDFWR expects of falconry hunters in the field, from what to wear to what to report.
| Rule | Text |
|---|---|
| Hunter orange | Orange applies to small game taken by falconers and young hunters too: head, back and chest in solid orange in daylight during every deer gun and muzzleloader season and the firearm elk and bear seasons. |
| Harvest report | No Telecheck for small game taken by falconers and young hunters; KDFWR reports only deer, elk, turkey, bear, bobcat, river otter and sandhill crane. |
| Hunter education | If you were born on or after January 1, 1975, carry proof of hunter education on a falconry hunt, or buy the free one-year exemption permit and stay with a licensed adult. |
Source: Guide p. 10, Guide p. 8 and Guide p. 9 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Open land for falconry hunters
1 public area in the KDFWR land records list small game taken by falconers and young hunters or open them on the 2026-27 WMA chart; the twelve largest are below.
| Area | Kind | Counties | Acres | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recreation area | 107,594 | Listed species |
Source: KDFWR land records and Guide p. 30 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Packing for a hunt in Kentucky small game taken by falconers and young hunters
Kentucky small game taken by falconers and young hunters cards match the seasons listed above.
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Legal shooting hours for small game taken by falconers and young hunters
Kentucky clocks fell back on November 1, 2026 and spring ahead on March 14, 2027, so falconry times jump an hour across those dates.
30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset for most species (deer, elk, bear, turkey, small game, groundhog).
| Date | Owensboro (Daviess) | Frankfort (Franklin) | Somerset (Pulaski) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | 5:48 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. CDT | 6:38 a.m. to 8:41 p.m. EDT | 6:38 a.m. to 8:39 p.m. EDT |
| Dec 21, 2026 | 6:30 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. CST | 7:22 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. EST | 7:18 a.m. to 5:54 p.m. EST |
| Dec 26, 2026 | 6:32 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. CST | 7:24 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. EST | 7:20 a.m. to 5:57 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.
Eastern cottontail rabbit on alertPhoto: btrentler (CC BY 2.0)
Eastern cottontail rabbit sitting in grassPhoto: Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0)
Eastern cottontail rabbit at the edge of a fieldPhoto: mbarrison (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Common questions on small game taken by falconers and young hunters
Are drones allowed for falconry hunting?
No manned or unmanned aircraft (drones) to hunt or harass wildlife.
Can I shoot small game taken by falconers and young hunters from a road?
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.
Is there a daily limit on small game taken by falconers and young hunters?
Kentucky counts small game taken by falconers and young hunters like this: Statewide limits; 2/day falconry-only..
When does falconry season start in Kentucky?
Falconry (Statewide): Sep 1, 2026 to Mar 30, 2027; Free youth week (Statewide): Dec 26, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027.
How may small game taken by falconers and young hunters be taken?
Falconry; youth legal equipment. Rimfire rifle or handgun, .410 handgun, shotguns 10 ga or smaller (plugged to 3) with shot No. 2 or smaller, muzzleloading rifles, archery/crossbow, .177-.25 air guns, falconry, slingshots, dogs.
What paperwork goes with a falconry hunt?
Annual Hunting $28.54 resident, $169.12 nonresident; Youth Annual Hunting $6.34 resident, $10.57 nonresident; Annual Trapping $21.14 resident, $137.41 nonresident; Youth Annual Trapping $5.29 resident, Not sold nonresident. The full falconry price list is above.
When must a falconry hunter wear orange?
Orange applies to small game taken by falconers and young hunters too: head, back and chest in solid orange in daylight during every deer gun and muzzleloader season and the firearm elk and bear seasons.
What are legal shooting hours for small game taken by falconers and young hunters?
30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset for most species (deer, elk, bear, turkey, small game, groundhog). Falconry hunters east of the time line use Eastern Time, west of it Central Time.
Is there public falconry hunting in Kentucky?
The land records show small game taken by falconers and young hunters on 1 area, from WMAs to federal ground; start with the table on this page.
What is the falconry season?
Dec 26, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027: Youth under 16, no hunting or trapping license needed; hunter orange Dec. 26-27.