Title 301 | Chapter 002 | Regulation 225
SUPERSEDED
This document is no longer current.
301 KAR 2:225.Dove, wood duck, teal, and other migratory game bird hunting.
Section 1.
Definitions.(1)
"Dove" means mourning dove or white-winged dove.(2)
"Migratory game bird" means mourning dove, white-winged dove, wood duck, teal, Canada goose, common gallinule, woodcock, snipe, purple gallinule, Virginia rail, or sora rail.(3)
"Teal" means green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, or cinnamon teal.(4)
"Wildlife Management Area" or "WMA" means a tract of land:(a)
Controlled by the department through ownership, lease, license, or cooperative agreement; and(b)
That has "Wildlife Management Area" or "WMA" as part of its official name.Section 2.
Season Dates.(1)
A person shall not hunt a migratory game bird except during a season established in this administrative regulation.(2)
The seasons established in paragraphs (a) through (g) of this subsection shall apply to migratory bird hunting.(a)
Dove, beginning on:1.
September 1 for fifty-six (56) consecutive days;2.
Thanksgiving Day for eleven (11) consecutive days; and3.
The Saturday before Christmas for twenty-three (23) consecutive days;(b)
Woodcock, beginning on the fourth Saturday in October for forty-seven (47) consecutive days, except that the season shall be closed during the first two (2) days of modern gun deer season, as established in 301 KAR 2:172;(c)
Snipe, beginning on:1.
The third Wednesday in September for forty (40) consecutive days; and2.
Thanksgiving Day for sixty-seven (67) consecutive days;(d)
Wood duck, beginning on the third Saturday in September for five (5) consecutive days;(e)
Teal, beginning on the third Saturday in September for nine (9) consecutive days;(f)
Virginia rail, sora rail, common gallinule, and purple gallinule, beginning on September 1 for seventy (70) consecutive days; and(g)
Canada goose, beginning September 16 for fifteen (15) consecutive days except that the areas established in subparagraphs 1. and 2. of this paragraph shall be closed.1.
Public land in the Ballard Zone, as established in 301 KAR 2:224; and2.
Cave Run Lake and the public land inside the boundary formed by Highways 801, 1274, 36, 211, U.S. 60, and Highway 826.Section 3.
Bag and Possession Limits.(1)
A person shall not exceed the limits established in paragraphs (a) through (h) of this subsection.(a)
Dove. There shall be a:1.
Daily limit of fifteen (15); and2.
Possession limit of forty-five (45).(b)
Eurasian collared dove. There shall not be a limit, except that a hunter, if in the field or during transport, shall keep the head or a fully-feathered wing attached to the bird.1.
The head; or2.
A fully-feathered wing.(c)
Woodcock. There shall be a:1.
Daily limit of three (3); and2.
Possession limit of nine (9).(d)
Snipe. There shall be a:1.
Daily limit of eight (8); and2.
Possession limit of twenty-four (24).(e)
Virginia and sora rail, singly or in aggregate. There shall be a:1.
Daily limit of twenty-five (25); and2.
Possession limit of seventy-five (75).(f)
Common and purple gallinule, singly or in aggregate. There shall be a:1.
Daily limit of three (3); and2.
Possession limit of nine (9).(g)
Wood duck and teal. There shall be a:1.
Daily limit of six (6), which shall not include more than two (2) wood ducks; and2.
Possession limit of eighteen (18), which shall not include more than six (6) wood ducks.(h)
Canada goose. There shall be a:1.
Daily limit of five (5); and2.
Possession limit of fifteen (15).(2)
A hunter who possesses a migratory game bird other than a dove, in the field or during transport, shall keep the head or a fully-feathered wing attached to the bird.(a)
The head; or(b)
A fully-feathered wing.Section 4.
