301 KAR 2:300. Black bear seasons and requirements

      Section 1. Definitions. (1) "Adult" means an individual who is at least eighteen (18) years of age.

      (2) "Archery equipment" means a long bow, recurve bow, or compound bow incapable of holding an arrow at full or partial draw without aid from the archer.

      (3) "Arrow" means the projectile fired from a bow or crossbow.

      (4) "Baited area" means an area where feed, grains, or other substances capable of luring black bears have been placed.

      (5) "Barbed broadhead" means a point or portion of a blade projecting backward from a broadhead designed to hold an arrow within an animal.

      (6) "Bear" means the species Ursus americanus.

      (7) "Bear chase area" means a designated area within the Bear Zone where hunters may use dogs to chase bears.

      (8) "Bear chase permit" means a permit, which in conjunction with appropriate licenses, seasons, and methods, allows the holder to use dogs to chase a bear.

      (9) "Bear permit" means a permit, which in conjunction with appropriate licenses, seasons, and methods, allows the holder to harvest one (1) black bear of either sex.

      (10) "Bear zone" means the following Kentucky counties: Bell, Clay, Floyd, Harlan, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Leslie, Letcher, Martin, McCreary, Perry, Pike, Pulaski, Wayne, and Whitley.

      (11) "Chase-only season" means a designated season when a person may use dogs to chase a bear, without killing or intentionally injuring a bear.

      (12) "Crossbow" means a bow designed or fitted with a device to hold an arrow at full or partial draw without aid from the archer.

      (13) "Firearm" means a breech or muzzle-loading rifle, shotgun, or handgun.

      (14) "Junior bear chase permit" means a permit, which in conjunction with appropriate licenses, seasons, and methods, allows a youth to use dogs to chase a bear.

      (15) "License year" means the period from March 1 through the following last day of February.

      (16) "Modern gun" means a rifle, handgun, or shotgun loaded from the rear of the barrel.

      (17) "Muzzle-loading firearm" means a rifle, shotgun, or handgun loaded from the discharging end of the barrel or discharging end of the receiver.

      (18) "Youth" means a person under the age of sixteen (16) by the day of the hunt.

 

      Section 2. Feeding Black Bears. A person shall not engage in any direct or indirect feeding of black bears.

 

      Section 3. Bear Chase Requirements. (1) Unless exempted by KRS 150.170, a person, while using dogs to chase a bear, shall carry proof of purchase of a valid Kentucky hunting license and a valid:

      (a) Bear chase permit; or

      (b) Junior bear chase permit.

      (2) A bear chase permit or junior bear chase permit shall only be purchased by a resident of Kentucky.

      (3) A bear chase permit shall be purchased on the department’s Web site at fw.ky.gov from July 1 through December 31.

      (4) A person shall not:

      (a) Kill or intentionally injure a bear during a chase-only season;

      (b) Chase a bear except during daylight hours while a chase season is open;

      (c) Chase a bear from a baited area:

      1. While bait is present; or

      2. For thirty (30) days after the bait has been removed; or

      (d) Disturb a bear in a den.

      (5) Individual hunt groups shall include no more than five (5) people and eight (8) dogs, except a hunt party may total seven (7) people if two (2) additional youths accompany the party.

      (6) Any dog transported in a motorized vehicle by members of a hunt group shall not be considered a member of that hunt group.

      (7) The department shall supply a Bear Chase Survey to each person purchasing a bear chase permit.

      (8) A person who purchases a bear chase permit shall submit to the department a completed Bear Chase Survey by the last day of January following each bear season.

      (9) A person who fails to submit a Bear Chase Survey shall be ineligible to purchase a bear chase permit for the following year’s chase seasons.

      (10) A person shall only use a dog to chase a bear in the following designated areas:

      (a) Eastern bear chase area;

      (b) Central bear chase area; and

      (c) Western bear chase area.

 

      Section 4. Chasing Bears with Dogs. A person shall not use a dog to chase a bear except during the seasons established in this section:

      (1) The chase-only season, which shall be from August 1 through August 31; and

      (2) The bear quota hunt with dogs season pursuant to Section 8(1) of this administrative regulation.

 

      Section 5. Bear Permit Requirements. (1) Only a resident of Kentucky shall be allowed to purchase a bear permit.

      (2) Unless exempted by KRS 150.170, a person hunting a bear shall possess proof of purchase of a valid Kentucky hunting license and valid bear permit while hunting during the seasons established in Section 8(1) of this administrative regulation.

