Migratory birds
Woodcock in Kentucky, 2026-27 Seasons and Permits
2026-27 dates, limits, permits and rules for American woodcock, built from KDFWR sources and checked November 10, 2026.
Photo: Don Henise (CC BY 2.0)
Quick facts on Kentucky American woodcock
Woodcock hunters in Kentucky work from 1 KDFWR season row this year. What may be used on American woodcock: shotgun.
Source: Waterfowl guide p. 7 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Every 2026-27 season row for American woodcock
Each line is one KDFWR row for American woodcock, with the area it covers, its limit and the page it was read from.
| Hunt | Applies in | Windows | Limit | KDFWR note | Status | Cite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodcock | Statewide | Oct 24–Nov 13, 2026 Nov 16–Dec 9, 2026 | 3 daily, 9 possession | Closed Nov. 14-15. | Waterfowl guide p. 7 |
The woodcock bag, word for word
Read the woodcock line that fits your season; public areas can be tighter.
| Who | Limit |
|---|---|
| Woodcock | 3 daily, 9 possession |
Source: Waterfowl guide p. 7 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Woodcock methods of take
Below are the method rules that bear on American woodcock, plus two general ones that catch hunters out.
| Rule set | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| Felons | Convicted felons may not possess or hunt with any firearm, including muzzleloaders (KRS 527.040). |
For a woodcock hunt the summary reads: shotgun.
Source: Waterfowl guide p. 10, Guide p. 11 and Guide p. 10 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Kentucky woodcock fees for 2026-27
From the KDFWR fee table: the base license first, then each permit that the woodcock rows call for.
| License | Resident price | Nonresident price | Fine print |
|---|---|---|---|
| $28.54 | $169.12 | Shooting range permit included (must register). | |
| $15.86 | $15.86 | Not needed for hunters under 16 or for crows. |
Carry proof of license on a woodcock hunt: the vendor copy, a printout, your customer ID with photo ID, or a phone screenshot.
Source: Guide p. 7 and Guide p. 4 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Field rules that matter for American woodcock
Read these before a woodcock outing; each line links back to the guide.
| Area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Hunter orange | During gun and muzzleloader deer seasons (and firearm elk or bear seasons where they run), woodcock hunters must wear unbroken orange visible from every side. |
| Harvest report | A woodcock hunter has nothing to report: Telecheck is for deer, elk, turkey, bear, bobcat, otter and sandhill crane. |
| Hunter education | American woodcock count like any other game here: a hunter born on or after January 1, 1975 needs hunter education or the one-time exemption permit. |
Source: Guide p. 10, Guide p. 8 and Guide p. 9 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Public land for American woodcock
The Kentucky land records name American woodcock on 6 areas; acreage is the record figure, or a GIS measure where marked.
| Place | Kind | Counties | Size (ac) | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National forest | 710,298 | Listed species | ||
| Ranger district | 209,423 | Listed species | ||
| Ranger district | 183,503 | Listed species | ||
| Ranger district | 170,938 | Listed species | ||
| Ranger district | 146,434 | Listed species | ||
| Refuge | 11,852 | Listed species |
Source: KDFWR land records and Guide p. 30 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
What rides along in Kentucky American woodcock
Kentucky American woodcock picks were made with creek bottoms, crop edges and steep hardwood ridges in mind.
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Light shotgun sling
Steep second-growth cover makes a light shotgun sling worth the weight.
Woodcock shooting light by date
West and east differ by most of an hour of sun, so pick the column nearest your woodcock ground.
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 | Cadiz (Trigg) | Georgetown (Scott) | Winchester (Clark) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 24, 2026 | 6:36 a.m. to 6:05 p.m. CDT | 7:25 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. EDT | 7:23 a.m. to 6:49 p.m. EDT |
| Dec 21, 2026 | 6:30 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. CST | 7:21 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. EST | 7:19 a.m. to 5:20 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 doe in profile in warm evening lightPhoto: Mary Ellen Urbanski (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) (CC BY 2.0)
Pair of Canada geese landing together on a mudflatPhoto: James Mann (CC BY 2.0)
Eastern cottontail rabbit in green grassPhoto: Frank Doyle (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Woodcock, answered
Is aerial scouting legal for American woodcock?
No manned or unmanned aircraft (drones) to hunt or harass wildlife.
Is road hunting for American woodcock legal?
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.
How is the woodcock limit counted?
For American woodcock the guide reads: 3 daily, 9 possession.
How long does the Kentucky woodcock season run?
Woodcock (Statewide): Oct 24 to Nov 13, 2026; Nov 16 to Dec 9, 2026.
What weapons are legal for American woodcock?
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.
What license do I need to hunt American woodcock?
Annual Hunting $28.54 resident, $169.12 nonresident; Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit $15.86 resident, $15.86 nonresident. See the license band for the complete woodcock list.
Hunter orange and American woodcock: what applies?
During gun and muzzleloader deer seasons (and firearm elk or bear seasons where they run), woodcock hunters must wear unbroken orange visible from every side.
Can American woodcock be hunted at night?
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. Read every woodcock time on the local clock: Kentucky straddles Central and Eastern Time.
Can I hunt American woodcock on a WMA?
American woodcock appear on 6 public areas in the Kentucky land records; each area page lists its own restrictions.
May a woodcock hunter use feed or lures?
area stays baited 10 days after removal; areas manipulated for doves are not legal for waterfowl.