Shooting Hours. A person shall not take a migratory game bird except during the times established in this section.(1)
If hunting dove on WMA land, a person shall hunt:(a)
Between 11 a.m. and sunset during the September and October portion of the season, as established in Section 2 of this administrative regulation; and(b)
Between one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise and sunset during the remainder of the season, as established in Section 2 of this administrative regulation.(2)
If hunting dove on private land, a person shall hunt:(a)
Between 11 a.m. and sunset on September 1; and(b)
Between one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise and sunset during the remainder of the season, as established in Section 2 of this administrative regulation.(3)
Other species listed in this administrative regulation shall be taken between one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise and sunset.Section 5.
Shot Requirements. A person hunting waterfowl shall not use or possess a shotgun shell:(1)
Longer than three and one-half (3 1/2) inches; or(2)
Containing:(a)
Lead shot;(b)
Shot not approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service pursuant to 50 C.F.R. Parts 20 and 21 for waterfowl hunting; or(c)
Shot larger than size "T".Section 6.
Hunter Orange. A person shall be exempt from hunter orange requirements pursuant to 301 KAR 2:132 and 2:172 if:(1)
Hunting waterfowl or doves; or(2)
Accompanying a person hunting waterfowl or doves.Section 7.
Exceptions to Statewide Migratory Game Bird Seasons on Specified Wildlife Management Areas.(1)
A person shall not:(a)
Hunt wood duck or teal on an area closed to waterfowl hunting as established in 301 KAR 2:222;(b)
Hunt in an area marked by a sign as closed to hunting; or(c)
Enter an area marked by a sign as closed to the public.(2)
A person hunting migratory birds on any of the areas established in paragraphs (a) through (k) of this subsection shall only use or possess nontoxic shot approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service pursuant to 50 C.F.R. Parts 20 and 21:(a)
Ballard WMA;(b)
Boatwright WMA;(c)
Doug Travis WMA;(d)
Duck Island WMA;(e)
Kaler Bottoms WMA;(f)
Kentucky River WMA;(g)
Ohio River Islands WMA;(h)
Sloughs WMA;(i)
South Shore WMA;(j)
Yatesville Lake WMA; and(k)
A WMA wetland management unit that is posted by sign.(3)
At Ballard WMA and the Swan Lake Unit of Boatwright WMA, a person shall not hunt:(a)
Dove, Virginia rail, sora rail, common gallinule, purple gallinule, or snipe after October 13; or(b)
Woodcock.(4)
At Miller Welch - Central Kentucky WMA, a person shall not hunt:(a)
Dove or snipe after October 13; or(b)
Woodcock.(5)
At Grayson Lake WMA, a person shall not hunt:(a)
Within three-quarters (3/4) of a mile from the dam including the no-wake zone of the dam site marina;(b)
On Deer Creek Fork; or(c)
On Camp Webb property or the state park, except for participants drawn for any department-sponsored quota dove hunt on Camp Webb property in September.(6)
At Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, a person shall not hunt a migratory game bird between the last Saturday in September and November 30.(7)
At West Kentucky WMA, a person shall not hunt Canada geese during the September season.(8)
At Yatesville Lake, the following areas shall be closed to waterfowl hunting, unless authorized by Yatesville Lake State Park:(a)
The Greenbrier Creek embayment; and(b)
The lake area north of the mouth of the Greenbrier Creek embayment to the dam, including the island.(9)
At Robinson Forest WMA, a person shall not hunt a migratory game bird on the main block of the WMA.Section 8.
