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AN ACT relating to hunter education. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
ď˘Section 1. KRS 150.170 is amended to read as follows: 3
(1) (a) Except as provided in the following subsections of this section, and subject to 4
administrative regulations promulgated under this chapter, no person, 5
resident, or nonresident shall do any act authorized by any kind of license or 6
permit or assist in any way any person in doing any act provided for in this 7
chapter with respect to wildlife unless he or she holds the kind of license or 8
permit, resident or nonresident, that authorizes the act. 9
(b) It shall be the specific purpose of this chapter to prohibit the taking or 10
pursuing of any wildlife, protected or unprotected, or the fishing in any stream 11
or body of water whether public or private, without first procuring the license 12
provided for in KRS 150.175, except to the extent as may be otherwise 13
provided in this section. 14
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no person, resident, 15
or nonresident shall be required to take a hunter education course in order 16
to obtain a license or permit issued by the department under this chapter. 17
(2) A person under sixteen (16) years of age may, without a sport fishing license, take 18
fish by angling, or take minnows by the use of a minnow seine, minnow trap, or dip 19
net. 20
(3) A person under twelve (12) years of age shall be exempt from being required to 21
obtain a sport hunting or sport trapping license as required by this chapter. 22
(4) The resident owner of farmlands of five (5) or more acres or his or her spouse or 23
dependent children shall, without procuring any sport hunting or sport fishing 24
licenses, have the right to take fish or hunt during the open season, except trapping, 25
on farmlands of five (5) or more acres of which they are bona fide owners. Tenants 26
or their dependent children residing upon these farmlands shall have the same 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1246
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privilege. 1
(5) Residents or nonresidents observing and participating in field trials, training 2
exercises, or other competitions as authorized by the department may observe and 3
participate without obtaining a hunting or guide's license so long as game is not 4
taken. 5
(6) Any resident serviceman on furlough of more than three (3) days in this state may, 6
without any Kentucky sport hunting or sport fishing licenses, do any act authorized 7
by the licenses, but while so doing he or she shall carry on his or her person proper 8
identification and papers showing his or her furlough status. 9
(7) Landowners, their spouses or dependent children, or their designee who must be 10
approved by the commissioner, who kill or trap on their lands any wildlife causing 11
damage to the lands or any personal property situated thereon shall not be required 12
to have a hunting or trapping license and may do so during periods other than the 13
open season for the particular species without a tag and dispose of the carcass on-14
site. Tenants, their spouses, their dependent children, or other persons approved by 15
the commissioner, shall also have the same privilege. Upon destruction of any 16
wildlife by the above-specified individuals, the act shall be reported to a 17
conservation officer within twenty-four (24) hours of the kill. Individuals wishing 18
to transport the carcass from the property upon which it was killed shall contact 19
personnel of the department to request a disposal tag or other authorization. 20
Inedible parts from wildlife taken under the authorization of this section shall not be 21
utilized for any purpose and shall be destroyed or left afield. The department shall 22
promulgate administrative regulations establishing procedures for the designee 23
appointment process, including request and approval deadlines. 24
(8) If a reciprocal agreement is entered into by the commissioner, with the approval of 25
the commission, and promulgated as an administrative regulation by the department 26
and similar action is taken by the appropriate authority in Missouri, Tennessee, 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1246
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Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio, or Illinois, persons holding a resident or 1
nonresident fishing or a resident or nonresident hunting license issued in these 2
states shall be permitted to perform the acts authorized by the license upon certain 3
contiguous waters and land areas adjacent to the common boundaries of the above-4
mentioned states and the State of Kentucky. A resident of the State of Kentucky 5
shall purchase a proper Kentucky license to conform with the reciprocal agreement. 6
(9) Any member of the Kentucky Army or Air National Guard, active duty or Reserve 7
Component, in any branch in the United States Armed Forces that is based in the 8
Commonwealth of Kentucky, shall have the right to take fish or hunt on any 9
military property belonging to the Commonwealth without procuring any sport 10
hunting or sport fishing license. 11
[(10) A person not otherwise exempted from hunter safety education or from procuring 12
any sport hunting or sport fishing license shall be exempt from the department-13
sanctioned live-fire exercise component of the hunter education course requirement 14
if he or she: 15
(a) Is a current member of the Armed Forces of the United States; 16
(b) Has served in the Armed Forces of the United States and was discharged or 17
released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable; or 18
(c) Is a peace officer certified pursuant to KRS 15.380 to 15.404.] 19