Laws and regulations

Kentucky waterfowl laws

Licenses, stamps, hours, limits and public-land rules, in plain English.

Last checked Oct 22, 2026
This is a summary in plain English, not legal advice. Rules change, and the official text always wins. Check the official regulations linked beside each rule before you hunt. Every rule below was last checked on Oct 22, 2026.

Official sources used on this page (all checked Oct 22, 2026)

Page numbers below are the guide's printed page numbers.

1. What you need to carry (licenses, stamps, permits)

Residents 16–64 [KY-1 p.2–3] checked Oct 22, 2026

  • Hunting license: Annual Hunting ($28.54) or 1-Day Hunting ($7.40, not valid for deer, elk, turkey or bear). The Combination Hunting/Fishing License is $44.39. [KY-1 p.2–3] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit: $15.86. Required of anyone who needs a hunting license, for any migratory bird. Every sportsman's license includes it (Resident Sportsman's License, $100.42). [KY-1 p.2–3] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Federal Duck Stamp: everyone over 15, including license-exempt hunters and people hunting their own land. $25 (e-Stamp sold at fw.ky.gov; paper stamps at post offices). Sign a paper stamp before going afield. [KY-1 p.2–3] [FED-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • The e-Stamp is valid from purchase through June 30; carry the digital or printed certificate. The physical stamp is mailed after March 10. [KY-1 p.3] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • HIP survey (mandatory): before hunting, complete the 5-minute HIP survey at fw.ky.gov under "My Profile," then "HIP Migratory Bird Survey." Write the confirmation number on your hunting license or Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit. This applies even on your own land. [KY-1 p.3, 6, 18] checked Oct 22, 2026

Seniors and disabled residents: residents 65 and older, and qualifying disabled residents and veterans, carry the Senior/Disabled (or Senior Lifetime Sportsman's) license plus the Federal Duck Stamp when hunting anywhere but their own property. [KY-1 p.3] checked Oct 22, 2026

Youth [KY-1 p.3] checked Oct 22, 2026

  • Under 12: no license or permit needed. [KY-1 p.3] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Ages 12–15: a Youth Hunting License ($6.34 resident, $10.57 nonresident). No Federal Duck Stamp or state Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit needed. [KY-1 p.2–3] checked Oct 22, 2026

Nonresidents 16 and up [KY-1 p.2–3] checked Oct 22, 2026

  • Annual Hunting ($169.12), 1-Day Hunting ($26.43) or 7-Day Hunting ($68.71), plus the Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit ($15.86) and the Federal Duck Stamp. Nonresident licenses and permits must be bought. [KY-1 p.2–3] checked Oct 22, 2026

Area permits [KY-1 p.2, 11, 14] [KY-5] checked Oct 22, 2026

  • Ballard WMA: 1-Day Waterfowl Permit, bought online before your hunt. [KY-1 p.2, 11, 14] [KY-5] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Peabody WMA user permit: needed to enter the area for any purpose. Same $15 vs $15.86 mismatch. [KY-1 p.2, 14] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Land Between The Lakes: LBL Hunter Use Permit, $25. [KY-1 p.14] [KY-5] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Clarks River NWR: refuge hunt permit at 16 and up ($14; $4 for 65+ and military/veterans). [KY-6] checked Oct 22, 2026

Light Goose Conservation Order (Feb 16–Mar 31, 2027): a free permit from fw.ky.gov or 1-800-858-1549, on top of a current Kentucky hunting license, state Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit and Federal Duck Stamp. Report your hunting activity by Apr 10, 2027. [KY-1 p.8, 10] checked Oct 22, 2026

  • ⚠ The guide's text section prints the Conservation Order dates as "Feb. 16–March 31, 2026"; its season table says 2027. We use the table. [KY-1 p.8, 10] checked Oct 22, 2026

2. Hunter education

  • Who needs it: everyone born on or after Jan 1, 1975 must carry proof of hunter-education certification or the one-time hunter education exemption permit. [KY-1 p.3] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Hunters who don't need a hunting license (under 12) are exempt, but must be with an adult 18 or older who can take immediate control of the gun. [KY-1 p.3] checked Oct 22, 2026

3. 2026-27 season dates (statewide; no duck zones)

