Welcome to

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area

KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE

Important Links

Purchase Hunter Use Permit

Quota Hunt Application System

Feral Hog Safety Tips

Hunting Information

Turkey Hunting

2024-25 Kentucky and Tennessee Turkey Season

Kentucky and Tennessee Hunt Dates

  • Youth Quota Hunt:
  • • March 30-31 & April 6 & 7 (Youth drawn can hunt both weekends)
  • Adult Quota Hunt:
  • • April 9 -10 & April 13-14
  • Spring Non-Quota Hunt:
  • • April 15-May 5
  • • You will be key in helping us test our new system, and to thank you for that, LBL will not charge a fee to apply for the 2024 turkey quota hunt when the system becomes available.

View Facts Sheet

Deer Hunting

2023-24 Kentucky Deer Hunting Season

  • KY Deer Quota Hunts
  • Adult KY Quota Hunt Date: November 17-19, 2023
  • There are no bonus bucks for adult hunters at Land Between the Lakes.
  • Youth KY Quota Hunt Dates: November 4-5 & December 16-17, 2023
  • • Youth ages 15 and younger
  • • One adult, 21 years or older, must accompany one youth
  • • All youth drawn for the November 4-5, 2023 LBL Youth Quota Hunt may also hunt the December 16-17, 2023 LBL Youth Quota Hunt in the same hunt area they were drawn to use.
  • 2023 Quota Deer Hunt Applications: Hunters can apply online for the deer quota hunts during July 1-31, 2023.
  • KY Archery & Crossbow Hunt Dates:
  • • September 2-November 2, 2023
  • • November 6-15, 2023
  • • November 20, 2023-December 14, 2023
  • • December 18, 2023-January 15, 2024
  • Late Season Archery Hunt Dates: News Release
  • • September 2-November 2, 2023
  • • November 6-15, 2023
  • • November 20, 2023-December 14, 2023
  • • December 18, 2023-January 15, 2024

2023-2024 Tennessee Deer Hunting Season

  • TN Deer Quota Hunts:
  • Adult TN Quota Hunt Dates: October 27-29 & November 17-19, 2023
  • Youth TN Quota Hunt Dates: November 4-5 & December 16-17, 2023 Youth ages 6-16
  • • One adult, 21 years or older, must accompany one youth
  • • All youth drawn for the November 4-5, 2023 LBL Youth Quota Hunt may also hunt the December 16-17, 2023 LBL Youth Quota Hunt in the same hunt area they were drawn to use.
  • 2023 Quota Deer Hunt Applications Hunters can apply online for the deer quota hunts during July 1-31, 2023.
  • TN Archery & Crossbow Hunt Dates:
  • • September 2-October 25, 2023
  • • October 30-November 2, 2023
  • • November 6-15, 2023
  • • November 20-December 14, 2023
  • • December 18, 2023-January 15, 2024
  • Late Season Archery Hunt Dates: News Release
  • • November 20 – December 14, 2023 and December 18, 2023 – January 15, 2024: Limited White Tail Deer Hunt Area within the Woodlands Nature Watch Area in Kentucky and the southern Nature Watch Area in Tennessee.
  • • December 1 -14, 2023 and December 18, 2023 – January 15, 2024: Energy Lake and Hillman Ferry Campgrounds in Kentucky and Brandon Spring Group Center and Piney Campground in Tennessee
  • For bag limits, rules, and permit information, see the 2023-2024 Deer Hunting Fact Sheet

Deer Hunting Resources

Small Game & Waterfowl Season

  • For dates, limits, regulations, and guidelines on small game and waterfowl hunting, see the2023-24 Small Game, Waterfowl, and Trapping Fact Sheet.
  • • This is the official document that includes hunt dates. If state agencies indicate something different, this document has precedence.
  • Night hunting for coyotes is prohibitedon Land Between the Lakes. Persons are prohibited from hunting coyotes from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes prior to sunrise. 36 CFR 261.58(v). This order is established for regulating the night hunting of coyote in order for the protection of visitors, local, state, and federal personnel.
  • No hog hunting.It is illegal to chase, hunt, transport, or release feral hogs on Land Between the Lakes. Those caught are subject to citation. Learn more on our feral hog information webpage.