Youth-Mentor Dove Hunts.(1)
There shall be department-sponsored youth-mentor dove hunts on the first Saturday in September in which participants shall be selected by a random computerized drawing.(2)
A youth shall:(a)
Apply on the department's Web site at fw.ky.gov between the first Monday in August and the third Friday in August; and(b)
Carry a department provided selection notification letter on the day of the hunt.(3)
Each youth shall be accompanied by an adult who is eighteen (18) years or older.(4)
At the youth-mentor hunts:(a)
Each youth shall not be accompanied by more than one (1) adult;(b)
One (1) adult may accompany two (2) youths; and(c)
A maximum of two (2) shotguns are allowed per party.(5)
A person shall:(a)
Hunt within fifteen (15) feet of the assigned location stake; and(b)
Not change locations unless another location has been vacated by the assigned hunter.(6)
A person shall only discharge a firearm within fifteen (15) feet of the assigned location stake.(7)
A person shall leave their firearm at the assigned location stake when retrieving birds.(8)
A hunter participating in youth-mentor hunts shall:(a)
Check-in prior to hunting;(b)
Not begin hunting before 2 p.m.;(c)
Cease hunting by 7 p.m.;(d)
Exit the area by 7:30 p.m.; and(e)
Check out before exiting the field.HISTORY: (22 Ky.R. 1174; eff. 2-12-1996; 23 Ky.R. 2536; 2972; eff. 2-12-1997; 24 Ky.R. 1359; 1670; eff. 2-17-1998; 25 Ky.R. 1095; eff. 1-19-1999; 26 Ky.R. 1190; 1534; eff. 2-14-2000; 28 Ky.R. 1683; 2017; eff. 3-18-2002; 29 Ky.R. 1319; eff. 1-16-2003; 30 Ky.R. 995; eff. 1-5-2004; 31 Ky.R. 826; eff. 1-4-2005; 33 Ky.R. 1111; eff. 12-7-2006; 34 Ky.R. 1113; eff. 2-1-2008; 35 Ky.R. 1005; eff. 1-5-2009; 36 Ky.R. 965; 1199; eff. 12-11-2009; 37 Ky.R. 1029; eff. 1-3-2011; 38 Ky.R. 821; eff. 1-6-2012; 39 Ky.R. 838; eff. 1-4-2013; 40 Ky.R. 653; 1045; eff. 11-7-2013; 41 Ky.R. 859; eff. 1-5-2015; 42 Ky.R. 1325; eff. 1-4-2016; 42 Ky.R. 2944; eff. 8-4-2016; 43 Ky.R. 2199; eff. 8-3-201; 45 Ky.R. 752, 1184; eff. 12-7-2018.)
301 KAR 2:225.Dove, wood duck, teal, and other migratory game bird hunting.
Section 1.
Definitions.(1)
"Dove" means mourning dove or white-winged dove.(2)
"Migratory game bird" means mourning dove, white-winged dove, wood duck, teal, Canada goose, common gallinule, woodcock, snipe, purple gallinule, Virginia rail, or sora rail.(3)
"Teal" means green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, or cinnamon teal.(4)
"Wildlife Management Area" or "WMA" means a tract of land:(a)
Controlled by the department through ownership, lease, license, or cooperative agreement; and(b)
That has "Wildlife Management Area" or "WMA" as part of its official name.Section 2.
Season Dates.(1)
A person shall not hunt a migratory game bird except during a season established in this administrative regulation.(2)
The seasons established in paragraphs (a) through (g) of this subsection shall apply to migratory bird hunting.(a)
Dove, beginning on:1.
September 1 for fifty-six (56) consecutive days;2.
Thanksgiving Day for eleven (11) consecutive days; and3.
The Saturday before Christmas for twenty-three (23) consecutive days;(b)
Woodcock, beginning on the fourth Saturday in October for forty-seven (47) consecutive days, except that the season shall be closed during the first two (2) days of modern gun deer season, as established in 301 KAR 2:172;(c)
Snipe, beginning on:1.
The third Wednesday in September for forty (40) consecutive days; and2.
Thanksgiving Day for sixty-seven (67) consecutive days;(d)
Wood duck, beginning on the third Saturday in September for five (5) consecutive days;(e)
Teal, beginning on the third Saturday in September for nine (9) consecutive days;(f)
Virginia rail, sora rail, common gallinule, and purple gallinule, beginning on September 1 for seventy (70) consecutive days; and(g)
Canada goose, beginning September 16 for fifteen (15) consecutive days except that the areas established in subparagraphs 1. and 2. of this paragraph shall be closed.1.
