301 Ky. Admin. Regs. 2:228

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 6, December 1, 2024

Section 301 KAR 2:228 - Sandhill crane hunting requirements

RELATES TO: KRS 150.010, 150.305, 150.340, 150.990

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 150.025(1) authorizes the department to promulgate administrative regulations to establish open seasons for the taking of wildlife and to regulate bag limits. KRS 150.170(3)(4) authorizes license exemptions for people under twelve (12) and resident owners of farmlands, including their spouses and dependent children who hunt on those farmlands. KRS 150.330 authorizes take and possession of migratory birds when in compliance with the provisions of the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and authorizes hunting of migratory birds with the appropriate permits. KRS 150.603(2) requires a person sixteen (16) years or older to possess a hunting license and a Kentucky migratory game bird and waterfowl permit in order to hunt migratory birds. This administrative regulation establishes the requirements for taking sandhill cranes within reasonable limits and within the frameworks established by 50 C.F.R. Parts 20 and 21.

Section 1. Definitions.

(1) "Crane" means a sandhill crane.

(2) "Wildlife Management Area" or "WMA" means a tract of land that:

(a) Is controlled by the department through ownership, lease, license, or cooperative agreement; and

(b) Has "Wildlife Management Area" or "WMA" as part of its official name.

Section 2. Applications and Permits.

(1) To apply for a crane hunting permit a person shall:

(a) Complete the online application process, not more than once per calendar year, on the department's Web site at fw.ky.gov between September 1 and September 30;

(b) Possess a valid hunting license by September 30, unless the applicant is license exempt as established in KRS 150.170; and

(c) Pay a three (3) dollar application fee.

(2) The department shall:

(a) Rank each applicant with a random electronic draw from all qualified applicants;

(b) Issue a crane hunting permit and one (1) crane tag to all ranked applicants up to the maximum number of crane tags allowed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for that season, as established in 50 C.F.R. 20, except that if the number of applicants:

1. Exceeds the maximum number of tags, then those applicants ranking higher than the maximum will not receive a permit; and

2. Is less than the maximum number of tags available, then the additional tags will be assigned to applicants in the order of ranking until all tags are assigned;

(c) Issue each permit via the department's Web site at fw.ky.gov;

(d) Issue the appropriate number of metal leg tags to each permit recipient prior to the crane hunting season; and

(e) Disqualify an applicant who does not possess a hunting license prior to September 30, unless the applicant is license exempt as established in KRS 150.170.

(3) A person who does not have access to the internet may call the department's toll-free number at 1-800-858-1549 for assistance in applying.

(4) A crane hunting permit shall not be transferable.

(5) A person selected to receive a permit shall pass a bird identification test provided by the department prior to receiving a permit.

(6) A permit recipient shall complete and submit a post-season crane hunting survey on the department's website no later than fourteen (14) days after the close of the season.

(7) A person who fails to complete the post-season survey by the date specified in subsection 6 of this section shall be ineligible to be drawn the following year.

Section 3. Season, Bag Limits, and Hunting Requirements.

(1) Unless license exempt as established in KRS 150.170, a person shall not hunt a crane without a:

(a) Valid Kentucky hunting license;

(b) Valid Kentucky crane hunting permit; and

(c) Kentucky migratory game bird and waterfowl permit.

(2) A permit recipient shall possess a printed copy of a valid crane hunting permit:

(a) While crane hunting; and

(b) When in possession of a harvested crane.

(3) The season shall be from December 7 through January 31.

(4) The bag limit shall be:

(a) Two (2) cranes daily for permit holders with two (2) or more crane tags; or

(b) One (1) crane for permit holders with one (1) tag.

(5) A person shall only hunt cranes from sunrise to sunset.

(6) A person who has harvested a crane shall attach a department-issued metal tag to the leg of the crane prior to moving the carcass.

(7) A person shall check a harvested crane on the day the crane is harvested by:

(a) Calling 800-245-4263 and providing the information requested by the automated check-in system; or

(b) Completing the check-in process on the department's Web site at fw.ky.gov; and

(c) Recording and retaining the check-in confirmation number for the rest of the current season.

(8) A hunter who has harvested a crane shall possess the check-in confirmation number when in the field during the current season.

(9) A person shall not knowingly falsify the harvest of a crane on the automated check-in system.

(10) A person hunting cranes shall not use or possess a shotgun shell containing:

(a) Lead shot; or

(b) Shot not approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for waterfowl hunting.

(11) A person shall not use the following to take cranes:

(a) A shotgun larger than ten (10) gauge;

(b) A shotgun shell larger than three and one-half (3 1/2) inches; or

(c) A shotgun shell with shot larger than size "T".

(12) A person hunting a crane on a Wildlife Management Area shall comply with the applicable WMA waterfowl hunting requirements, as established in 301 KAR 2:222, except that on:

(a) Barren River WMA crane hunting shall be prohibited within 100 yards of the normal summer pool level of 552 feet in the embayments established in subparagraphs 1. through 3. of this paragraph:

1. Beaver Creek;

2. Peters Creek; and

3. Skaggs Creek; and

(b) Green River Lake, crane hunting shall be prohibited within 100 yards of the normal summer pool level of 675 feet, east of the Hwy 551 bridge in the embayments established in subparagraphs 1. and 2. of this paragraph:

1. Green River to the Snake Creek Boat Ramp; and

2. Casey Creek to the Hwy 76 bridge.

301 KAR 2:228

38 Ky.R. 168; 789; eff. 11-3-2011; 44 Ky.R. 2380; 45 Ky.R. 341; eff. 8-6-2018; 47 Ky.R. 2469; eff. 8-5-2021; 49 Ky.R. 1350, 1764; eff. 5/30/2023.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 150.025(1), 150.170(3), (4), 150.330, 150.603(2), 50 C.F.R. 20, 21