RELATES TO:

KRS 150.330, 150.340, 150.440, 150.445, 150.450, 150.470

STATUTORY AUTHORITY:

KRS 150.025(1)(i), 150.170(8)

CERTIFICATION STATEMENT:

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, pursuant to statutory authority to promulgate administrative regulations to carry out the provisions of KRS Chapter 150 as established in KRS 150.025 and as an independent department of state government within the meaning of KRS Chapter 12 as established in KRS 150.021(1), promulgated by the Commissioner with approval of the Commission in accordance with KRS 150.010(1), does hereby certify this administrative regulation is promulgated in compliance with Section 8 of 2025 RS HB6.

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY:

KRS 150.025(1)(i) authorizes the department to promulgate administrative regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of the chapter. KRS 150.170(8) authorizes the department to enter into reciprocal agreements with other states so that a person holding a resident or nonresident fishing license, or a resident or nonresident hunting license issued by the state shall be permitted to perform the acts authorized by the license upon certain contiguous waters and land areas adjacent to the common boundaries. This administrative regulation identifies all current reciprocal agreements established between Kentucky and bordering states.

1. Section 1. Fishing Agreements.

   1. (1) Persons fishing in Dale Hollow Lake, the Big South Fork portion of the Cumberland River, and a portion of the Kentucky Lake shall comply with the sport fishing requirements in the reciprocal sport fishing license agreement with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency incorporated by reference in this administrative regulation.
   2. (2) Persons fishing in the Mississippi River shall comply with the sport fishing requirements in the reciprocal sport fishing license agreement with the Missouri Department of Conservation incorporated by reference in this administrative regulation.
   3. (3) Persons fishing in the Ohio River bordering Illinois or Indiana shall comply with both the sport and commercial fishing requirements in the reciprocal fishing license agreements with the Illinois and Indiana Departments of Natural Resources incorporated by reference in this administrative regulation.
   4. (4) Persons fishing in the Ohio River bordering Ohio shall comply with the sport fishing requirements in the reciprocal sport fishing license agreement with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources incorporated by reference in this administrative regulation.
   5. (5) Persons fishing in the Big Sandy and Tug Fork rivers shall comply with the sport fishing requirements in the reciprocal agreement with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources incorporated by reference in this administrative regulation.

2. Section 2. Hunting Agreements.

   1. (1) Persons hunting migratory birds on the Ohio River bordering Indiana or Ohio shall comply with the reciprocal hunting license agreements with the Indiana and Ohio Departments of Natural Resources incorporated by reference in the administrative regulation.
   2. (2) Persons hunting on the Big Sandy and Tug Fork rivers shall comply with the requirements in the reciprocal agreement with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources incorporated by reference in this administrative regulation.

3. Section 3. Incorporation by Reference.

   1. (1) The following material is incorporated by reference:

      1. (a) "Reciprocal Sport Fishing License Agreement between Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency", 2025 Edition;
      2. (b) "Reciprocal Sport Fishing License Agreement between Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and Missouri Department of Conservation", 2025 Edition;
      3. (c) "Reciprocal Fishing License Agreement between Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and Illinois Department of Natural Resources", 2025 Edition;
      4. (d) "Reciprocal Fishing License Agreement between Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and Indiana Department of Natural Resources", 2025 Edition;
      5. (e) "Reciprocal Sport Fishing License Agreement between Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and Ohio Department of Natural Resources", 2025 Edition;
      6. (f) "Reciprocal Agreement between Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources", 2025 Edition;
      7. (g) "Reciprocal Hunting License Agreement between Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and Indiana Department of Natural Resources", 2025 Edition; and
      8. (h) "Reciprocal Hunting License Agreement between Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and Ohio Department of Natural Resources", 2025 Edition.

   2. (2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, 1 Sportsman's Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or online at:

      1. (a) https://fw.ky.gov/Documents/TN-KY-Reciprocal-Fish-License-Agreement.pdf for the "Reciprocal Sport Fishing License Agreement between Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency";
      2. (b) https://fw.ky.gov/Documents/MO-KY-Reciprocal-Fish-License-Agreement.pdf for the "Reciprocal Sport Fishing License Agreement between Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and Missouri Department of Conservation";
      3. (c) https://fw.ky.gov/Documents/IL-KY-Reciprocal-Fish-License-Agreement.pdf for the "Reciprocal Fishing License Agreement between Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and Illinois Department of Natural Resources";
      4. (d) https://fw.ky.gov/Documents/IN-KY-Reciprocal-Fish-License-Agreement.pdf for the "Reciprocal Fishing License Agreement between Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and Indiana Department of Natural Resources";
      5. (e) https://fw.ky.gov/Documents/OH-KY-Reciprocal-Fish-License-Agreement.pdf for the "Reciprocal Sport Fishing License Agreement between Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and Ohio Department of Natural Resources";
      6. (f) https://fw.ky.gov/Documents/WV-KY-Reciprocal-Fish-Hunt-License-Agreement.pdf for the "Reciprocal Agreement between Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources";
      7. (g) https://fw.ky.gov/Documents/IN-KY-Reciprocal-Hunt-License-Agreement.pdf for the "Reciprocal Hunting License Agreement between Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and Indiana Department of Natural Resources"; and
      8. (h) https://fw.ky.gov/Documents/OH-KY-Reciprocal-Hunt-License-Agreement.pdf for the "Reciprocal Hunting License Agreement between Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and Ohio Department of Natural Resources".

History

(301 KAR 003:160. 52 Ky.R. 127, 562; eff. 10-16-2025.)

FILED WITH LRC: September 9, 2025 at 1 p.m.

CONTACT PERSON: John K. Wood, Counsel for the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services, 163 East Main Street, Suite 200, Lexington, Kentucky 40507, phone (859) 225-4714, email administrativeregulations@wgmfirm.com.