Public land in the Ballard Zone, as established in 301 KAR 2:224; and2.
Cave Run Lake and the public land inside the boundary formed by Highways 801, 1274, 36, 211, U.S. 60, and Highway 826.Section 3.
Bag and Possession Limits.(1)
A person shall not exceed the limits established in paragraphs (a) through (h) of this subsection.(a)
Dove. There shall be a:1.
Daily limit of fifteen (15); and2.
Possession limit of forty-five (45).(b)
Eurasian collared dove. There shall not be a limit, except that a hunter, if in the field or during transport, shall keep the head or a fully-feathered wing attached to the bird.1.
The head; or2.
A fully-feathered wing.(c)
Woodcock. There shall be a:1.
Daily limit of three (3); and2.
Possession limit of nine (9).(d)
Snipe. There shall be a:1.
Daily limit of eight (8); and2.
Possession limit of twenty-four (24).(e)
Virginia and sora rail, singly or in aggregate. There shall be a:1.
Daily limit of twenty-five (25); and2.
Possession limit of seventy-five (75).(f)
Common and purple gallinule, singly or in aggregate. There shall be a:1.
Daily limit of three (3); and2.
Possession limit of nine (9).(g)
Wood duck and teal. There shall be a:1.
Daily limit of six (6), which shall not include more than two (2) wood ducks; and2.
Possession limit of eighteen (18), which shall not include more than six (6) wood ducks.(h)
Canada goose. There shall be a:1.
Daily limit of five (5); and2.
Possession limit of fifteen (15).(2)
A hunter who possesses a migratory game bird other than a dove, in the field or during transport, shall keep the head or a fully-feathered wing attached to the bird.(a)
The head; or(b)
A fully-feathered wing.Section 4.
Shooting Hours. A person shall not take a migratory game bird except during the times established in this section.(1)
If hunting dove on WMA land, a person shall hunt:(a)
Between 11 a.m. and sunset during the September and October portion of the season, as established in Section 2 of this administrative regulation; and(b)
Between one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise and sunset during the remainder of the season, as established in Section 2 of this administrative regulation.(2)
If hunting dove on private land, a person shall hunt:(a)
Between 11 a.m. and sunset on September 1; and(b)
Between one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise and sunset during the remainder of the season, as established in Section 2 of this administrative regulation.(3)
Other species listed in this administrative regulation shall be taken between one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise and sunset.Section 5.
Shot Requirements. A person hunting waterfowl shall not use or possess a shotgun shell:(1)
Longer than three and one-half (3 1/2) inches; or(2)
Containing:(a)
Lead shot;(b)
Shot not approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service pursuant to 50 C.F.R. Parts 20 and 21 for waterfowl hunting; or(c)
Shot larger than size "T".Section 6.
Hunter Orange. A person shall be exempt from hunter orange requirements pursuant to 301 KAR 2:132 and 2:172 if:(1)
Hunting waterfowl or doves; or(2)
Accompanying a person hunting waterfowl or doves.Section 7.
