KY hunting (2024)

FAQs

Is the elk draw rigged in Kentucky? ›

How do we know the drawing is not “rigged”? Answer: The Kentucky Elk Hunt Drawing is currently conducted by the Commonwealth Office of Technology (COT, the state Information Technology agency). COT is a third party that is totally independent of KDFWR.

Go online to fw.ky.gov for current status. Bag limits and harvest restrictions apply to all hunters. There is no daily bag limit on deer. A person may take no more than one (1) deer with visible antlers, excluding male fawns (button bucks).

In order to take more than four deer statewide, an additional deer permit must be purchased. An additional deer permit allows a hunter to take up to two additional deer beyond the four deer allowed by the statewide or youth deer permits.

When it comes to top-end bucks, it's hard to beat counties that border the Ohio River and those in the western half of the state. Some of the best include Breckinridge, Butler, Christian, Daviess, Edmonson, Grayson, Hanco*ck, Hardin, Hart, Henderson, Hopkins, Logan, Muhlenberg, Ohio, and Todd.

South Fork Elk View: The largest elk herd in Kentucky resides in Breathitt County, and a viewing area has been established for visitors. From Jackson, which is located on KY 15 between Hazard and the Mountain Parkway, drive south on KY 15 for 3 miles, and then turn left on KY 1098.

Furthermore, pursuant KRS 150.170(7)​ , landowners have the right to kill any wildlife in the act of causing damage on their property.

Kentuckians who own less than 5 acres now need licenses to fish, hunt on own property. A provision included in Kentucky Senate Bill 241, which goes into effect immediately, now requires Kentuckians to have a permit to fish or hunt on their own property, if the property is less than five acres.

Hunter Use Permits

All hunters age 16 and over must have a Land Between the Lakes Hunter Use Permit and applicable state licenses- ie: must hunt in Kentucky if hunter possesses a Kentucky state license.

KY Rev Stat § 150.090 grants state conservation officers full rights as ordinary peace officers, including the right to, “go upon the land of any person or persons whether private or public for the purpose of the enforcement of laws or orders of the department relating to game or fish.” They may arrest on sight and ...

Can Amish hunt year round in Kentucky? ›

Amish can hunt year-round, and they can hunt whatever animal they prefer, save for protected animals. The decision about whether or not to hunt, what to hunt, and when, is mostly left up to the individual.

Hunting deer over bait on public property is not allowed. Current Kentucky regulations define “Bait” as “a substance composed of grains, minerals, salt, fruits, vegetables, hay, or any other food materials, whether natural or manufactured, that may lure, entice, or attract wildlife.”

Measuring the Biggest Kentucky Buck Ever

He was 40.5 inches wide and scored 516 5/8″, making him the largest whitetail buck in Kentucky, ever…just wait until you see what he grew this year!

City of Antlers, OK | Deer capital of the world.

In 2022, there were 94,295 applicants in the elk draw. Of those applicants, 44,644 were non-residents. A total of 57 non-residents drew elk tags in 2022.

General drawing quota permits are available by applying to the Kentucky elk lottery online. Permits are offered for bull firearm, cow firearm, and either sex archery/crossbow permit; individuals may apply separately for each permit type, for a total of 3 possible applications per year.

Did you harvest an elk during your hunt? 50% (223) of hunters in this survey were successful during their 2021 Kentucky elk hunt.

The draw procedures and application processes differ from state to state, but in a nutshell, your name goes in a hat and if it is selected, you get a tag. In really hard to draw areas (i.e., high quality), odds are often in the single digits, or even below 1%.