 

      Section 6. Hunter Restrictions. (1) A person shall not:

      (a) Harvest a bear except during daylight hours;

      (b) Use a dog during the modern gun season for bears, except leashed tracking dogs may be used to recover a wounded or dead bear;

      (c) Hunt bear on a baited area:

      1. While bait is present; or

      2. For thirty (30) days after the bait has been removed;

      (d) Harvest:

      1. A female bear that has a cub; or

      2. A bear that weighs less than seventy-five (75) pounds;

      (e) Harvest a bear that is swimming;

      (f) Harvest a bear if the person is in a vehicle, boat, or on horseback, except that a hunter in possession of a disabled hunting exemption permit issued by the department may use a stationary vehicle as a hunting platform;

      (g) Harvest a bear in a den; or

      (h) Disturb a bear in a den for the purpose of taking the bear if the bear exits the den.

      (2) An adult shall accompany and maintain control of a youth who is hunting bear with a firearm.

      Section 7. Weapon Restrictions. (1) A person shall only use the weapons and ammunition established in paragraphs (a) through (e) of this subsection to take a bear:

      (a) A crossbow or archery equipment loaded with a non-barbed broadhead of seven-eighths (7/8) inch or wider upon expansion;

      (b) A firearm:

      1. With an action that fires a single round of ammunition upon each manipulation of the trigger;

      2. Of..270 caliber or larger; and

      3. Loaded with centerfire, single projectile ammunition designed to expand upon impact;

      (c) A muzzle-loading firearm of.50 caliber or larger;

      (d) A shotgun of twenty (20) gauge or larger loaded with a shell containing one (1) projectile; or

      (e) A handgun loaded with:

      1. Centerfire cartridges;

      2. Bullets of..270 caliber or larger designed to expand upon impact; and

      3. Cartridges with a case length of 1.285 inches or larger.

      (2) A crossbow shall contain a working safety device.

      (3) A bear hunter shall not use a magazine capable of holding more than ten (10) rounds.

 

      Section 8. Bear Season Dates and Bag Limits. (1) A legal bear hunter shall only kill a bear in the bear zone during the seasons established in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this subsection:

      (a) The archery – crossbow season for bears, which shall be for seven (7) consecutive days beginning on the fourth Saturday in October;

      (b) The modern gun season for bears, which shall be for three (3) consecutive days beginning on the second Saturday in December;

      (c) The bear quota hunt with dogs season, which shall be for:

      1. Two (2) consecutive days beginning on the Saturday after Thanksgiving; and

      2. Two (2) consecutive days beginning on the third Saturday in December; and

      (d) The youth-only bear season, which shall last for two (2) consecutive days beginning on the Saturday after Christmas.

      (2) A person shall not harvest more than one (1) bear in a license year.

 

      Section 9. Bear Season Closure. (1) The archery - crossbow season for bears shall close after daylight hours on the day the following quota has been reached:

      (a) Ten (10) bears; or

      (b) Five (5) female bears.

      (2) The modern gun season for bears shall close after daylight hours on the day the following quota has been reached:

      (a) Fifteen (15) bears; or

      (b) Five (5) female bears.

      (3) The bear quota hunt with dogs season shall close after daylight hours on the day the quota of five (5) bears has been reached.

      (4) The youth-only bear season shall close after daylight hours on the day the quota of five (5) bears has been reached.

      (5) A bear hunter shall call 800-858-1549 after 9 p.m. each day of any open bear season to determine if the annual quota has been reached.

 

      Section 10. Bear Quota Hunt with Dogs Requirements. (1) A person shall only harvest a bear with the use of unleashed dogs.

      (2) The bear quota hunt with dogs season shall also be open as a chase-only season for any person who possesses a valid bear chase permit.

 

      Section 11. Hunter Orange Clothing Requirements. (1) During any modern gun or muzzle-loading season for bears, a person hunting any species, and any person accompanying a hunter, shall display solid, unbroken hunter orange visible from all sides on the head, back, and chest, except these requirements shall not apply to a person hunting:

      (a) Waterfowl; or

      (b) Furbearers at night during a legal furbearer season.

      (2) The hunter orange portions of a garment worn to fulfill the requirements of this section:

      (a) May display a small section of another color; and

      (b) Shall not have mesh weave openings exceeding one-fourth (1/4) inch by any measurement.

