Kentucky Administrative Regulations
Title 301 - TOURISM, ARTS AND HERITAGE CABINET - DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES
Chapter 2 - Game
Section 301 KAR 2:122 - Seasons, methods, and limits for small game
Universal Citation: 301 KY Admin Regs Service 2:122
Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, March 1, 2024
RELATES TO: KRS 150.340, 150.360, 150.370, 150.990
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 150.025(1) authorizes the department to promulgate administrative regulations to establish seasons for the taking of wildlife, to regulate bag limits and methods of take, and to make these requirements apply to a limited area. This administrative regulation establishes seasons, bag limits, and methods of take for small game.
Section 1. Definitions.
(1) "Eastern Zone" means the third through
the ninth wildlife districts as established in
301 KAR 4:010.
(2) "Grouse Zone" means the area consisting
of Adair, Bath, Bell, Boyd, Bracken, Breathitt, Campbell, Carter, Clark, Clay,
Clinton, Cumberland, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Garrard, Greenup, Harlan,
Harrison, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie,
Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, McCreary, Madison, Magoffin, Martin, Mason, Menifee,
Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Owsley, Pendleton, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski,
Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Russell, Wayne, Whitley, and Wolfe
Counties.
(3) "Modern gun deer
season" means the season as established in
301 KAR 2:172.
(4) "Rabbit" means an eastern cottontail
rabbit, swamp rabbit, or Appalachian cottontail rabbit.
(5) "Small game" means squirrels, rabbits,
northern bobwhite, or ruffed grouse.
(6) "Squirrel" means a gray squirrel or fox
squirrel.
(7) "Western Zone" means
the first and second wildlife districts as established in
301 KAR 4:010.
Section 2. Methods of Harvest for Small Game.
(1) A person shall use any of the
following to take small game:
(a) Rimfire gun
or rimfire handgun;
(b) Shotguns no
larger than 10-gauge;
(c)
Muzzle-loading gun;
(d) ..410-gauge
handgun;
(e) Bow and
arrow;
(f) Crossbow;
(g) The following caliber air-guns with
pellets:
1. ;.177;
2. ;.20;
3. ;.22; or
4. ;.25;
(h) Slingshot with manufactured hunting
ammunition;
(i) Dogs;
(j) Falconry, pursuant to
301 KAR 2:195; or
(k) Trapping, pursuant to Section 5 of this
administrative regulation, for:
1. Rabbits;
or
2. Squirrel.
(2) A person shall not
use the following to take small game:
(a) A
shotgun shell containing a shot size larger than number two (2); or
(b) Single projectile shotgun
ammunition.
Section 3. Small Game Hunting Seasons.
(1) Except as established in
301 KAR 2:049, a person shall not
take small game except during the dates specified in this section.
(2) Small game taken by falconry: September 1
through March 30.
(3) Squirrel:
(a) The third Saturday in May through the
third Friday in June; and
(b) The
third Saturday in August through the last day of February, except the season
shall be closed during the first two (2) days of modern gun deer
season.
(4) Rabbit and
northern bobwhite:
(a) Western Zone: the third
day of modern gun deer season through February 10.
(b) Eastern Zone: November 1 until January
31, except the season shall be closed during the first two (2) days of modern
gun deer season.
(5)
Ruffed Grouse: November 1 through the last day of February in the Grouse Zone,
except the season shall be closed during the first two (2) days of modern gun
deer season.
(6) There shall not be
a closed season for chasing rabbits during daylight hours for sport and not to
kill.
(7) Free youth week. For
seven (7) consecutive days beginning on the Saturday after Christmas, a youth
may take small game without a hunting or trapping license, but shall be in
compliance with all other statewide requirements.
Section 4. Limits and Other Requirements.
(1) The small game possession limits shall be
twice the daily bag limits.
(2)
Daily bag limits:
(a) Squirrel: six
(6);
(b) Rabbit: four
(4);
(c) Northern bobwhite: eight
(8); and
(d) Ruffed grouse: four
(4).
(3) A falconer
hunting outside any of the dates specified in Section 3(3) and (4) of this
administrative regulation shall not take more than two (2) small game animals
per day.
(4) A person shall hunt
small game during daylight hours only.
Section 5. Trapping for Squirrel and Rabbit. A person trapping for squirrel or rabbit shall:
(1) Comply with the requirements established
in 301 KAR 2:251;
(2) Only trap when the small game hunting
season and trapping season overlap;
(3) Possess a trapping license;
(4) Comply with daily bag and possession
limits pursuant to Section 4 of this administrative regulation; and
(5) Harvest squirrel and rabbits upon
capture, except for a person possessing a valid captive wildlife permit,
pursuant to
301 KAR 2:081.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 150.025(1)
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Kentucky may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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