Exceptions to Statewide Migratory Game Bird Seasons on Specified Wildlife Management Areas.(1)
A person shall not:(a)
Hunt wood duck or teal on an area closed to waterfowl hunting as established in 301 KAR 2:222;(b)
Hunt in an area marked by a sign as closed to hunting; or(c)
Enter an area marked by a sign as closed to the public.(2)
A person hunting migratory birds on any of the areas established in paragraphs (a) through (k) of this subsection shall only use or possess nontoxic shot approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service pursuant to 50 C.F.R. Parts 20 and 21:(a)
Ballard WMA;(b)
Boatwright WMA;(c)
Doug Travis WMA;(d)
Duck Island WMA;(e)
Kaler Bottoms WMA;(f)
Kentucky River WMA;(g)
Ohio River Islands WMA;(h)
Sloughs WMA;(i)
South Shore WMA;(j)
Yatesville Lake WMA; and(k)
A WMA wetland management unit that is posted by sign.(3)
At Ballard WMA and the Swan Lake Unit of Boatwright WMA, a person shall not hunt:(a)
Dove, Virginia rail, sora rail, common gallinule, purple gallinule, or snipe after October 13; or(b)
Woodcock.(4)
At Miller Welch - Central Kentucky WMA, a person shall not hunt:(a)
Dove or snipe after October 13; or(b)
Woodcock.(5)
At Grayson Lake WMA, a person shall not hunt:(a)
Within three-quarters (3/4) of a mile from the dam including the no-wake zone of the dam site marina;(b)
On Deer Creek Fork; or(c)
On Camp Webb property or the state park, except for participants drawn for any department-sponsored quota dove hunt on Camp Webb property in September.(6)
At Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, a person shall not hunt a migratory game bird between the last Saturday in September and November 30.(7)
At West Kentucky WMA, a person shall not hunt Canada geese during the September season.(8)
At Yatesville Lake, the following areas shall be closed to waterfowl hunting, unless authorized by Yatesville Lake State Park:(a)
The Greenbrier Creek embayment; and(b)
The lake area north of the mouth of the Greenbrier Creek embayment to the dam, including the island.(9)
At Robinson Forest WMA, a person shall not hunt a migratory game bird on the main block of the WMA.Section 8.
Youth-Mentor Dove Hunts.(1)
There shall be department-sponsored youth-mentor dove hunts on the first Saturday in September in which participants shall be selected by a random computerized drawing.(2)
A youth shall:(a)
Apply on the department's Web site at fw.ky.gov between the first Monday in August and the third Friday in August; and(b)
Carry a department provided selection notification letter on the day of the hunt.(3)
Each youth shall be accompanied by an adult who is eighteen (18) years or older.(4)
At the youth-mentor hunts:(a)
Each youth shall not be accompanied by more than one (1) adult;(b)
One (1) adult may accompany two (2) youths; and(c)
A maximum of two (2) shotguns are allowed per party.(5)
A person shall:(a)
Hunt within fifteen (15) feet of the assigned location stake; and(b)
Not change locations unless another location has been vacated by the assigned hunter.(6)
A person shall only discharge a firearm within fifteen (15) feet of the assigned location stake.(7)
A person shall leave their firearm at the assigned location stake when retrieving birds.(8)
A hunter participating in youth-mentor hunts shall:(a)
Check-in prior to hunting;(b)
Not begin hunting before 2 p.m.;(c)
Cease hunting by 7 p.m.;(d)
Exit the area by 7:30 p.m.; and(e)
Check out before exiting the field.HISTORY: (22 Ky.R. 1174; eff. 2-12-1996; 23 Ky.R. 2536; 2972; eff. 2-12-1997; 24 Ky.R. 1359; 1670; eff. 2-17-1998; 25 Ky.R. 1095; eff. 1-19-1999; 26 Ky.R. 1190; 1534; eff. 2-14-2000; 28 Ky.R. 1683; 2017; eff. 3-18-2002; 29 Ky.R. 1319; eff. 1-16-2003; 30 Ky.R. 995; eff. 1-5-2004; 31 Ky.R. 826; eff. 1-4-2005; 33 Ky.R. 1111; eff. 12-7-2006; 34 Ky.R. 1113; eff. 2-1-2008; 35 Ky.R. 1005; eff. 1-5-2009; 36 Ky.R. 965; 1199; eff. 12-11-2009; 37 Ky.R. 1029; eff. 1-3-2011; 38 Ky.R. 821; eff. 1-6-2012; 39 Ky.R. 838; eff. 1-4-2013; 40 Ky.R. 653; 1045; eff. 11-7-2013; 41 Ky.R. 859; eff. 1-5-2015; 42 Ky.R. 1325; eff. 1-4-2016; 42 Ky.R. 2944; eff. 8-4-2016; 43 Ky.R. 2199; eff. 8-3-201; 45 Ky.R. 752, 1184; eff. 12-7-2018.)