Kentucky farmers who own less than five acres of farmland will now need to purchase a license to hunt or fish on their property. The requirement is part of a new law, Senate Bill 241, which tweaks state law to change the exemption clause that previously applied to farmland owners.
The legislation, which was passed without much discussion, caused concern among farmers and the president of the League of Kentucky Sportsmen, Rich Zimmer, who was caught by surprise when he learned of the change. However, Senator Robin Webb, the sponsor of the bill, says it aims to clarify who qualifies for the exemption and to stop abuse of the farmland exception.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources estimates that the exemption is used by hunters and fishers daily, with around 17% of deer hunters using the exception. The department sold more than 500,000 fishing licenses and over 300,000 hunting licenses in 2022, accounting for more than half of its revenue.
Categories: Kentucky, Rural Lifestyle