 

      Section 12. Bear Reserves. (1) The areas within the Bear Zone established in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this subsection shall be closed to bear hunting:

      (a) Cumberland Gap National Historical Park;

      (b) Hensley-Pine Mountain Wildlife Management Area;

      (c) Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area; and

      (d) The area surrounding Hensley-Pine Mountain Wildlife Management Area: starting at the intersection of Sand Hill Bottom Road and North US Hwy 119 in Cumberland, the boundary proceeds northeast along North US Hwy 119 to the intersection of US Hwy 119 and Kentucky Hwy 2035. The boundary then proceeds west along Kentucky Hwy 2035 to the intersection of Kentucky Hwy 2035 and Kentucky Hwy 931. The boundary continues southwest along Kentucky Hwy 931 to the intersection of Kentucky Hwy 931 and Kentucky Hwy 160, then proceeds southwest along Kentucky Hwy 160 to the intersection of Kentucky Hwy 160 and Kentucky Hwy 463 in Gordon. The boundary then proceeds south and east along Kentucky Hwy 160 to the intersection of Kentucky Hwy 160 and Sand Hill Bottom Road in Cumberland, then south along Sand Hill Bottom Road to the intersection with North US Hwy 119, completing the boundary.

      (2) Kentucky resident landowners, their spouses, and dependent children may hunt bears on their own property within the closed area established in subsection (1)(d) of this section.

 

      Section 13. Harvest Recording and Check-in Requirements. (1) Immediately after harvesting a bear, and before moving the carcass, a person shall record on a hunter’s log the:

      (a) Species taken;

      (b) Date taken;

      (c) County where taken; and

      (d) Sex of the bear.

      (2) A person who has harvested a bear during the modern gun season for bears shall:

      (a) Retain a completed hunter’s log;

      (b) Check a harvested bear at a department-operated check station immediately after leaving the field;

      (c) Telecheck the bear before leaving the check station by:

      1. Calling 800-245-4263 and completing the telecheck process or checking the bear on the department’s Web site at fw.ky.gov; and

      2. Recording the confirmation number on the hunter’s log; and

      (d) Attach to the carcass a department issued tag prior to leaving the check station.

      (3) A person who has harvested a bear during the archery – crossbow season, youth-only bear season, or the bear quota hunt with dogs season shall:

      (a) Retain a completed hunter’s log;

      (b) Telecheck the bear by 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time the day the bear was harvested by:

      1. Calling 800-245-4263 and completing the telecheck process or checking the bear on the department’s Web site at fw.ky.gov; and

      2. Recording the confirmation number on the hunter’s log;

      (c) Arrange for department personnel to inspect the bear by:

      1. Calling the department at 800-858-1549 within twenty-four (24) hours of harvest; and

      2. Presenting to department personnel the bear carcass or an intact hide that contains the skull and proof of sex; and

      (d) Attach to the carcass a department issued tag after having the bear inspected by department personnel.

 

      Section 14. Incorporation by Reference. (1) The following material is incorporated by reference:

      (a) "Eastern Bear Chase Area" map, 2015 edition;

      (b) "Central Bear Chase Area" map, 2015 edition;

      (c) "Western Bear Chase Area" map, 2013 edition; and

      (d) "20__ Bear Chase Survey", 2014 edition.

      (2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, #1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time. (29 Ky.R. 1433; 1766; eff. 1-16-2003; 35 Ky.R. 349; 1745; eff. 3-6-2009; 37 Ky.R. 2683; 38 Ky.R. 16; 8-5-2011; 38 Ky.R. 1899; 39 Ky.R. 53; eff. 8-2-2012; 40 Ky.R. 412; 800; eff. 10-3-2013; 40 Ky.R. 2615; 41 Ky.R. 35; eff. 7-3-2014; 2318; eff. 9-4-2015.)

Notation

      RELATES TO: KRS 150.010, 150.092, 150.170, 150.175, 150.990

      STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 150.025(1), 150.390(1)

      NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 150.025(1) authorizes the department to promulgate administrative regulations to establish open seasons for the taking of wildlife, to regulate bag limits and methods of take, and to make these requirements apply to a limited area. KRS 150.390(1) prohibits the taking of bears in any manner contrary to any provisions of KRS Chapter 150 or Title 301 KAR. This administrative regulation establishes bear hunting and chasing seasons; bear hunting areas; legal methods of take; and permitting, checking, and recording requirements.