Small game
Squirrel Hunting in Kentucky, 2026-27
The 2026-27 rulebook for gray and fox squirrels in one page: dates, zones, limits, permits and legal light.
Photo: Karen Roussel (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Where gray and fox squirrels stand this season
Count 3 dated or pending lines for gray and fox squirrels across the Kentucky calendar, from August 15, 2026 to February 28, 2027. KDFWR flags this for gray and fox squirrels: fall and spring seasons. The short method line for gray and fox squirrels: rimfire, shotgun, archery, air gun, falconry, traps.
Source: Guide p. 27 and Guide p. 28 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
All squirrel windows on the KDFWR calendar
Rows run in opening order; a squirrel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Squirrel | Statewide | Aug 15–Nov 13, 2026 Nov 16–Feb 28, 2027 | 6 daily, 12 possession | Closed Nov. 14-15 (first two days of modern gun deer season). | Guide p. 27 | |
| Squirrel Trapping | Statewide | Nov 16–Feb 28, 2027 | 6 daily, 12 possession | Guide p. 27 | ||
| Spring 2027 | Statewide | Not yet published | 6 daily, 12 possession | KDFWR had not published 2027 dates when checked. | No dates | 301 KAR 2:122 |
Kentucky squirrel limits for 2026-27
Every squirrel limit with what it covers, from the 2026-27 tables.
| Covers | Wording |
|---|---|
| Squirrel | 6 daily, 12 possession |
Source: Guide p. 28 and Guide p. 27 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
How gray and fox squirrels may be taken in Kentucky
The legal and not-legal columns come from the KDFWR weapon tables for gray and fox squirrels.
| Hunt type | Lawful | Unlawful |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | – |
| Rule | Text |
|---|---|
| Suppressors | Suppressors may be used to hunt legal game with a valid license. |
| 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 gray and fox squirrels: rimfire, shotgun, archery, air gun, falconry, traps.
Source: Guide p. 28, Guide p. 11 and Guide p. 10 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Squirrel license and permit fees
Everything a squirrel 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). | |
| $7.40 | $26.43 | Not valid for deer, elk, turkey or bear. | |
| Not sold | $68.71 | Not valid for deer, elk, turkey or bear. | |
| $6.34 | $10.57 | Valid for the license year if bought before the 16th birthday. | |
| $44.39 | Not sold | Annual Hunting/Fishing | |
| $21.14 | $137.41 | – |
Residents qualify after 30 days of Kentucky domicile; nonresident landowners still buy the nonresident squirrel items.
Source: Guide p. 7 and Guide p. 4 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Squirrel hunting rules in Kentucky
Rule lines for gray and fox squirrels; 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 squirrel hunter is no exception: solid orange on head, back and chest. |
| Harvest report | Gray and fox squirrels 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 squirrel 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.
Squirrel: wildlife areas, forests and refuges
Public ground for gray and fox squirrels: 74 records match, 65 of them through the 2026-27 chart status and the rest through the species they list.
| Public area | Type | County | Acres | Why listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National forest | 710,298 | Chart: open | ||
| Ranger district | 209,423 | Listed species | ||
| Ranger district | 183,503 | Listed species | ||
| Ranger district | 170,938 | Listed species | ||
| Ranger district | 146,434 | Listed species | ||
| Recreation area | 107,594 | Listed species | ||
| WMA | 40,744 | Chart: open | ||
| WMA | 38,788 | Chart: open | ||
| River and rec area | 30,300 | Chart: open | ||
| WMA | 24,033 | Chart: open | ||
| WMA | 21,351 | Chart: open | ||
| WMA | 21,019 | Chart: open |
Source: KDFWR land records and Guide p. 30 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Gear worth carrying around Kentucky gray and fox squirrels
Kentucky gray and fox squirrels shoppers see no product until they choose one.
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Seat cushion
Squirrel hunters in the hickory stands get steady use from a seat cushion.
When squirrel hunting starts and stops
Dates in the table are the squirrel openers plus the shortest day of the year.
30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset for most species (deer, elk, bear, turkey, small game, groundhog).
| Date | Murray (Calloway) | Richmond (Madison) | Catlettsburg (Boyd) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2026 | 5:40 a.m. to 8:16 p.m. CDT | 6:22 a.m. to 9:02 p.m. EDT | 6:15 a.m. to 8:57 p.m. EDT |
| Nov 16, 2026 | 6:01 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. CST | 6:48 a.m. to 5:57 p.m. EST | 6:43 a.m. to 5:49 p.m. EST |
| Dec 21, 2026 | 6:31 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. CST | 7:18 a.m. to 5:51 p.m. EST | 7:14 a.m. to 5:43 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.
Fox squirrel on a tree trunkPhoto: Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0)
Fox squirrel foragingPhoto: grendelkhan (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Eastern gray squirrel on the groundPhoto: PierreSelim (CC BY 3.0)
Answers about Kentucky gray and fox squirrels
Does the orange rule cover gray and fox squirrels?
Even archers and trappers wear orange during gun deer weeks, and a squirrel hunter is no exception: solid orange on head, back and chest.
How many public places have gray and fox squirrels?
Counting chart statuses and species lists, 74 public places carry gray and fox squirrels; WMA rules can differ from statewide ones.
May a squirrel 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 gray and fox squirrels with a drone?
No manned or unmanned aircraft (drones) to hunt or harass wildlife.
Who needs hunter education before a squirrel hunt?
Kentucky asks for hunter education from hunters born on or after January 1, 1975; new squirrel hunters may start on the free exemption permit with a licensed mentor.
Which days can I hunt gray and fox squirrels this season?
Fall Squirrel (Statewide): Aug 15 to Nov 13, 2026; Nov 16, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027; Squirrel Trapping (Statewide): Nov 16, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027.
What does KDFWR allow per squirrel hunter?
KDFWR sets it this way for gray and fox squirrels: 6 daily, 12 possession.
How much does it cost to hunt gray and fox squirrels?
Annual Hunting $28.54 resident, $169.12 nonresident; 1-Day Hunting $7.40 resident, $26.43 nonresident; 7-Day Hunting Not sold resident, $68.71 nonresident; Youth Annual Hunting $6.34 resident, $10.57 nonresident. More squirrel items sit in the license band.
Can I use a rifle on gray and fox squirrels in Kentucky?
Rimfire, shotgun, archery, air gun, falconry, traps. 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.
When can I start hunting gray and fox squirrels each day?
30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset for most species (deer, elk, bear, turkey, small game, groundhog). Times for a squirrel hunt run on local clock time, Central in the western counties and Eastern elsewhere.