As of May 7, 2025, the current hunting seasons in Kentucky are as follows:

• Turkey Spring General Season runs approximately from April 12 to May 4, 2025. This is for hunting bearded turkeys during daylight hours with appropriate permits

• Deer hunting seasons for 2024-2025 mostly run from September through January, so no active deer season is open in early May. Archery and crossbow seasons run from early September through mid-January, with youth and muzzleloader seasons in fall and winter

• Night hunting on private land with breech-loading rifles or pistols is allowed from May 16 to June 30, but this is a special provision and not a general open season

• Elk hunting seasons are permit-based and occur mainly in fall and early winter, so no elk season is open in May

In summary, the only active general hunting season in Kentucky in early May is the Spring Turkey season, which ends around May 4. Other major game seasons such as deer and elk are closed at this time

. Night hunting on private land with certain firearms is allowed starting May 16

. For exact dates and regulations, hunters should always consult the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Resources official season dates and rules before hunting.