RELATES TO:

KRS 150.010, 150.170, 150.175, 150.390

STATUTORY AUTHORITY:

KRS 150.025(1), 150.620

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY:

KRS 150.025(1) authorizes the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to promulgate administrative regulations to establish open seasons for the taking of wildlife, to regulate bag limits and methods of take, and to make administrative regulations apply to a limited area. KRS 150.620 authorizes the department to promulgate administrative regulations for the maintenance and operation of the lands it has acquired for public recreation. This administrative regulation establishes the requirements for the department to close seasons on newly acquired or managed properties or to establish requirements that are different from statewide season requirements or methods of take until the department can subsequently amend administrative regulations. This administrative regulation also establishes the authority to restrict hunting, fishing, and trapping or methods of take in areas for reasons of public safety.

1. Section 1.

   1. (1) Upon acquiring new public land, the department shall close the area to all hunting, fishing, or trapping or for certain species for up to the first three (3) years of ownership if:

      1. (a) Inadvertent trespassing on adjacent private land by hunters, anglers, or trappers due to a lack of adequate boundary marking is likely; or
      2. (b) The activity would have a negative impact to wildlife populations.

   2. (2) The department shall close areas to all hunting, fishing, or trapping or consumption of certain species if:

      1. (a) The department determines the area is unsafe for hunting, fishing, or trapping due to:

         1. 1. Hazards that exist on the area which pose a substantial risk of harm to members of the public engaged in the activity;
         2. 2. The area being adjacent to or near residential dwellings or commercial development; or
         3. 3. Construction activities;

      2. (b) The area is deemed unsuitable for hunting, fishing, or trapping due to:

         1. 1. The department establishing the area for use as office space, equipment storage, parking, habitat preservation, a shooting range, boat ramp access, or exclusively for educational purposes; or
         2. 2. Ongoing management, habitat improvement, or research by the department which would conflict with the activity; or
      3. (c) Species found within the area are deemed unsafe or unsuitable for consumption based upon suspected or confirmed environmental hazards or disease.
   3. (3) An area shall be closed for hunting and trapping if the area is established by the department exclusively for public fishing access.

   4. (4) If there are any restrictions as established pursuant to subsection (1), (2), or (3) of this section, the department shall inform the public by:

      1. (a) Conspicuously posting the requirements on signage at major access points on the area; and
      2. (b) Posting the area requirements on the department's Web site at fw.ky.gov.

2. Section 2.

   1. (1) Upon acquiring or managing new public land, the department may establish temporary device restrictions for hunting that differ from statewide requirements, for up to three (3) years, if an imminent risk is present regarding:

      1. (a) Human safety; or
      2. (b) A negative impact on the area's population of a species.
   2. (2) Upon acquiring or managing new public land, the department may establish temporary gear, size limits, or harvest limits that differ from statewide fishing requirements, for up to three (3) years, if an imminent risk is present regarding a negative impact on the area's population of aquatic species.
   3. (3) If there is any deviation from statewide device requirements regarding methods of take, as established in subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the department shall inform the public as established in Section 1(4) of this administrative regulation.

History

(42 Ky.R. 2521; eff. 6-3-2016; 51 Ky.R. 772, 1281; eff. 4-2-2025.)

FILED WITH LRC: December 9, 2024

CONTACT PERSON: Jenny Gilbert, Legislative Liaison, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, 1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Phone: (502) 564-3400, fax: (502) 564-0506, email: fwpubliccomments@ky.gov