Most commonly hunted migratory birds in Kentucky
Stacker compiled a list of the most commonly hunted migratory birds in Kentucky using data from a report released by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in August 2025. Duck and goose species are ranked by the estimated 2024 hunting harvest in Kentucky.
In 2024 Kentucky had the largest estimated harvest of all states for 1 migratory bird species: Hooded Merganser.
#10. Snow Goose
- Kentucky: 1,759 (0.5% of national harvest)
- National: 323,223
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. California: 94,309 (29.2% of national harvest)
--- #2. Arkansas: 57,235 (17.7%)
--- #3. North Dakota: 35,133 (10.9%)
--- #4. Kansas: 26,009 (8.0%)
--- #5. Texas: 21,624 (6.7%)
#9. White-fronted Goose
- Kentucky: 3,517 (0.8% of national harvest)
- National: 416,769
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Arkansas: 134,741 (32.3% of national harvest)
--- #2. California: 89,534 (21.5%)
--- #3. Louisiana: 52,046 (12.5%)
--- #4. Kansas: 32,512 (7.8%)
--- #5. Mississippi: 22,807 (5.5%)
#8. Northern Pintail
- Kentucky: 4,635 (0.9% of national harvest)
- National: 498,672
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. California: 86,358 (17.3% of national harvest)
--- #2. Texas: 45,114 (9.0%)
--- #3. Arkansas: 36,067 (7.2%)
--- #4. North Dakota: 33,384 (6.7%)
--- #5. Louisiana: 30,185 (6.1%)
#7. Green-winged Teal
- Kentucky: 6,696 (0.3% of national harvest)
- National: 2.4 million
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. California: 332,993 (13.9% of national harvest)
--- #2. Louisiana: 263,211 (11.0%)
--- #3. Texas: 219,022 (9.1%)
--- #4. Arkansas: 209,789 (8.8%)
--- #5. North Carolina: 134,267 (5.6%)
#6. Black Duck
- Kentucky: 7,726 (4.1% of national harvest)
- National: 187,389
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Maryland: 27,614 (14.7% of national harvest)
--- #2. New York: 24,822 (13.2%)
--- #3. New Jersey: 18,456 (9.8%)
--- #4. Maine: 14,437 (7.7%)
--- #5. Virginia: 12,723 (6.8%)
#5. Gadwall
- Kentucky: 10,816 (0.7% of national harvest)
- National: 1.4 million
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Arkansas: 295,749 (20.5% of national harvest)
--- #2. Louisiana: 180,505 (12.5%)
--- #3. Texas: 147,712 (10.2%)
--- #4. Tennessee: 85,775 (5.9%)
--- #5. Oklahoma: 85,682 (5.9%)
#4. Hooded Merganser
- Kentucky: 11,331 (8.6% of national harvest)
- National: 132,412
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Kentucky: 11,331 (8.6% of national harvest)
--- #2. North Carolina: 11,304 (8.5%)
--- #3. Minnesota: 8,743 (6.6%)
--- #4. Louisiana: 8,452 (6.4%)
--- #5. New York: 8,164 (6.2%)
#3. Canada Goose
- Kentucky: 31,657 (1.3% of national harvest)
- National: 2.4 million
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Michigan: 167,809 (7.1% of national harvest)
--- #2. Minnesota: 149,423 (6.3%)
--- #3. Kansas: 147,696 (6.2%)
--- #4. Wisconsin: 141,923 (6.0%)
--- #5. Illinois: 140,829 (5.9%)
#2. Wood Duck
- Kentucky: 46,354 (2.6% of national harvest)
- National: 1.8 million
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Georgia: 215,316 (12.1% of national harvest)
--- #2. Louisiana: 205,256 (11.5%)
--- #3. Arkansas: 175,526 (9.8%)
--- #4. Minnesota: 114,865 (6.4%)
--- #5. Wisconsin: 112,564 (6.3%)
#1. Mallard
- Kentucky: 85,497 (2.5% of national harvest)
- National: 3.5 million
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Arkansas: 530,183 (15.3% of national harvest)
--- #2. Oklahoma: 201,683 (5.8%)
--- #3. Missouri: 187,251 (5.4%)
--- #4. Tennessee: 180,965 (5.2%)
--- #5. North Dakota: 164,401 (4.7%)
