37 S.

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Daniel Boone National Forest

2026-27 season.

Check before you hunt. Confirm these dates in Kentucky Public Lands Hunting 2026-27. Seasons, closures and area rules can change.

Deer

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Archery and crossbow: Sep 5 – Jan 18
  • Youth: Oct 10–18, Dec 26–27
  • Muzzleloader: Oct 17–18, Dec 12–20
  • Modern firearms: Nov 14–29

In the guide: “Deer - Archery/Crossbow, Muzzleloader, Modern Gun, Youth Gun: Open under statewide regulations”

Bear

Sep 19 – Oct 2, Oct 24–28

Follows the statewide season (zone 3 archery/crossbow Sep 19 – Oct 2, Oct 24–28), archery only.

In the guide: “Bear: Open under statewide regulations (Wayne County, Bear Zone 3); bear hunting with dogs is not allowed”

Oct 24–26

Follows the statewide season (zone 1 archery/crossbow Oct 24–26), archery only.

In the guide: “Bear: Open under statewide regulations (Harlan and McCreary counties, Bear Zone 1); bear hunting with dogs is not allowed”

Oct 24–28

Follows the statewide season (zone 2 archery/crossbow Oct 24–28), archery only.

In the guide: “Bear: Open under statewide regulations (Bear Zone 2 counties); bear hunting with dogs is not allowed”

Dec 12–14

Follows the statewide season (zone 1 firearm Dec 12–14), firearms only.

In the guide: “Bear: Open under statewide regulations (Harlan and McCreary counties, Bear Zone 1); bear hunting with dogs is not allowed”

Dec 12–16

Follows the statewide season (zone 2 firearm Dec 12–16), firearms only.

In the guide: “Bear: Open under statewide regulations (Bear Zone 2 counties); bear hunting with dogs is not allowed”

Dec 12–16

Follows the statewide season (zone 3 firearm Dec 12–16), firearms only.

In the guide: “Bear: Open under statewide regulations (Wayne County, Bear Zone 3); bear hunting with dogs is not allowed”

Elk

Follows the statewide seasons. Quota hunt.

  • Bull firearms: Sep 26–30, Oct 3–7
  • Cow firearms: Nov 28 – Dec 2, Jan 2–6
  • Archery/crossbow: Sep 12–25, Dec 5–11

In the guide: “Elk Quota: Portions open during quota elk hunts to persons who possess the appropriate elk hunting permit.”

Turkey

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Archery: Sep 5 – Jan 18
  • Crossbow: Oct 1–18, Nov 14 – Dec 31
  • Shotgun: Oct 24–30, Dec 5–11

In the guide: “Turkey: Open under statewide regulations”

Rabbit and quail

Follows the statewide season (rabbit, eastern zone and quail, eastern zone Nov 1–13, Nov 16 – Jan 31).

In the guide: “Rabbit, Quail: Open under statewide regulations (Eastern Zone)”

Squirrel

Follows the statewide season (Aug 15 – Nov 13, Nov 16 – Feb 28).

In the guide: “Squirrel: Open under statewide regulations”

Grouse

Follows the statewide season (Nov 1–13, Nov 16 – Feb 28).

In the guide: “Grouse: Open under statewide regulations”

Raccoon, furbearers, and coyote

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Raccoon: Oct 1 – Feb 28
  • Furbearers, hunting and trapping: Nov 16 – Feb 28
  • Furbearers, water-set trapping: Mar 1–31
  • Coyote: Aug 1 – Mar 31

In the guide: “Furbearer: Open under statewide regulations”

Area rules

Charted in both the Northeast and Southeast regions. Bear chase and hunting with dogs are not allowed, and night coyote hunting is prohibited (hunting guide pp. 17, 23). No nails, spikes, screw-in devices, wire or tree climbers that injure trees. No goose hunting in the Cave Run Lake goose closure area.

Nearby areas

Ross Creek WMA around 10 miles away

Mill Creek WMA around 10 miles away

Burchell-Beech Creek WMA around 20 miles away

Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA around 25 miles away

Buckhorn Lake WMA around 25 miles away

County zone deer bag limits apply on all WMAs; quota deer hunters may take up to two deer on a quota hunt in Zones 2, 3 and 4, only one antlered, and any buck counts toward the statewide one-buck limit. Hunting for squirrels, rabbits, quail, grouse and furbearers is closed the first two days of modern firearms deer season (Nov. 14-15) on WMAs. Dogs must be leashed on WMAs from March 1 until the third Saturday in August, with exceptions. Camping only where designated; no baiting; no nails or screw-in steps in trees; trail cameras must carry the owner's customer ID. Hunter orange during any firearms season for deer, bear or elk, also on ground blinds, except on WMAs where firearms hunting for those species is prohibited. Public dove fields are closed to all access from Aug. 15 until sunrise Sept. 1; on WMAs and leased fields, dove shooting hours are 11 a.m. to sunset Sept. 1-Oct. 26. Areas manipulated for dove hunting are not legal for waterfowl hunting. Youth-only waterfowl days are Nov. 21 and Feb. 13, and military/veteran-only days Nov. 22 and Feb. 14. A light goose conservation order runs Feb. 16-Mar. 31 with a free permit. Sandhill cranes (Dec. 7-Jan. 31) are by drawn permit only. During WMA deer quota hunts, only drawn hunters and one non-hunting assistant each may be on the area.

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