KY’s reciprocal fishing, waterfowl hunting agreements back in place

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Officials with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) say anglers and waterfowl hunters can once again use their Kentucky resident licenses to fish or hunt certain waters shared with neighboring states, as new reciprocal agreements with several bordering states took effect October 16.

Officials say Kentucky finalized the agreements with several bordering states to allow each state’s resident anglers and waterfowl hunters to utilize shared waters using the license from their home state.

“We’re blessed here in the Commonwealth – and across our neighboring states – with so many great places to get out and enjoy the outdoors,” Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Commissioner Rich Storm said. “We’re extremely proud of these new agreements because they make it easier for our valued license holders and our neighbors to get out there and take advantage of all the opportunities our shared waters have to offer.”

KDFWR officials say reciprocal fishing agreements include the Ohio River, Mississippi River, Kentucky Lake, Dale Hollow Lake, the Big South Fork of Cumberland River, the Big Sandy River and Tug Fork River. Reciprocal waterfowl hunting agreements include the Big Sandy and Tug Fork rivers bordering West Virginia, and the section of the Ohio River bordering Indiana and Ohio.

“Some of our previous reciprocal agreements were more than a decade old and in need of revision, so staff at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources worked closely with six other states this spring to craft new ones,” Storm said. “We made this a priority to complete.”

According to KDFWR, under the agreements:

• Residents can now fish or waterfowl hunt in the listed reciprocal waters using a license from their own state.
• Hunters and anglers must follow regulations and season dates of the state in which they are licensed in these waters; however, if hunting or fishing from the bank, they must follow the regulations of that state.
• Anglers fishing the Mississippi River bordering Missouri should note different rules apply; see the fishing section for more information.
• Agreements only cover the main stem of a river; hunters or anglers utilizing an embayment or a tributary off the main stem of the river must be licensed for that state and must obey the regulations of that state.
• Embayments and tributaries are defined as a straight line between opposite points where the tributary or embayment connects with the main body of a river.
• Kentucky law requires resident hunters and anglers utilizing reciprocal waters to have a Kentucky-issued license.

“With duck and goose seasons opening November 27, we were anxious to lock down these agreements in time for waterfowl hunters to take advantage of them,” he said. “We’ve accomplished that goal.”

Officials say reciprocal agreements for waterfowl hunting on waters bordering Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia were also renewed. Under these agreements, a Kentucky-licensed waterfowl hunter may hunt the main stem of the Ohio River bordering Indiana and Ohio, and the Tug Fork and Big Sandy rivers bordering West Virginia.

KDFWR notes Kentucky-licensed hunters must follow Kentucky’s regulations and season dates when hunting waters included in the agreements. However, if hunting off the West Virginia, Ohio or Indiana bank, hunters must follow the season dates and regulations of those states.

Officials say for waters not covered by the reciprocal agreements, hunters and anglers should follow the regulations and license requirements of whatever state in which they are hunting or fishing.

More information may be found by visiting the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website here.