← Kentucky hunting laws›Legal Hunting Hours

Kentucky Legal Hunting Hours (2026)

Info: In Kentucky, shooting hours for most species are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset; waterfowl, migratory birds, raccoon and coyote are exceptions.

InfoVerified Jun 18, 2026

Hunting rules change at the state line — and in your state.Track them in the free LawLert iPhone app: it alerts you when you cross into a state where they differ, and when they change in your state. No account.Get the app

Official source: fw.ky.gov →

Kentucky legal hunting hours by date

The rule above (most species): 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, worked out from each place’s own sunrise and sunset. Start times are rounded up and end times down to the minute.

Legal hunting hours for Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort	Start (EDT)	End (EDT)
Sat, Oct 17	7:21 AM	7:28 PM
Sun, Oct 18	7:22 AM	7:27 PM
Mon, Oct 19	7:23 AM	7:25 PM
Tue, Oct 20	7:24 AM	7:24 PM
Wed, Oct 21	7:25 AM	7:23 PM
Thu, Oct 22	7:26 AM	7:21 PM
Fri, Oct 23	7:27 AM	7:20 PM
Sat, Oct 24	7:28 AM	7:19 PM
Sun, Oct 25	7:29 AM	7:18 PM
Mon, Oct 26	7:30 AM	7:16 PM
Tue, Oct 27	7:31 AM	7:15 PM
Wed, Oct 28	7:32 AM	7:14 PM
Thu, Oct 29	7:33 AM	7:13 PM
Fri, Oct 30	7:34 AM	7:12 PM

Sunrise moves about 4 minutes for every 50 miles east or west, so times where you hunt can differ from Frankfort. Seasons, species, special areas and Sundays can have their own hours — check the official source before you hunt. Sunday hunting in Kentucky

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Legal Hunting Hours in states bordering Kentucky

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

IllinoisInfo
In Illinois, deer hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: dnr.illinois.gov · Full Illinois rule →
IndianaInfo
In Indiana, deer hunting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: in.gov · Full Indiana rule →
MissouriInfo
In Missouri, general legal hunting hours are from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: mdc.mo.gov · Full Missouri rule →
OhioInfo
In Ohio, deer hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: ohiodnr.gov · Full Ohio rule →
TennesseeInfo
In Tennessee, big game and small game may be taken from 30 minutes before legal sunrise to 30 minutes after legal sunset, and spring turkey from 30 minutes before sunrise to legal sunset.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: tn.gov · Full Tennessee rule →
VirginiaInfo
In Virginia, nonmigratory birds and game animals may be hunted from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Spring turkey has separate hours.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: dwr.virginia.gov · Full Virginia rule →
West VirginiaInfo
In West Virginia, deer and bear may be taken from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, and spring turkey from 30 min before sunrise to 1 p.m. Check the regulations for species-specific variations.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: wvdnr.gov · Full West Virginia rule →

Don't get caught off guardCross into a state where this law is different and the free iPhone app tells you what changed, even with the app closed. It also alerts you when a law you track changes where you live. No account.Get the free app

Track this law — get alerted when it changes

We watch the official sources behind Kentucky hunting rules. If a tracked rule changes, you get one short email — never more than one a week. Free, unsubscribe anytime.