Kentucky Revised Statutes
Includes enactments through the 2024 Regular Session
Chapter titles, centered headings, section catchlines, and explanatory notes are for informational purposes only and do not constitute any part of the law. For general laws governing construction of statutes, see KRS Chapter 446.
The KRS database was last updated on 04/25/2025
.010 Definitions for chapter.
.015 Purpose of 1952 Act amending game and fish laws -- Policy of state as to wildlife -- Liberal construction -- Promotion of hunger relief through wildlife management and conservation.
.018 Repealed, 1976.
.020 Repealed, 1944.
.021 Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources -- Administrative attachment to Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet -- Assessment of fee for debt service on radio system capital project -- Department not subject to reorganization.
.022 Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Commission -- Appointment processes and conditions -- Definition of "sportsman."
.023 Meetings and functions of commission.
.024 Power to acquire property -- Condemnation.
.0241 Access to and use of commission-managed lands for hunting -- Duties of commission and other state agencies -- Reports.
.0242 Department procurements -- Applicability of Executive Branch Code of Ethics -- Administrative regulations.
.025 Power of department to make administrative regulations as to game and fish, including seasons and limits -- Inclusion of administrative regulations on department's website.
.026 Repealed, 1966.
.027 Hearing required before promulgation, amendment, or repeal of administrative regulations affecting property owners or occupants of property adjacent to a lake or other real property owned or controlled by the department.
.028 Required administrative regulations.
.030 Repealed, 1944.
.040 Repealed, 1944.
.050 Repealed, 1944.
.060 Repealed, 1944.
.061 Commissioner -- Appointment -- Qualifications -- Term -- Removal -- Compensation -- Oath -- Bond -- Duties -- Annual report -- Authority to appoint additional employees if grant funds available.
.065 Temporary employees.
.070 Repealed, 1944.
.071 Repealed, 1960.
.072 Repealed, 1960.
.080 Repealed, 1960.
.081 Political activity forbidden.
.083 Repealed, 1960.
.090 Commissioner's power and duty to appoint all game wardens considered to be necessary for the efficient administration of the department -- Each game warden is individually vested with the powers of a peace officer in all parts of the state -- Employment contract permitted.
.091 Repealed, 2017.
.092 Consent requirement for entry upon lands of another person -- Private lands incentive programs -- Arrest and citation authority.
.095 Game wardens may bear arms.
.097 Indemnification by the Commonwealth of game warden who is sued in his or her individual capacity and personally suffers financial loss -- Indemnification contingent upon findings that the act or omission which resulted in liability was lawful and proper and within the officer's scope and course of employment -- Indemnification does not abrogate, limit, or constitute a waiver of any privilege, immunity, or matter of defense otherwise available to the game warden.
.100 Execution of process by commissioner, department personnel and persons appointed by commissioner.
.105 Destruction or control of animals causing damage.
.110 Enforcement of law as to mussels.
.120 Seizure and sale of contraband.
.130 County and Commonwealth's attorneys to enforce laws and regulations.
.140 Report and payment of moneys by circuit clerk.
.150 Game and fish fund -- Mussel beds -- Funds for hunger relief -- Accounting and report -- Contribution to Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program.
.152 Report of audit of department by Auditor of Public Accounts.
.160 Disposition of fines.
.165 Nongame fish and wildlife fund.
.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.
.172 Possession and use of firearm for self-defense and defense of others while hunting or trapping -- Exceptions -- Administrative regulations.
.175 Kinds of licenses and tags -- Multiyear licenses or permits.
.176 Repealed, 1986.
.177 Special permit for incorporated nonprofit wildlife conservation organization.
.178 Cooperator permits -- Administrative regulations.
.179 Waiver of license requirement and discounting of licenses or permits for event supporting a recreational activity -- Free-fishing weekend.
.180 Buying, selling, or transporting protected wildlife, mussels and fishes, raw fur, or processed wildlife.
.183 Importing, transporting or possessing endangered species of wildlife.
.185 Repealed, 1968.
.186 Release of hog or pig into the wild prohibited -- Importing, possessing, or transporting wild or feral pig or boar prohibited -- Accidental escape of livestock exempted.
.190 Outfitter license or guide's license.
.195 Design, issuance, and distribution of licenses and permits -- Administrative regulations.
.200 Repealed, 1994.
.210 Repealed, 1994.
.220 Repealed, 1958.
.221 Repealed, 1956.
.225 Prescription of license, permit, and registration fees -- Fiduciary capacity of person who collects, receives, possesses, or manages fees.
.230 Repealed, 1994.
.235 License or permit required -- To be carried on person -- Nonresidents -- Effect of revocation or suspension of license or permit.
.236 Effect of revocation or suspension of license by another jurisdiction in United States or Canada.
.237 Repealed, 1990.
.238 Reciprocal agreements with other states relating to violations of hunting and fishing laws -- Administrative regulations.
.240 Contract for game refuge -- Public or commercial shooting areas.
.250 Contract for wildlife preservation or propagation.
.255 Wetland or stream compensatory mitigation projects -- Mitigation fund -- Purposes.
.260 Wildlife restoration in cooperation with federal government.
.265 Repealed, 1952.
.270 Consent to acquisition by United States of migratory bird reservations.
.275 Permit to take and transport wildlife for commercial nuisance wildlife control, scientific, or educational purposes -- Fees to be set by administrative regulation.
