State guide · KY · coming soon
Hunting outfitters and guides in Kentucky: coming soon
No outfitters or guides are listed in Kentucky yet. Listings are added only after a person confirms the license or permit with the agency that issues it.
Be the first listed in Kentucky
Sun Up Hunts is launching. We list a hunting outfitter or guide only after checking its license or permit with the issuing agency, so this page stays out of search results until Kentucky has at least 2 verified listings to compare. If you run an outfit in Kentucky, you can ask to be listed for free; there is also an optional upgraded listing, always labelled Sponsored, that is free for life for the first Founding outfitters.
What you can hunt in Kentucky
Looking for hunting outfitters in Kentucky? Start with what the state allows. Below are the game species the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources lists hunting seasons for, grouped by type, from guided whitetail hunts in Kentucky to black bear and turkey hunts. Species tagged "Draw/permit only" are allocated through a draw, lottery or limited permit rather than an over-the-counter license.
Big game
- White-tailed deer
- ElkDraw/permit only
- Black bear
Turkey
Waterfowl
Upland birds
- Bobwhite quail
- Ruffed grouse
- Dove
- Woodcock, snipe, rails
Small game and furbearers
- Rabbit
- Squirrel
- Furbearers and coyote
Not hunted here:Feral hog.
Sources (checked Oct 2026): KDFWR - Hunting; KDFWR - Hunting & Fishing Seasons Planner; KDFWR - Elk Hunting Permits; KDFWR - Black Bear Hunting; KDFWR - Wild Pig Home.
Seasons, draws and regulations change every year and can differ by unit or zone. Confirm seasons and regulations with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources before you plan or book a hunt. This list is a starting point, not legal advice.
Outfitter and guide licensing in Kentucky
Confirmed from primary sources
Licensing body: Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR), Law Enforcement Division. Where to check a license:KDFWR commercial outfitter/guide licenses.
- KDFWR's commercial outfitter/guide page lists separate Hunting Guide and Hunting Outfitter licenses (outfitter licenses are tiered by number of hunting guides), with applications handled by the Law Enforcement Division. It requires hunter education documentation, a Kentucky State Police background check, and CPR and first-aid certification. Source (read October 23, 2026)
- The same page links a "Find a fishing or hunting Outfitter/Guide" PDF, which gives editors a state-published list to check a Kentucky license against. License fees and renewal dates are on the agency page; we do not reproduce fees. Source (read October 23, 2026)
- KRS 150.175(11) defines a guide's license as authorizing the holder to assist an outfitter license holder's client in taking or attempting to take fish or wildlife, and says the guide is employed by or contracted with an outfitter license holder. The rule is 301 KAR 3:150. Source (read October 23, 2026)
State wildlife agency: Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (link checked October 23, 2026). Kentucky rules change: check with the agency before booking a hunt or operating as a guide.
Before you book any Kentucky hunt
- Ask for the outfitter's license, registration or permit number and confirm it with the agency before you pay a deposit.
- Get the hunt terms in a written contract: dates, guide-to-hunter ratio, services, what is and is not included, and the refund and cancellation terms.
- Ask which land the hunt is on (private, public, or both) and what permit or access arrangement covers it.
- Ask for recent client references you can phone, and what happens to your meat and trophy.
- Check the state's own hunter-license, tag, draw and hunter-education requirements well ahead of the application dates.
- Ask what happens if conditions or game numbers are poor: no outfitter can guarantee a harvest, and we do not list any that promise one.
Hunting leases and public access in Kentucky
Listed for information only. Sun Up Hunts does not arrange or negotiate leases, does not act for any landowner or hunter, holds no real estate license and is not a party to any lease. We don't handle deposits or payments, and we get no fee or commission from these links. The lister sets price, terms and availability, so confirm everything directly with them before you pay or sign. Full lease listings disclaimer.
Lease search pages and state programs covering Kentucky
- Hunting Lease Network: Land for Lease Lease marketplace
Lease marketplace: search land offered for hunting lease, by state. Listed by: Hunting Lease Network (Farmers National Company). Checked October 24, 2026. - Public Lands Search, including Hunting Access Areas State program
State search: public hunting lands and Hunting Access Areas. Listed by: Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Checked October 24, 2026.
Nationwide lease search sites
- HLRBO Lease Finder Lease marketplace
Lease marketplace: lease finder covering all 50 states. Listed by: HLRBO. Checked October 24, 2026. - HuntingLeaseUSA Lease marketplace
Lease marketplace covering many states (home page). Listed by: HuntingLeaseUSA. Checked October 24, 2026. - Land And Farm Land marketplace
Land marketplace, mostly land for sale; some hunting and recreational land. Listed by: Land And Farm (CoStar Group). Checked October 24, 2026.
No one pays us for these links and none is ranked by payment. We copy no lease details, photos or descriptions: open the lister's page for current offers. Check Kentucky licenses, tags and seasons with the state wildlife agency.
Draws and lotteries: Kentucky draw and application deadlines, with a link to the agency's own page.
Bordering states and region
Kentucky is in the South region. Hunting outfitters in bordering states:
Browse all 50 states from the home page, or see guided hunts by species.
See also all 50 states and their wildlife agencies, how we verify and the paid-placement disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Are there outfitters listed in Kentucky yet?
Not yet. Sun Up Hunts is launching, and an outfitter or guide is added only after a person confirms its license or permit with the agency that issues it. When Kentucky has enough verified listings this page becomes a full comparison.
Who is the authority on hunting in Kentucky?
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources sets seasons, licenses and rules. Confirm every requirement with the agency before you book or pay a deposit.
I run an outfit in Kentucky. How do I get listed?
Send a request through the contact form with the topic "Claim or add a listing". A free basic listing and the optional upgraded listing (free for life for the first 25 Founding outfitters) both go through the same license check. Founding outfitters pay nothing.