Section 150.170 - Requirement of hunting, fishing, trapping, or guide's license - Exceptions - Killing of wildlife causing damage - Reporting requirements - Reciprocity with adjoining states - Exception for active duty or reserve members on military property - Exemption from live-fire hunter education course component for military or peace officers(1) Except as provided in the following subsections of this section, and subject to administrative regulations promulgated under this chapter, no person, resident, or nonresident shall do any act authorized by any kind of license or permit or assist in any way any person in doing any act provided for in this chapter with respect to wildlife unless he or she holds the kind of license or permit, resident or nonresident, that authorizes the act. It shall be the specific purpose of this chapter to prohibit the taking or pursuing of any wildlife, protected or unprotected, or the fishing in any stream or body of water whether public or private, without first procuring the license provided for in KRS 150.175, except to the extent as may be otherwise provided in this section.(2) A person under sixteen (16) years of age may, without a sport fishing license, take fish by angling, or take minnows by the use of a minnow seine, minnow trap, or dip net.(3) A person under twelve (12) years of age shall be exempt from being required to obtain a sport hunting or sport trapping license as required by this chapter.(4) The resident owner of farmlands or his or her spouse or dependent children shall, without procuring any sport hunting or sport fishing licenses, have the right to take fish or hunt during the open season, except trapping, on farmlands of which they are bona fide owners. Tenants or their dependent children residing upon these farmlands shall have the same privilege.(5) Residents or nonresidents observing and participating in field trials, training exercises, or other competitions as authorized by the department may observe and participate without obtaining a hunting or guide's license so long as game is not taken.(6) Any resident serviceman on furlough of more than three (3) days in this state may, without any Kentucky sport hunting or sport fishing licenses, do any act authorized by the licenses, but while so doing he or she shall carry on his or her person proper identification and papers showing his or her furlough status.(7) Landowners, their spouses or dependent children, or their designee who must be approved by the commissioner, who kill or trap on their lands any wildlife causing damage to the lands or any personal property situated thereon shall not be required to have a hunting or trapping license and may do so during periods other than the open season for the particular species without a tag and dispose of the carcass on-site. Tenants, their spouses, their dependent children, or other persons approved by the commissioner, shall also have the same privilege. Upon destruction of any wildlife by the above-specified individuals, the act shall be reported to a game warden within twenty-four (24) hours of the kill. Individuals wishing to transport the carcass from the property upon which it was killed shall contact personnel of the department to request a disposal tag or other authorization. Inedible parts from wildlife taken under the authorization of this section shall not be utilized for any purpose and shall be destroyed or left afield. The department shall promulgate administrative regulations establishing procedures for the designee appointment process, including request and approval deadlines.(8) If a reciprocal agreement is entered into by the commissioner, with the approval of the commission, and promulgated as an administrative regulation by the department and similar action is taken by the appropriate authority in Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio, or Illinois, persons holding a resident or nonresident fishing or a resident or nonresident hunting license issued in these states shall be permitted to perform the acts authorized by the license upon certain contiguous waters and land areas adjacent to the common boundaries of the above-mentioned states and the State of Kentucky. A resident of the State of Kentucky shall purchase a proper Kentucky license to conform with the reciprocal agreement.(9) Any member of the Kentucky Army or Air National Guard, active duty or Reserve Component, in any branch in the United States Armed Forces that is based in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, shall have the right to take fish or hunt on any military property belonging to the Commonwealth without procuring any sport hunting or sport fishing license.(10) A person not otherwise exempted from hunter safety education or from procuring any sport hunting or sport fishing license shall be exempt from the department-sanctioned live-fire exercise component of the hunter education course requirement if he or she: (a) Is a current member of the Armed Forces of the United States;(b) Has served in the Armed Forces of the United States and was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable; or(c) Is a peace officer certified pursuant to KRS 15.380 to 15.404.Amended by 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 159,§ 14, eff. 7/15/2024.Amended by 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 2,§ 1, eff. 2/29/2024.Amended by 2023 Ky. Acts ch. 139,§ 17, eff. 3/29/2023.Amended by 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 142,§ 1, eff. 7/13/2022.Amended by 2014 Ky. Acts ch. 19,§ 1, eff. 7/15/2014.Effective:6/8/2011
Amended 2011, Ky. Acts ch. 12, sec. 1, effective6/8/2011. -- Amended 2008, Ky. Acts ch. 42, sec. 1, effective 7/15/2008. -- Amended 2002, Ky. Acts ch. 173, sec. 1, effective 7/15/2002. -- Amended 1998, Ky. Acts ch. 274, sec. 1, effective 3/1/1999. -- Amended 1996, Ky. Acts ch. 112, sec. 1, effective 7/15/1996; and ch. 133, sec. 1, effective 7/15/1996. -- Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 181, sec. 99, effective 4/4/1994. - Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 353, sec. 1, effective 7/14/1992. -- Amended 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 40, sec. 1, effective 7/13/1990; and ch. 90, sec. 1, effective 7/13/1990. -- Amended 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 7, sec. 1, effective 7/15/1986; ch. 265, sec. 7, effective 7/15/1986; and ch. 273, sec. 1, effective 7/15/1986. -- Amended 1984 Ky. Acts ch. 320, sec. 1, effective 7/13/1984. -- Amended 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 386, sec. 29. -- Amended 1972 Ky. Acts ch. 273, sec. 2. -- Amended 1970 Ky. Acts ch. 92, sec. 27. -- Amended 1968 Ky. Acts ch. 38, sec. 7; and ch. 95, sec. 1. -- Amended 1966 Ky. Acts ch. 256, sec. 1. -- Amended 1956 Ky. Acts ch. 115, sec. 10. -- Amended 1952 Ky. Acts ch. 200, sec. 24. -- Amended 1948 Ky. Acts ch. 78, sec. 7. -- Amended 1946 Ky. Acts ch. 84, sec. 2. -- Amended 1944 Ky. Acts ch. 110, sec. 1; and ch. 124, sec. 2. -- Amended 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 68, sec. 17. -- Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective 10/1/1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 1954d-13.