In Kentucky, a child under 12 can hunt without buying anything, as long as a qualified adult is with them. Once the child turns 12, a youth hunting license in KY is required, along with species permits for game like deer or turkey, and that license stays valid until they turn 16. Resident youth licenses run about $6, and the full package of license plus deer and turkey permits lands around $25–$30 for residents.
Age Thresholds That Decide What You Buy
Kentucky law exempts anyone under 12 from needing a sport hunting license.1Justia Law. Kentucky Revised Statutes 150.170 – Requirement of Hunting, Fishing, Trapping, or Guides License A 9-year-old can legally hunt during open seasons without a license or permit of any kind. Bag limits, season dates, harvest reporting, and supervision rules still apply.
From the 12th birthday until the 16th, a young hunter must carry a valid youth hunting license plus any species-specific permits for game like deer or turkey.2Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife. Spring Turkey Hunting A license purchased before the 16th birthday stays valid for the rest of that license year, which runs March 1 through the last day of February.3Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife. License and Permit Descriptions
Residency for a minor follows the parent or guardian’s legal residence. Both residents and nonresidents under 16 qualify for youth-priced licenses, though the nonresident cost is higher.
Youth License and Permit Options
For hunters 12 through 15, the common choices are:
- Youth Annual Hunting License — the base license required to hunt any legal game. Around $6 for residents, $11 for nonresidents.
- Youth Sportsman’s License (residents only) — bundles the youth hunting license with deer and turkey permits, including two youth turkey permits. The best value if your child plans to hunt both.
- Youth Deer Permit — covers four deer during the license year. About $10 resident, $15 nonresident.
- Youth Turkey Permit — good for one turkey in either the spring or fall season. About $10 resident, $15 nonresident.
These figures come from the KDFWR fee schedule and may include small processing fees that vary by purchase method.4Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife. License and Permit Fees Confirm the current prices before buying, since the schedule changes periodically.
Hunter Education and the Apprentice Permit
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1975, must carry proof of a valid hunter education certification card while hunting in Kentucky.5Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Administrative Regulations 301 KAR 2:185 – Hunter Education That covers every youth hunter today. The state-approved course covers firearm safety, wildlife identification, and ethics, and the certification card is permanent proof.
Children under 12 are exempt from the certification requirement, but only if they hunt under the direct supervision of an adult who is at least 18 and holds a hunter education card (or is themselves exempt).5Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Administrative Regulations 301 KAR 2:185 – Hunter Education An uncertified child in the field without a qualified adult is hunting illegally.
The Apprentice Hunting Opportunity
Kentucky’s Apprentice Hunting Opportunity gives a one-year temporary exemption from the hunter education requirement. The permit is currently free and available online.6Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife. Hunting Regulations During that year, the apprentice must hunt alongside a licensed adult who is at least 18, holds a valid hunter education card, and stays close enough to take immediate control of the firearm or bow at all times.
The apprentice permit is a one-time deal. Treat it as a trial run, and get your child enrolled in the full course before the year expires.
Supervision Rules by Age
Supervision depends on the child’s age, whether they’ve completed hunter education, and what species they’re after. Parents miss these rules more often than any other part of the licensing picture.
- Under 10: an adult at least 18 with a valid hunter education card must accompany the child at all times, whatever the species or weapon.
- Ages 10–11 without hunter education: same rule. A certified adult 18 or older must be present and able to take immediate control of the weapon.
- Ages 10–11 with hunter education: the child can pursue small game and furbearers without an adult. For deer, turkey, elk, or bear with a firearm, an adult supervisor is still required.
- Ages 12–15: when hunting deer, elk, bear, or turkey with a firearm, an adult 18 or older who meets the hunter education requirement must accompany the youth and be positioned to take immediate control of the firearm at all times.2Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife. Spring Turkey Hunting
The supervising adult does not need to hold their own hunting license, but they must carry their hunter education card. “Immediate control” means within arm’s reach, close enough to physically take the weapon.
Youth-Only Hunting Seasons
Kentucky sets aside weekends exclusively for hunters 15 and younger. Adults cannot hunt during these windows, which means less pressure in the woods and better conditions for a first harvest.
The youth spring turkey season falls on the two consecutive days starting the first Saturday in April, before the general season opens. For 2026, that is April 4–5. Children under 12 hunt without a license or permit. Youth ages 12–15 need their hunting license and a youth turkey permit. Anyone 16 or older is prohibited from hunting turkeys during this weekend.2Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife. Spring Turkey Hunting
Kentucky also sets aside a youth-only deer weekend each season, typically in late December. Dates shift annually, so check the current KDFWR season guide. Licensing rules mirror the turkey weekend: children under 12 are exempt, and those 12–15 need a youth hunting license and youth deer permit.
How to Buy the License
Youth hunting licenses and permits can be bought online through the KDFWR website or in person at roughly 900 retail locations around the state, including county clerk offices, sporting goods stores, and some chain retailers.7Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife. How to Buy Licenses and Permits
To complete the purchase you will need the child’s full name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number. Kentucky requires the SSN for all license purchasers as part of a federally mandated child-support enforcement system. It is not optional, even for a 12-year-old.
If you buy online, you will set up a MyProfile account for your child. That account stores personal information and becomes the hub for future license purchases, permit history, and harvest records.8Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife. My Profile – Access to Your KY Fish and Wildlife Records The signup form asks for first and last name, date of birth, last four digits of the SSN, address, and contact information.9Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife. Create My Profile Account A parent or guardian must sign the license at the time of purchase for any hunter under 16.
Online buyers receive an authorization number rather than a mailed paper license.7Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife. How to Buy Licenses and Permits Save or print the confirmation for use in the field. If you want a physical document in hand, buy at a retail location.
Carrying the License and Reporting the Harvest
Your child must have the license and permits available to show a conservation officer at any time while hunting. A printed copy or a digital version on a phone both work. If you rely on a phone, make sure the battery will last the whole trip.
Failing to produce a valid license when asked can result in fines between $50 and $500. Ignoring a citation makes things worse: the hunter forfeits their license and cannot buy a new one until the matter is resolved.10Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Kentucky Revised Statutes 150.990 – Penalties
After a successful hunt, Kentucky requires all harvested deer and turkey to be reported through the Telecheck system, online or by phone. This applies to every hunter, including license-exempt children under 12. Reporting must happen before transporting the animal, so bookmark the Telecheck number or website on your phone before heading out.