Kentucky Whitetail Hunting
Plan your Kentucky whitetail hunt with season dates, license options, and hunting opportunities organized by unit. Browse available private-land hunts and book access directly from landowners.
Last updated by Aricin Rotarius
Find Hunts by Unit
Browse private-land whitetail hunts across Kentucky, organized by unit, and book directly with landowners.
Kentucky Whitetail Seasons
These dates represent the “general” season dates. Check the individual hunting unit regulations for the most accurate season dates and regulations.
Only Gun Season October
–
Youth hunters
Begins on the second Saturday in October for nine days. Youth hunters may take deer with firearms or any other legal method statewide. Hunting license and deer permits required for ages 12-15. Youth younger than 12 not required to have hunting license or deer permit. Youth may harvest antlered or antlerless deer regardless of zone but must abide by all bag limits.
Free Hunting Weekend
–
Youth hunters
First weekend following Christmas. Resident and nonresident youth 15 years of age and younger, accompanied by an adult, may hunt deer with firearms or any other legal method statewide without a hunting license or deer permit. Youth may harvest antlered or antlerless deer regardless of zone but must abide by all bag limits.
Archery
–
Crossbow
–
Archery · Youth and senior hunters
Youth and Senior crossbow season. Same dates for both Early and Late seasons.
Crossbow
–
Archery · Youth and senior hunters
Youth and senior hunters. Same dates for both early and late season zones.
Crossbow
–
Archery
Same dates for both Early and Late seasons.
Crossbow
–
Archery
Same dates for both early and late season zones.
Cwd Surveillance Zone Special Modern Gun Antlerless
–
Rifle
Special modern gun season for antlerless deer only in CWD Surveillance Zone counties. All hunters in the surveillance zone, including archery and crossbow hunters, may only take antlerless deer (does and button bucks). Hunters may not take antlered deer by any method during this special season. Hunters must wear orange. Applies to 23 counties: Casey, Henderson, Laurel, Lincoln, McCreary, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Union, Wayne, Webster, Whitley, and others. West Kentucky WMA and Reelfoot Lake NWR are closed to this season. Big Rivers WMA and State Forest Union County portion open, firearms permitted, mandatory CWD testing required.
Special
–
Visit fw.ky.gov for details. Same dates for both Early and Late seasons.
Special Season Cwd Surveillance Zone
–
CWD Surveillance Zone counties only: two-day hunt; antlerless only using firearm, bow or crossbow; antlered deer may not be taken during this season by any method. See CWD section for sampling requirements.
Only Gun
–
Rifle · Youth hunters
Early Muzzleloader
–
Early season muzzleloader dates.
Muzzleloader Early
–
Early muzzleloader season.
Modern Gun
–
Rifle
Late Muzzleloader
–
Late season muzzleloader dates.
Muzzleloader Late
–
Late muzzleloader season.
Free Weekend
–
Youth hunters
Kentucky Whitetail Licenses
Resident Licenses
| License | Availability | Eligibility | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Additional Deer Permit (Resident) | OTC | — | $15.86 |
Two deer. Not included with a Sportsman's License. | |||
| Deer Permit (Resident) | OTC | — | $37.00 |
Statewide, four deer. | |||
| Youth Deer Permit (Resident) | OTC | Ages 12–15; Youth hunters | $10.57 |
Ages 12-15. Four deer. | |||
Nonresident Licenses
| License | Availability | Eligibility | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Additional Deer Permit (Nonresident) | OTC | — | $15.86 |
Two deer. Not included with a Sportsman's License. | |||
| Deer Permit (Nonresident) | OTC | — | $248.40 |
Statewide, four deer. | |||
| Youth Deer Permit (Nonresident) | OTC | Ages 12–15; Youth hunters | $15.86 |
Ages 12-15. Four deer. | |||
Frequently Asked Questions
Kentucky's approximate whitetail season dates vary by method. Archery begins September 6, 2025, and runs through January 19, 2026; crossbow dates vary by hunter eligibility and generally run from September or September 20 through January 19. A CWD Surveillance Zone antlerless-only modern gun hunt runs September 27–28, followed by an October 11–19 youth gun hunt, October 18–19 early muzzleloader season, November 8–23 modern gun season, December 13–21 late muzzleloader season, and December 27–28 free hunting weekend. Check the current zone rules and license requirements before hunting.
See the latest Field Notes from properties offering whitetail hunts in Kentucky.
