301 KAR 2:122. Seasons, methods, and limits for small game.

 

      RELATES TO: KRS 150.340, 150.360, 150.370, 150.990

      STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 150.025

      NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 150.025(1) authorizes the department to establish hunting seasons and to regulate bag and possession limits, the methods of taking and the devices used to take wildlife. This administrative regulation is necessary to ensure the permanent and continued supply of small game by protecting them from overharvest.

 

      Section 1. Definitions. (1) "Eastern Zone" means the third through the ninth wildlife districts as specified in 301 KAR 4:010.

      (2) "Grouse Zone" means the area consisting of Adair, Bath, Bell, Boyd, Bracken, Breathitt, Campbell, Carter, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Garrard, Greenup, Harlan, Harrison, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, McCreary, Madison, Magoffin, Martin, Mason, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Owsley, Pendleton, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Russell, Wayne, Whitley, and Wolfe Counties.

      (3) "Modern gun deer season" means the season established by 301 KAR 2:172.

      (4) "Rabbit" means an eastern cottontail rabbit, swamp rabbit, or Appalachian cottontail rabbit.

      (5) "Small game" means squirrels, rabbits, northern bobwhite or ruffed grouse.

      (6) "Squirrel" means gray squirrel or fox squirrel.

      (7) "Western Zone" means the first and second wildlife districts as specified in 301 KAR 4:010.

 

      Section 2. Methods of Harvest for Small Game. (1) A person shall use any of the following to take small game:

      (a) Rimfire gun;

      (b) Shotguns no larger than 10-gauge;

      (c) Muzzle-loading gun;

      (d).22 caliber handgun;

      (e) Bow and arrow;

      (f) Crossbow;

      (g).177,.20, or.22 caliber airgun with pellets;

      (h) Dogs; or

      (i) Falconry, pursuant to 301 KAR 2.195.

      (2) A person shall not possess a shotshell containing larger than number two (2) size shot.

      (3) A person shall not possess single-projectile shotgun ammunition except during the modern gun deer season as a legal deer hunter.

 

      Section 3. Small Game Hunting Seasons. Except as specified in 301 KAR 2:049 or 2:125, a person shall not take the following small game except during the dates specified in this section:

      (1) Small game taken by falconry: September 1 through March 30.

      (2) Squirrel:

      (a) The first Saturday in June for fourteen (14) consecutive days; and

      (b) The third Saturday in August through the last day of February except during the first two (2) days of modern gun deer season.

      (3) Rabbit and northern bobwhite:

      (a) Western Zone: the third day of modern gun deer season until February 10.

      (b) Eastern Zone: November 1 until January 31 except during the first two (2) days of modern gun deer season.

      (4) Ruffed Grouse: November 1 through the last day of February in the Grouse Zone, except during the first two (2) days of modern gun deer season.

      (5) There shall not be a closed season for chasing rabbits during daylight hours for sport and not to kill.

      (6) Free youth week. For seven (7) consecutive days beginning on the Saturday after Christmas, a youth may take small game without a hunting license. Statewide requirements and bag limits apply.

 

      Section 4. Small Game Bag and Possession Limits.

 

Daily

Possession

Squirrels

6

12

Rabbits

4

8

Northern Bobwhite

8

16

Ruffed Grouse

4

8

 

      Section 5. Limits by Falconry. A falconer hunting outside any of the dates specified in Section 3(2) through (4) of this administrative regulation shall not take more than two (2) small game animals per day.

 

      Section 6. Shooting Hours. A person shall hunt small game during the daylight hours only.

 

      Section 7. Trapping for Squirrel and Rabbit. A person shall: (1) Trap in accordance with 301 KAR 2:251, Section 8.

      (2) Trap when the small game hunting season and trapping season overlap;

      (3) Possess a trapping license;

      (4) Adhere to daily and possession bag limits according to Section 4 of this administrative regulation; and

      (5) Harvest squirrel and rabbits upon capture, except for a person possessing the appropriate captive wildlife permit. (33 Ky.R. 2831; eff. 6-13-2007; 34 Ky.R. 2437; eff. 7-9-08.)