The Kentucky Department of Fish
and Wildlife Resources is an agency of the
Kentucky Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet.
Our nine-member commission is nominated
by Kentucky sportsmen and sportswomen and
appointed by the governor. This commission
appoints the department’s commissioner.
We employ about 500 people full-time,
including conservation officers, wildlife and
fisheries biologists, conservation educators,
and information technology, public relations,
customer service and administrative
professionals.
Our headquarters is located in Frankfort,
but we work with landowners, hunters, anglers,
boaters and wildlife enthusiasts statewide.
We conserve and enhance fish and
wildlife resources and provide opportunity
for hunting, fishing, trapping, boating and
other wildlife-related activities.
Every year, we:
• Enforce hunting, fishing and boating laws
across Kentucky for resource protection
and public safety.
• Manage over half a million acres of public
land and water for the benefit of all fish
and wildlife species.
• Stock more than 4 million fish in public
waters.
• Build and maintain public boat ramps,
shooting ranges and bank fishing access
areas, and acquire new public land and
maintain facilities (capital construction).
• Assist about 2,000 private landowners with
fish and wildlife habitat improvement.
• Inform and educate more than 400,000
kids and adults through education and
outreach programs.
