New regulations in place for deer, bear hunters in Kentucky

KENTUCKY (FOX 56) — With more crisp mornings settling in, many Kentuckians might start polishing their hunting rifles and daydream about future times in deer stands.

As 2025—2026 hunting seasons are set to begin, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is encouraging hunters to review its annual hunting and trapping guide.

The conservation department noted that there have been new regulations put in place for deer, bear, dove, and waterfowl hunting. There were also some changes made to public lands announced.

Deer archery season is scheduled to open on Sept. 6, and crossbow season will open a fortnight later on Sept. 20.

Fish and Wildlife announced that an extended youth-only modern gun season has been put in place for 2025. The youth-only gun season originally lasted two days, but it has been expanded to nine days, running from Oct. 11 to 19.

The normal modern gun season, the most popular fall hunting opportunity, according to Fish and Wildlife, will span from Nov. 8 to 23.

“The vast majority of our deer harvest comes from the modern gun season,” said Joe McDermott, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s deer program coordinator. “With the additional youth opportunity, we are looking for more antlerless deer to be harvested, especially in Zone 1 counties. We’ve added a special season for our Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Surveillance Zone counties as well.”

The “special” CWD season is scheduled for Sept. 27-28 for antlerless deer only. This new season is open only in the 14 counties in the CWD Surveillance Zone, with Henderson, Union, and Webster counties being new 2025 additions.

CWD hunters are encouraged to review the hunting and trapping guide as well as the CWD pages on the KY Fish and Wildlife website for complete CWD restriction information. This includes baiting, check station, and CWD sample drop-off site updates.

While squirrel season already kicked off the fall hunting season on Aug. 16 in Kentucky, Fish and Wildlife noted that the season will temporarily close on Nov. 8 to accommodate the modern gun season for deer. Squirrel season will open back up on Nov. 10 and last until Feb. 28.

Meanwhile, bear hunters have additional hunting opportunities this fall. Clinton and Wayne counties are now open to hunting, creating a new Bear Zone 3, according to Fish and Wildlife.

The season will include a hunt with dogs season from Oct. 20-24 and Oct. 30-Nov. 7. Archery and crossbow season will open Sept. 20-Oct. 3 and again on Oct. 25-29. Firearm season will stretch from Dec. 13 to 17.

Dove season opens Sept. 1, affording workers who have the day off in observance of Labor Day the chance to hit the field. Fish and Wildlife announced that a new regulation might affect public land hunters this season. Dove hunters are not allowed to use decoys on department-controlled lands in September.

“The goal of our public dove fields is to provide a safe and quality hunting experience to as many people as we can,” said John Brunjes, waterfowl and migratory bird program coordinator. “Eliminating decoys on our public fields during their busiest time helps to accomplish that.”

Fish and Wildlife is reminding all Kentuckians that residents born after 1972 must be hunter education certified unless they are hunting on their own property.

Schedules for hunter safety courses are available on the Hunter Education webpage. Other educational opportunities are available on the department’s Learn to Hunt webpage.

Anyone with further questions or anyone wanting additional information about fall hunting seasons, contact the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife information center by calling 1-800-858-2549 or emailing Info.Center@ky.gov.

Additional information can be found on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website to view the most current hunting and trapping guides.