SeasonDatesSource
Teal and wood duck (closed)Sept 19–23, 2026[KY-1 p.8] checked Oct 22, 2026
September Canada goose, Western Zone (closed)Sept 1–15, 2026[KY-1 p.8–9] checked Oct 22, 2026
September Canada goose, Eastern Zone (closed)Sept 16–30, 2026[KY-1 p.8–9] checked Oct 22, 2026
Youth-only waterfowl daysNov 21, 2026; Feb 13, 2027[KY-1 p.8] [KY-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
Military and veteran-only waterfowl daysNov 22, 2026; Feb 14, 2027[KY-1 p.8] [KY-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
Ducks, coots, mergansersNov 26–29; Dec 7, 2026–Jan 31, 2027[KY-1 p.8] [KY-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
Canada/cackling, white-fronted and snow geese, brantNov 26, 2026–Feb 15, 2027[KY-1 p.8] [KY-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
Light Goose Conservation OrderFeb 16–Mar 31, 2027[KY-1 p.8] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Closed during the September Canada goose season: Cave Run Lake area, public lands in the Ballard Zone and West Kentucky WMA. [KY-1 p.9] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Cave Run goose closure: no goose hunting on public lands or waters inside the block bounded by KY 801, KY 1274, KY 36, KY 211, US 60 and KY 826. [KY-1 p.9, 12] checked Oct 22, 2026

Youth days [KY-1 p.10] checked Oct 22, 2026

  • Youth must be under 16 on the hunt day and with an adult who can take immediate control of the gun. An adult who isn't hunting needs no license or waterfowl permits. [KY-1 p.10] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Adults can't hunt waterfowl on the November youth day. On the February youth day, adults with a youth may hunt geese because goose season is still open. [KY-1 p.10] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Ballard WMA requires the 1-day permit for every participant, hunting or not. [KY-1 p.10] checked Oct 22, 2026

Military and veteran days [KY-1 p.9–10] checked Oct 22, 2026

  • Veterans discharged other than dishonorably and active-duty members. Guard and reservists qualify only on active duty. Carry proof of status. [KY-1 p.9–10] checked Oct 22, 2026

4. Daily bag and possession limits

Ducks: 6 a day. That can include no more than: [KY-1 p.8] [KY-2] checked Oct 22, 2026

Scaup: 1 a day Nov 26–29 and Dec 7–17; 2 a day Dec 18–Jan 31. [KY-1 p.8] [KY-2] checked Oct 22, 2026

Other daily limits [KY-1 p.8] [KY-2] checked Oct 22, 2026

  • Mergansers: 5 (no more than 2 hooded), on top of the duck limit [KY-1 p.8] [KY-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Coots: 15 (45 in possession) [KY-1 p.8] [KY-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Teal and wood duck season (closed): 6, no more than 2 wood ducks [KY-1 p.8] [KY-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Dark geese: 5 combined, no more than 3 Canada/cackling geese, 2 white-fronted geese and 1 brant [KY-1 p.8] [KY-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Snow and Ross's geese: 20 a day, 60 in possession. No limit during the Conservation Order. [KY-1 p.8] [KY-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Youth and veteran days: same as the regular season, except the scaup limit is 2. [KY-1 p.8] checked Oct 22, 2026

Possession limit: triple the daily limit. It covers birds from two or more days of hunting and doesn't allow a double limit in the field. [KY-1 p.8] checked Oct 22, 2026

5. Shooting hours

  • Regular seasons: a half hour before sunrise to sunset. [KY-1 p.8] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Light Goose Conservation Order: a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset. [KY-1 p.8, 10] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • WMAs: a half hour before sunrise to sunset unless the guide's public-hunting section says otherwise. Many WMAs close shooting at 2 p.m. and bar entry before 4 a.m., including Ballard, Big Rivers, Blackford Oaks, Boatwright, Cedar Creek Lake, Clear Creek, Dix River, Doug Travis, Green River Lake, Harris-Dickerson, J.C. Williams, Kaler Bottoms, Kentucky River, Obion Creek, Ohio River Islands (Stewart Island), Peabody, Sloughs, Taylorsville Lake and Yellowbank. [KY-1 p.8, 11–15] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Clarks River NWR: access two hours before sunrise; hunting ends and hunters are out of the field by noon. [KY-6] checked Oct 22, 2026

6. Guns and shot

  • Shot: USFWS-approved nontoxic shot no larger than size T is required for all waterfowl hunting. You may not have larger shot or shells longer than 3.5 inches while hunting waterfowl. [KY-1 p.8] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Possessing or using any lead shot while hunting waterfowl is banned statewide. Nontoxic shot is also required for all migratory birds on Ballard, Boatwright, Doug Travis, Duck Island, Kaler Bottoms, Kentucky River, Ohio River Islands, Sloughs, South Shore and Yatesville Lake WMAs and Clarks River NWR. [KY-1 p.6] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Gun: shotgun no larger than 10 gauge, plugged to 3 shells; no capacity limit during the Conservation Order. [KY-1 p.4, 10] [FED-1 §20.21] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Ballard Zone: blinds (boats included) at least 100 yards apart and 50 yards from any property line; no more than one uncased or loaded shotgun per hunter in the blind. [KY-1 p.9] checked Oct 22, 2026

