The first bill passed out of committee in this 2024 General Assembly session deals with land across the Commonwealth. Specifically, the measure returns to a ten-acre limit in exempting farmland owners from sports hunting and fishing licensing. Grayson Senator Robin Webb, who previously won approval for a five-acre limit, supports this change back to ten acres.
“More people are gonna have to buy a license when we revert to the original law. That assist our Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife in operating,” said Webb.
Webb said those license revenues are important since the Department doesn’t receive state general fund dollars.
The eastern Kentucky lawmaker said regulations are needed to deal with poaching concerns. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Resources Commissioner Rich Storm noted there is a need for clarification.
“I think over the years we’ve been debating back and forth what actually constitutes as an exempt landowner,” said Storm.
Bill Sponsor Gex Williams said future legislation could look at splitting off fishing from hunting when it comes to an issue like this.
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