2024 Kentucky & Tennessee Trapping Season

  • Trapping Season: January 8-21, 2024
  • Beaver Trapping Season: February 1-29, 2024.
  • Trapping is only permitted in Hunt Areas 2, 6, 7, 11, and 13
  • All trappers must possess a Hunter Use Permit and a Trapping Permit plus the appropriate state trapping license.
  • • Areas closed to hunting are also closed to trapping.
  • • All state and federal regulations apply for trapping including legal traps, sets, species, limits, reporting, and tagging requirements.
  • • All traps must display owner’s name and address.
  • • For limits, rules, and permit information, see the 2023-24 Small Game, Waterfowl, and Trapping Fact Sheet.
  • Trapping Permit Application
  • Print, complete, and sign the 2024 Trapping Permit Application.
  • Mail completed application to:
  • USDA Forest Service-Land Between the Lakes
    Attn: Trapping Application
    100 Van Morgan Drive
    Golden Pond, KY 42211
  • • Or scan and email completed and signed application to: frederick.fowler@usda.gov
  • • Applications will be reviewed, signed, and returned to the applicants.
  • Trapping Report Form
  • •2024 Trapping Report Form: This form must be printed and carried throughout the season for reporting purposes and mailed to the address above at the end of the season.

Permits & Regulations

  • Permits
  • Hunters may use printed or digital documentation with proof of identity.
  • Permits can not be changed, altered, or transferred to another hunter.
  • Land Between the Lakes Hunter Use Permit. Hunter Use Permits are $25 and are valid for one year from date of purchase. The Hunter Use Permit is available for purchase online, in-person at the Welcome Stations and Visitor Center, or anywhere Tennessee state hunting licenses are sold. It is currently unavailable where Kentucky state hunting licenses are sold.
  • Applicable state hunting licenses - ie: must hunt in Kentucky if hunter possesses a Kentucky state license. There is not a reciprocal agreement between states. State hunting licenses are not sold at Land Between the Lakes and must be purchased prior to hunting.
  • Quota hunt permit
  • Trapping permit
  • Hunter Safety Requirements
  • • All hunters must possess a hunter safety card as required by state regulations for the state portion of Land Between the Lakes in which they are hunting.
  • • All hunters and youth sponsors must wear visible items of hunter orange as required by state regulations.
  • • Adults accompanying youth hunters are not required to have a hunting license or LBL Hunter Use Permit, unless the youth has not completed a hunter safety course, in which case respective state regulations apply.
  • Rules & Regulations
  • • Be sure to read Land Between the Lakes Hunting Rules as well as the General Rules and Regulations before you hunt.
  • • If you are camping, read the Camping Rules.
  • • For specific information on hunting seasons, bag limits, etc., click on the tabs above for each game species and read its corresponding “fact sheet”.
  • All State and Federal Regulations Apply. The two most common hunting violations are carrying a loaded or uncased firearm in a vehicle and driving on illegal roads or in fields.

Reporting Your Harvest

  • Deer and Turkey
  • • All harvested deer and turkeys must be reported BEFORE leaving Land Between the Lakes.
  • • During business hours hunters must check in their harvested deer and turkeys at the Central Hunter Check Station (KY), North Welcome Station (KY), or South Welcome Station (TN).
  • • After hours or when the check station is not staffed, hunters must self-check their harvested deer and turkeys at a Welcome Station or at the Central Hunter Check Station by completing a Harvest Self Check Out Card. They can be found in the brochure rack located at the check stations.
  • • In addition to Land Between the Lakes reporting, hunters must also comply with all Kentucky or Tennessee harvest reporting regulations, i.e. telecheck.
  • Trapping
  • 2024 Trapping Report Form:COMING SOON. This form must be printed and carried throughout the season for reporting purposes and mailed to the address above at the end of the season.

State Hunting Information

Hunting at Land Between the Lakes

Hunting is a popular recreational activity and is an integral part of our wildlife management program. In the absence of large predators, hunting helps to maintain healthy populations of species such as white-tailed deer.

With thousands of acres teeming with game and over 300 miles of undeveloped shoreline, Land Between the Lakes offers an impressive variety of hunting opportunities and more than 250 days a year of in-season hunting. Hunters will find white-tailed deer, wild turkey, squirrels, and other forest game species abundant.

We offer annual spring turkey and squirrel hunts, fall/winter hunts for deer, waterfowl, and a variety of small game species. Hunters can also enjoy a variety of camping choices, from the convenience of our developed campgrounds to the rustic adventure of camping in our dispersed areas. For more detailed hunting information, email us at lblquotahunt@usda.gov.

Hunter Use Permits

All hunters age 16 and over must have a Land Between the Lakes Hunter Use Permit and applicable state licenses- ie: must hunt in Kentucky if hunter possesses a Kentucky state license.

The Annual Land Between the Lakes Hunter Use Permit is available online, in-person at the Welcome Stations and Visitor Center, or anywhere Tennessee State hunting licenses are sold.

Hunter Use Permits are valid for one year from date of purchase.