7. Banned methods

  • Recorded or electrically amplified calls: banned, except during the Snow Goose Conservation Order. [KY-1 p.4, 10] [FED-1 §20.21(g)] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Bait: no hunting over a baited area; it stays baited for 10 days after the bait is removed. Fields manipulated for dove hunting are not legal for waterfowl hunting. [KY-1 p.4–5, 9] [FED-1 §20.21(i)] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Also banned: live decoys; sinkboxes; hunting from a motor vehicle or aircraft (paraplegics and single or double leg amputees may shoot from a stationary vehicle); driving or rallying birds with a vehicle or boat. [KY-1 p.4] [FED-1 §20.21] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Motorized or spinning-wing decoys for ducks: no ban found in the guide. (Motorized decoys are banned on public dove fields before Oct 1.) Not confirmed (check the official source) [KY-1 p.6] checked Oct 22, 2026

8. Boats and motors

  • Shooting from a boat: only after the motor is completely shut off and/or sails furled and the boat has stopped. [KY-1 p.4] [FED-1 §20.21(e)] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Boatwright WMA: boats under 22 ft, idle speed only; from Dec 1 only that day's drawn hunters may boat, and boats must be off the water by 2 p.m. [KY-1 p.12] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Sloughs WMA, Jenny Hole unit: closed to all boats from Thanksgiving through the last Sunday in January except permit holders. [KY-1 p.15] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Lake Barkley: boating is allowed but hunting is banned on and within 200 yards of Duck Island, Oct 15–Mar 15. [KY-1 p.13] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Boater education requirements: Not confirmed for this page (check the official source) checked Oct 22, 2026

9. WMA and public-land rules

General WMA rules (unless the guide says otherwise) [KY-1 p.10] checked Oct 22, 2026

  • No permanent blinds unless permitted. [KY-1 p.10] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Decoys and temporary blinds come out at the end of each day (parties on a multi-day hunt may leave decoys). [KY-1 p.10] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Hunting parties: 4 people at most. [KY-1 p.10] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Designated recreation areas and access points are closed to waterfowl hunting. [KY-1 p.10] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • No shooting within 100 yards of a residence or occupied building. [KY-1 p.10] checked Oct 22, 2026

Season-long blind drawings (Barkley Lake, Barren River Lake, Doug Travis and Green River Lake) [KY-1 p.10] checked Oct 22, 2026

  • Applicants must be 18 and show a Kentucky hunting license, Kentucky waterfowl permit and Federal Duck Stamp at the drawing. Each drawn hunter may name one partner, who must be at the drawing. [KY-1 p.10] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • 2026 drawing dates (all passed): Doug Travis Aug 29, Lake Barkley Sept 21, Green River Lake Sept 26, Barren River Lake Oct 3. [KY-1 p.10] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Blinds must be built by Nov 20 and removed within 30 days after the season. Blinds may not be locked. A site not occupied one hour before sunrise is open to others first come, first served. [KY-1 p.10] checked Oct 22, 2026

Quota hunts [KY-1 p.11–12, 14–16] [KY-3] checked Oct 22, 2026

  • Ballard WMA: quota-only Oct 15–Mar 15, Wednesday–Sunday in the second duck segment. Applications Sept 1–30 (closed). Check in by 5 a.m. Central at 864 Wildlife Lodge Rd, La Center; stand-by drawing at 5 a.m. Up to 3 guests; off the area by 2 p.m.; 25 shells per person. [KY-1 p.11–12, 14–16] [KY-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Boatwright WMA: online applications Wednesday–Sunday for the following week; Monday drawing assigns units. Check in at 362 Broadway St, Barlow before 4:45 a.m. Central. You can't enter stand-by drawings at both Ballard and Boatwright the same day. [KY-1 p.11–12, 14–16] [KY-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Sloughs WMA: Sauerheber (Crenshaw and Duncan) quota applications Sept 1–30 (closed), with email check-in the Sunday before. Jenny Hole weekly drawing Mondays 6 p.m. CST at the WMA office during duck season. Walk-in hunting on Grassy Pond–Powell's Lake and Highland Creek. [KY-1 p.11–12, 14–16] [KY-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Minor Clark and Pfeiffer fish hatcheries: mentor/youth hunts Jan 2–3, 9–10, 16–17, 23–24 and 30–31, 2027. Apply online Nov 1–15. Youth under 16 with a mentor 18 or older; mobility-impaired hunters may also apply. 15 shells each; hunting ends at noon. [KY-1 p.11–12, 14–16] [KY-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Doug Travis mobility-impaired blinds (13 and 19): applications were taken in September. [KY-1 p.11–12, 14–16] [KY-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Preference points: applicants who aren't drawn, or who choose "do not hunt," get 1 point a year. Breaking quota hunt rules costs your points and makes you ineligible the next year. [KY-1 p.13] checked Oct 22, 2026

