RELATES TO:

KRS 150.010, 150.025, 150.170, 150.175, 150.320, 150.360, 150.370, 150.990

STATUTORY AUTHORITY:

KRS 150.025(1), 150.175, 150.360(1)

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY:

KRS 150.025(1) authorizes Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to establish seasons and other administrative regulations necessary to carry out the purpose of KRS Chapter 150. KRS 150.175 authorizes the types of licenses, permits, and tags set by the department. This administrative regulation establishes hunting requirements for species that may be taken year-round and specifies species that are unprotected.

1. Section 1. Definition. "Exotic wildlife" means wildlife species that have never naturally existed in the wild in Kentucky, including species introduced by man that have become naturalized.

2. Section 2. Year-Round Seasons.

   1. (1) A person may take coyotes year-round pursuant to 301 KAR 2:251.
   2. (2) A person may take groundhogs year-round.
   3. (3) A person taking coyotes or groundhogs, unless exempted by KRS 150.170, shall possess a hunting or trapping license as required for the method of take.
   4. (4) A person may take pheasants year-round except as otherwise prohibited by 301 KAR 2:049 for department sponsored pheasant quota hunts.

3. Section 3. Unprotected Species.

   1. (1) A person may take the following wildlife species year-round:

      1. (a) Moles (Scalopus aquaticus, Parascalops breweri, Condalyra cristata);
      2. (b) Mice (Mus musculus);
      3. (c) Rats (Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus);
      4. (d) Terrestrial invertebrates; and
      5. (e) Exotic wildlife, except for pheasants, as restricted in Section 2(4) of this administrative regulation, and the species listed in Section 4 of this administrative regulation.
   2. (2) A person may take the species listed in subsection (1) of this section without a hunting or trapping license, except that take of English sparrow and starlings requires a hunting license.

4. Section 4. Species with Restricted Take. A person shall not take the following species:

   1. (1) Members of the Family Suidae (pigs or hogs), except if landowners are incurring damage, they may be taken pursuant to KRS 150.170, Section 7;
   2. (2) Federally protected migratory birds; or
   3. (3) Federally threatened or endangered species.

History

(KFWR-G-94; 1 Ky.R. 600; eff. 4-9-1975; Am. 4 Ky.R. 571; eff. 8-2-1978; 7 Ky.R. 782; 899; eff. 5-6-1981; 12 Ky.R. 29; eff. 8-13-1985; 1746; eff. 6-10-1986; 14 Ky.R. 36; eff. 8-5-1987; 2053; eff. 7-1-1988; 15 Ky.R. 2258; eff. 6-28-1989; 20 Ky.R. 604; 952; eff. 10-27-93; 21 Ky.R. 1168; eff. 12-12-94; 23 Ky.R. 3881; eff. 7-9-1997; 24 Ky.R. 2756; 25 Ky.R. 307; eff. 8-17-1998; 29 Ky.R. 520; 928; eff. 10-9-2002; 1325; eff. 1-16-2003; 30 Ky.R. 411; eff. 10-31-2003; 31 Ky.R. 843; eff. 1-4-2005; 48 Ky.R. 896; eff. 3-1-2022; 50 Ky.R. 1944, 2400; eff. 6-6-2024.)

FILED WITH LRC: May 14, 2024

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