Kentucky Statutes 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 memb…
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(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 of five (5) or more acres 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 five (5) or more acres 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 conservation officer 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 KRS § 15.404.
Effective: March 29, 2023
History: Amended 2023 Ky. Acts ch. 139, sec. 17, effective March 29, 2023. — Amended 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 142, sec. 1, effective July 14, 2022. — Amended 2014
Ky. Acts ch. 19, sec. 1, effective July 15, 2014. — Amended 2011 Ky. Acts ch. 12, sec. 1, effective June 8, 2011. — Amended 2008 Ky. Acts ch. 42, sec. 1, effective July 15, 2008. — Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 173, sec. 1, effective July 15, 2002. — Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 274, sec. 1, effective March 1, 1999. — Amended 1996
Ky. Acts ch. 112, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1996; and ch. 133, sec. 1, effective July
15, 1996. — Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 181, sec. 99, effective April 4, 1994. –
Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 353, sec. 1, effective July 14, 1992. — Amended 1990
Ky. Acts ch. 40, sec. 1, effective July 13, 1990; and ch. 90, sec. 1, effective July 13,
1990. — Amended 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 7, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1986; ch. 265, sec.
7, effective July 15, 1986; and ch. 273, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1986. — Amended
1984 Ky. Acts ch. 320, sec. 1, effective July 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 October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 1954d-13.
(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.
Terms Used In Kentucky Statutes 150.170
- Action: includes all proceedings in any court of this state. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
- Administrative regulation: means a written regulation promulgated, pursuant to
KRS Chapter 13A, by the commissioner with the approval of the commission. See Kentucky Statutes 150.010 - Angling: means the taking or attempting to take fish by hook and line in hand, rod in hand, jugging, setline, or sport fishing trotline. See Kentucky Statutes 150.010
- Commission: means the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Commission. See Kentucky Statutes 150.010
- Commissioner: means the commissioner of the Department of Fish and Wildlife
Resources. See Kentucky Statutes 150.010 - Conservation officer: means any member of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Law Enforcement Division, pursuant to KRS §. See Kentucky Statutes 150.010
- Department: means the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. See Kentucky Statutes 150.010
- Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
- Fishing: means to take or attempt to take in any manner, whether the fisherman has fish in possession or not. See Kentucky Statutes 150.010
- Hunting: means to take or attempt to take in any manner, whether the hunter has game in possession or not. See Kentucky Statutes 150.010
- License: means any document issued by the department authorizing its holder to perform acts authorized by the license and includes any other form of authorization
in addition to or in lieu of an actual document which may be authorized by the department by administrative regulation. See Kentucky Statutes 150.010 - Minnows: means all fish under six (6) inches in length, except basses, either largemouth, smallmouth or Kentucky. See Kentucky Statutes 150.010
- Nonresident: means a person who has not established a permanent domicile in this state and has not resided in this state for thirty (30) days immediately prior to his or her application for a license. See Kentucky Statutes 150.010
- Owner: when applied to any animal, means any person having a property interest in such animal. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
- Permit: means any document issued by the department authorizing its holder to perform acts authorized by the permit and includes tags or devices as evidence of holding a permit and includes any other form of authorization in addition to or in lieu of an actual document authorized by the department by administrative regulation. See Kentucky Statutes 150.010
- Personal property: All property that is not real property.
- Resident: means any person who has established permanent domicile and legal residence and has resided in this state for thirty (30) days immediately prior to his or her application for a license. See Kentucky Statutes 150.010
- State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes territories, outlying possessions, and the District of Columbia. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
- Take: includes pursue, shoot, hunt, wound, catch, kill, trap, snare, or capture wildlife in any way and any lesser act designed to lure, attract, or entice for these purposes. See Kentucky Statutes 150.010
- Transport: means to carry, move, or ship wildlife from one (1) place to another. See Kentucky Statutes 150.010
- Wildlife: means any normally undomesticated animal, alive or dead, including without limitations any wild mammal, bird, fish, reptile, amphibian, or other terrestrial or aquatic life, whether or not possessed in controlled environment, bred, hatched, or born in captivity and including any part, product, egg, or offspring thereof, protected or unprotected by this chapter. See Kentucky Statutes 150.010
(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 of five (5) or more acres 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 five (5) or more acres 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 conservation officer 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 KRS § 15.404.
Effective: March 29, 2023
History: Amended 2023 Ky. Acts ch. 139, sec. 17, effective March 29, 2023. — Amended 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 142, sec. 1, effective July 14, 2022. — Amended 2014
Ky. Acts ch. 19, sec. 1, effective July 15, 2014. — Amended 2011 Ky. Acts ch. 12, sec. 1, effective June 8, 2011. — Amended 2008 Ky. Acts ch. 42, sec. 1, effective July 15, 2008. — Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 173, sec. 1, effective July 15, 2002. — Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 274, sec. 1, effective March 1, 1999. — Amended 1996
Ky. Acts ch. 112, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1996; and ch. 133, sec. 1, effective July
15, 1996. — Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 181, sec. 99, effective April 4, 1994. –
Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 353, sec. 1, effective July 14, 1992. — Amended 1990
Ky. Acts ch. 40, sec. 1, effective July 13, 1990; and ch. 90, sec. 1, effective July 13,
1990. — Amended 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 7, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1986; ch. 265, sec.
7, effective July 15, 1986; and ch. 273, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1986. — Amended
1984 Ky. Acts ch. 320, sec. 1, effective July 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 October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 1954d-13.