2025-26 Fishing and Hunting Licenses and Permits Available

 Licenses and permits are now available for fishing, hunting, and trapping in Kentucky for the upcoming license year, starting March 1. Kentucky's fields, woods, and waterways offer opportunities for both avid outdoor enthusiasts and newcomers. 

The 2025-2026 license year starts Saturday, March 1, and runs through February 28 of next year. License and permit fees for Kentucky residents remain unchanged from the 2024-2025 license year, which ends on Friday, and most non-resident fees will also remain the same. 

In Kentucky, a basic hunting or fishing license covers many species, while additional state permits are required for specific species such as trout fishing or hunting for migratory birds, deer, wild turkey, or black bear. Sportsmen's-type licenses include multiple permits and basic hunting and fishing privileges. 

For the 2025-2026 license year, prices for four non-resident options reflect a moderate fee increase: 
 Annual Hunting License (nonresident) - $160 
 Spring Turkey Permit (non-resident) - $110 
 Fall Turkey Permit (non-resident) - $110 
 Deer Permit (non-resident) - $235 

Introduced last year, the resident Senior Lifetime Sportsman's License is still priced at $180. It includes hunting and fishing licenses plus permits for trout, deer, spring and fall turkey, migratory game birds, and waterfowl. It is available to Kentucky residents aged 65 and older, who can purchase it once and carry an electronic copy or reprint each year to display the current license year. 

Seniors in Kentucky can still purchase an annual Senior Sportsman's License that provides the same licenses and permits for the license year for $12. Resident anglers can purchase an annual Fishing License for $23 or a 3-year Fishing License for added convenience and value at $55. 

Licenses and permits are sold online through Kentucky Fish and Wildlife's License Sales portal. They are also available at agent locations across the state, with a list of agents by county on the department's website. 

The department receives its primary funding from revenue generated by the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, and federal excise taxes from the sale of recreational firearms, ammunition, archery gear, and fishing equipment. 

Springtime offers many opportunities to introduce someone new to the field. Youth turkey weekend is April 5-6, and the main turkey season opens a week later, on April 12. The Youth Sportsman's License, available to residents ages 12-15, costs $30 and covers turkey and deer hunting. 

For information on hunting and fishing basics, visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website, which offers resources for those new to the sports. In-person classes, such as Hook and Cook or Field to Fork, are offered across the state. 

Anglers from the central United States come to Kentucky for its waters, including the state's renowned trout fishery in the Cumberland River and the crappie fishery in Kentucky and Barkley lakes. Kentucky is also a top destination nationally for deer hunting and has the largest elk herd east of the Rocky Mountains. The application period for a 2025 elk hunt runs through April 30. 

For more information about hunting and fishing opportunities in Kentucky, visit the department's website at fw.ky.gov. For questions, call 1-800-858-1549, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. weekdays, excluding holidays.