How buying a gun in Louisville works
Pick an FFL dealer near you that accepts shipped transfers and name it at checkout. We confirm their license and ship the firearm to them. Ammunition, optics and parts ship straight to your door where Kentucky law allows.
Kentucky has no purchase permit, registration or waiting period. A dealer sale uses ATF Form 4473 and the federal NICS background check. Federal age rules apply at a dealer: 21 for handguns and 18 for long guns. When you buy online, the firearm ships to the Kentucky FFL you choose, who handles the check and the transfer. Bring a current government photo ID with your address.
Dealers in these communities all work for Louisville-area buyers:
- Jeffersontown
- St. Matthews
- Shively
- Middletown
- Shepherdsville
- Prospect
- La Grange
- Mount Washington
Carrying a gun in Jefferson County
Kentucky has allowed permitless concealed carry since 2019 for adults 21 and older who can legally own a firearm. The optional Concealed Carry Deadly Weapons (CCDW) license is still issued by the Kentucky State Police; you apply through the sheriff's office in your county, here the Jefferson County Sheriff. The license helps with carry in other states and in a few places Kentucky law treats differently. Posted private property and some government buildings remain off limits.
Hunting near Louisville
Kentucky's 2026-27 deer season opens with archery on September 5, 2026. The modern gun season runs from November 14 to 29, 2026, with muzzleloader dates in October and December. Rifles, handguns, shotguns and muzzleloaders are legal during modern gun season. Bag limits depend on the county's deer zone, so check the current Kentucky Fish and Wildlife hunting guide and telecheck every deer you harvest.
Louisville hunters use state WMAs to the south and east. Check the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife guide for Jefferson County's deer zone and bag limits.
The Ohio River gives Louisville strong fishing and waterfowl traditions, and Fort Knox to the south adds a large military community.
Public shooting ranges near Louisville
These public shooting ranges near our featured cities are run or listed by state wildlife agencies, state forests or the national forests. Many require a hunting or fishing license, a range permit or a day pass, and hours change with the seasons, so call or check the agency site first.
Source: State wildlife agency, state forestry and U.S. Forest Service range lists, September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.