Frankfort, KY (February 15, 2004) - Kentucky hunters only have a few weeks left to enjoy squirrel or ruffed grouse hunting. The statewide squirrel season and ruffed grouse seasons remain open until the end of February.

Ruffed grouse hunters have until February 28, 2005 to stretch their legs roaming the hills and hollers searching for a bird to flush in those counties opened to ruffed grouse hunting.

Squirrel hunters also have until February 28, 2005 to use their .22 caliber rifles or their shotguns to bag their last squirrels until the June squirrel season. February is a good month to use dogs to hunt squirrels.

Rabbit and quail seasons closed February 10, 2005 in the counties west of and including Hancock, Ohio, Butler, Warren and Allen. Rabbit and quail seasons closed January 31, 2005 in the rest of the state.

If you plan to get out the fishing rods after these hunting seasons close or participate in spring turkey hunting, you’ll need to purchase a new hunting or fishing license after February 28, 2005. A combination hunting and fishing license saves the outdoor enthusiast who likes to hunt and fish $7.50 over buying these two licenses at separate times.

Also, the $80 sportsman’s license is a great deal for the avid angler and hunter who loves to participate in all of the hunting seasons and fishes the rest of the year. The sportsman’s license is a combination hunting and fishing license, a spring turkey permit, a fall gun and archery turkey permit, a statewide deer permit, a statewide waterfowl permit and a trout permit. It represents savings of $37.50 over buying these licenses and permits separately.

Many Kentuckians received turkey calls for Christmas and want to experiment with them prior to the season. However, calling or attempting to call wild turkeys by mimicking the sounds of a wild turkey is prohibited from March 1, 2005 until the opening of turkey season on April 15, 2005 in any area open to turkey hunting. Locator calls such as crow or owl calls are permitted.