Learn from Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s experienced educators
FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 12, 2025) — The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources offers numerous classes for those wanting to learn more about hunting and fishing.
Programming offered through the department’s Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation (R3) branch includes hunter education, basic fishing and hunting skills and courses geared toward women. Most classes are free or offered at a nominal cost.
Before going afield for the upcoming spring turkey season or any other hunting period this year, hunters must have completed their hunter education certification.
Unless exempt, Kentucky requires all hunters born after 1974 to earn their certification to be able to hunt legally. Kentucky offers more than 300 hunter education courses throughout the state each year. Classes are available in person or online. Visit Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s Hunter Education webpage for details.
Megan Bagby, who supervises the hunter education program for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, said now is the time to look for and schedule classes.
“Kentucky’s turkey hunting season begins April 5-6 for youth hunters, followed by the general season April 12 – May 4,” she said. “Registration for the required range day portion of the certification process can fill up before a season opens, so don’t wait to complete your hunter education course. Give yourself time to learn and practice.”
Landowners and tenants who are hunting on their own land are not required to have this training, although it is recommended for all hunters. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife also offers a temporary hunter education exemption permit, which allows residents and nonresidents to hunt for one year without first completing a hunter education course. Youth hunters may only take the course after turning 9 years old but are not required to take the course until turning 12 years old.
“The one-year exemption permit is a great way to experience your first hunt or take a new hunter into the field,” Bagby said. “It is available online for free but expires one year after being acquired. You can only get an exemption permit once.”
Students completing classroom instruction next join instructors at a shooting range to ensure they can handle firearms safely.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s Learn to Hunt webpage is a hub for resources about different game species, processing wild game and upcoming classes. Additionally, the department’s Field to Fork programs help hunters learn about hunting.
“Field to Fork programs are unique, start-to-finish workshops that teach adult participants everything they need to know to hunt a specific game species successfully,” Bagby said. “Current offerings include workshops on dove, squirrel, spring turkey and deer hunting.”
Participants learn about basic equipment, game animal biology and regulations. They receive hands-on shooting practice and watch demonstrations of wild game processing. Kentucky hunting licenses are typically required to attend these events.
In addition, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife hosts the Kentucky Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) program. Designed primarily for adult women, BOW helps participants learn about the outdoors while building confidence in their skills.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife also offers many resources for those wanting to learn more about fishing Kentucky waters. The department’s Learn to Fish webpage helps anglers get started with the basics like gear, techniques and places to fish and links to educational opportunities provided by the agency.
“Our Hook and Cook workshops equip anglers of all skill levels with the knowledge they need to improve their fishing and safely enjoy the fish they catch,” said Rachel Crume, Kentucky’s R3 Branch manager.
“These and other fishing workshops are available for those 16 and over and are usually free. Some courses may require a nominal fee to cover unfunded expenses. Most instruction takes place at Fishing in Neighborhoods (FINS) lakes, with classes currently scheduled in Frankfort, Louisville, Falmouth and Burlington.”
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife also has a free Loaner Fishing Pole program. Fishing poles can be checked out like library books at 53 locations throughout the state. More information about the Loaner Fishing Pole Location Map is available online at fw.ky.gov.
Anglers can find places to fish by searching Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s Waterbodies Search page. In addition, the free Fish Boat KY app for mobile smartphones showcases fishing regulations, educational materials, reports and updates, maps and more. Anglers will need to be sure to purchase their 2025 fishing license for the new license year that began March 1.
Hunting and fishing licenses can be purchased online through the department’s online MyProfile license portal. View the department’s 2025-2026 Fishing and Boating Guide for more information on fishing regulations, fish species and waterbodies.