Refuges and closures (selection) [KY-1 p.11–16] checked Oct 22, 2026

  • Ohio River at Ballard WMA (50 yards above to 50 yards below the WMA): closed to waterfowl hunting Oct 15–Mar 15. [KY-1 p.11–16] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Lake Barkley WMA refuges: west of the main channel between river miles 51 and 55.5, closed Nov 1–Feb 15; west of a line from Fulton Bay to Honker Bay, closed Nov 1–Mar 15. [KY-1 p.11–16] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Land Between The Lakes: Long Creek Pond, the eastern third of Smith Bay and the eastern two-thirds of Duncan Bay are closed Nov 1–Mar 15. No permanent blinds inland or on the Kentucky Lake shoreline. [KY-1 p.11–16] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Peabody WMA: refuge tracts on the Sinclair and Ken units closed Oct 15–Mar 15. [KY-1 p.11–16] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Designated goose refuge lakes in the western coalfields: closed to all waterfowl hunting. [KY-1 p.11–16] checked Oct 22, 2026

Clarks River NWR [KY-6] checked Oct 22, 2026

  • State seasons and limits apply, except the managed Waterfowl Units and Natural Area Units, which are lottery-only. Lottery applications ran Sept 1–Oct 15; winners must claim permits by Nov 15; leftovers open Nov 18 at noon. [KY-6] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Portable, temporary blinds only; decoys removed daily (except lottery holders); nontoxic shot only. [KY-6] checked Oct 22, 2026

10. Wanton waste, tagging and transport

  • Wanton waste: make a reasonable effort to retrieve every bird you kill and keep it with you in the field. [KY-1 p.4–5] [FED-1 §20.25] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Tagging: birds left with someone else or anywhere other than your home need a tag with your signature, address, number of birds by species and the date killed. [KY-1 p.4–5] [FED-1 §20.36] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Transport: keep the head or one fully feathered wing attached until the birds reach your home or a processor. [KY-1 p.4–5] [FED-1 §20.43] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Shipping: packages must be marked with the sender, the recipient and the count by species. [KY-1 p.5] [FED-1 §20.44] checked Oct 22, 2026

11. Reciprocity (Ohio and Mississippi rivers, Kentucky and Barkley lakes)

  • No waterfowl hunting reciprocity agreement with Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee or West Virginia appears in the 2026–27 KDFWR guide. The Kentucky–Missouri agreement KDFWR publishes is a fishing license agreement, and Tennessee's guide lists its Kentucky reciprocal waters as fishing only. Not confirmed (check the official source). Until an agency confirms otherwise, carry the license of the state where you are hunting. checked Oct 22, 2026
  • The Ballard Zone boundary runs to the middle of the Mississippi River and along the low-water mark of the Ohio on the Illinois shore. [KY-1 p.9] checked Oct 22, 2026

12. Penalties

  • Not confirmed (check the official source) No waterfowl-specific penalty amounts appear in the KDFWR pages checked. Breaking quota hunt rules bars you from quota hunts the following year. [KY-1 p.13, 16] checked Oct 22, 2026

FAQ

  • When does Kentucky duck season open in 2026? Nov 26, 2026. It runs Nov 26–29, then Dec 7, 2026–Jan 31, 2027, statewide. [KY-1 p.8] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Do I need HIP to duck hunt in Kentucky? Yes. Complete the free HIP survey under "My Profile" at fw.ky.gov before hunting and write the confirmation number on your license or permit. [KY-1 p.3] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Do kids need a duck stamp in Kentucky? Not under 16. Ages 12–15 need a youth hunting license only; under 12 need nothing. [KY-1 p.3] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • What time does shooting end on Kentucky WMAs? Many, including Ballard, Boatwright, Doug Travis, Sloughs and Peabody, close at 2 p.m. Check each area. [KY-1 p.11–15] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • What is the biggest shot I can use for ducks in Kentucky? Nontoxic shot no larger than T, in shells no longer than 3.5 inches. [KY-1 p.8] checked Oct 22, 2026

This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. The official regulations are the final word.

See something wrong or out of date? Report a correction.