Kentucky bear season 2026: dates and free maps
Season dates
Archery and crossbow, Bear Zone 3 (September): Saturday, September 19 to Friday, October 2, 2026
Hunt with dogs, Bear Zone 1: Monday, October 19 to Friday, October 23, 2026
Hunt with dogs, Bear Zones 2 and 3: Monday, October 19 to Friday, November 6, 2026
Oct. 19-23 and Oct. 29-Nov. 6.
Archery and crossbow, Bear Zone 1: Saturday, October 24 to Monday, October 26, 2026
Archery and crossbow, Bear Zones 2 and 3: Saturday, October 24 to Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Firearms, Bear Zone 1: Saturday, December 12 to Monday, December 14, 2026
Firearms, Bear Zones 2 and 3: Saturday, December 12 to Wednesday, December 16, 2026
Checked on the agency's site November 6, 2026. Licenses, units, bag limits and shooting hours differ, and dates can vary by unit: the regulations are what count, so read them before you go.
Legal shooting hours for big game in Kentucky, generally: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
Bear country is big timber and steep ground, usually with no signal. Download the maps for your spot ahead of time and Cartahaven shows your GPS position on them offline, so you can stay on public ground, find your stand or bait site and get back out after dark.
Free public land maps in Kentucky
Before you go
Cartahaven is not affiliated with or endorsed by Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources. Season dates come from the agency pages linked above.