.280 Propagation and holding of protected wildlife -- Permits -- Revocation for violation of state or federal law.
.290 Sale and transportation of wildlife by breeders.
.300 Poaching -- Destroying or defacing signs and notices.
.305 Possession of wildlife or raw fur out of season -- Inspection of commercial frozen food lockers.
.310 Repealed, 1968.
.320 Birds not protected -- Nests and eggs.
.330 Migratory birds -- Waterfowl.
.340 Bag and creel limits -- Limit on possession -- Migratory birds.
.350 Repealed, 1944.
.355 Ferrets.
.360 Restrictions on taking of wildlife -- Discharge of weapon across public roadway prohibited.
.361 Taking game with a firearm during bow season prohibited.
.362 Prohibition against taking wildlife by person under influence of alcohol or controlled substance.
.363 Computer-assisted remote hunting unlawful -- Citizens with disabilities.
.365 Fire, explosives, electric devices, gas, smoke to take wildlife prohibited.
.370 Open season for wildlife -- Exceptions.
.380 Repealed, 1968.
.390 Restrictions on hunting wild elk, deer, wild turkey, or bear -- Depredation permits -- Administrative regulations -- Methods to reduce deer and elk populations that threaten agriculture or health and human safety.
.395 Prohibition against use of artificial light.
.398 Repealed, 1952.
.399 Traps illegally set or used -- Seizure or treatment as contraband.
.400 Traps -- Approval -- Prohibition -- New design.
.410 Tagging of traps -- Visiting trap line -- Protection of domestic animals.
.411 Taxidermist's records -- Mounting.
.4111 Sale of legally taken wildlife.
.4112 Administrative regulations to allow resident nonprofit 501(c)(3) institution to sell donated mounted wildlife specimen.
.4113 Administrative regulations to allow sale and purchase of mounted wildlife specimens -- Recording of sales.
.412 Restriction on commercial guide's participation in taking of wildlife or fish while providing guide services.
.415 Fur buyer -- Receipts for purchases.
.416 Fur processor -- Receipts and inventory.
.417 Nonresident accompanying resident fur buyer -- Presumption from.
.420 Repealed, 1946.
.425 Bounty on beaver.
.430 Repealed, 1946.
.440 Open season and creel limits for rough fish.
.445 Fish not to be taken other than by pole and line near dams.
.450 Use, operation, and possession of certain fishing gear.
.460 Use of certain substances and devices in public waters prohibited -- Use of explosives and firearms prohibited.
.470 Creel and size limits for fish.
.480 Repealed, 1952.
.485 Live fish and bait dealers.
.490 Repealed, 1946.
.500 Repealed, 1968.
.510 Repealed, 1994.
.520 Department may regulate musseling.
.525 License for buying mussel shells or mussels in the shell.
.530 Repealed, 1942.
.540 Repealed, 1942.
.550 Repealed, 1942.
.560 Repealed, 1942.
.570 Repealed, 1942.
.580 Repealed, 1942.
.590 Repealed, 1968.
.600 Regulation of the taking of waterfowl.
.603 Migratory bird/waterfowl permit required -- Exceptions -- Use of revenue generated by sale of migratory bird/waterfowl permit.
.605 Repealed, 2013.
.610 Issuance of revenue bonds for purpose of establishing public shooting areas, wildlife refuges, public fishing lakes or other projects -- Pledging of revenue -- Liens.
.620 Acquisition of lands for establishment and maintenance of public shooting, fishing, and other recreational areas -- Operation of facilities and lands -- Subleasing of land.
.625 Highway construction lakes.
.630 Violations of law pertaining to shooting or hunting preserves -- Cancellation or revocation of license.
.640 Acts of depredation prohibited while hunting, fishing or trapping -- Domestic livestock roaming on department lands prohibited.
.645 Liability of landowner consenting to hunting, fishing, trapping, camping, or hiking on premises -- Claims for property damage by state employees participating in wildlife management practices.
.650 Repealed, 1992.
.660 Establishment of pay lakes, authority of commissioner concerning -- Stocking requirement -- Permits -- Revocation of license.
.670 Repealed, 1992.
.680 Concurrent criminal jurisdiction of portions of Trigg and Lyon Counties within boundaries of Land Between the Lakes ceded to United States.
.690 Wrongfully entering park and injuring or killing deer, elk or buffalo -- Treble damages.
.700 Destroying private fish pond -- Treble damages.
.710 Intentional obstruction of lawful taking of wildlife.
.720 Administrative regulations relating to cervids -- Costs resulting from importation of diseased animal.
.722 Authorized methods of disposal of cervid carcass material and waste by cervid meat processors, butchers or meat processors, and licensed taxidermists.
.725 Definitions for KRS 150.725 to 150.735.
.730 Permits to hold captive cervids -- Amendments to existing holding and fencing requirements -- Duties of department.
.735 Placement of primary containment fence -- Expansion of captive cervid facility -- Transfer of permits -- Violation of captive cervid law or regulation -- Rights and potential penalties.
.740 Ban on live Cervidae importation except under certain conditions -- Penalties -- Reports on chronic wasting disease to be submitted to Interim Joint Committees annually -- Authority of department to seize captive cervids -- Hearing -- Appeal.
.990 Penalties.
.991 Repealed, 1975.
.992 Repealed, 1988.
.993 Repealed, 1988.
.995 Violations for which additional restitution shall be paid to department.
.999 Prepayment of fines subject to certain conditions.