The Kentucky elk herd established in Eastern Kentucky in 1997 is flourishing. It is estimated by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife personnel that the herd has grown to 10,000. The population growth is well ahead of the original model. The elk releases were halted in 2002 and future releases will not be necessary.
If you are a die hard elk hunter, you don't care where you find 'em. I lived in Colorado and hunted elk all over the Rockies most of my adult life. In 2010, we relocated to Central Kentucky which puts me about a two-hour drive from the largest elk herd east of the Mississippi River. Elk have thrived in the mountains of Eastern KY as evidenced by the numbers stated above. Winters are relatively mild, there is little to no predation by carnivores and hunting so far has not had a significant adverse impact on the herds. The result is as of 2014 KY hosts some really nice bulls in the 350++ class. Success rates are high. Tags are very limited compared to western elk states but they are not impossible to obtain. For 2014 the number of available tags will increase from 900 to 1000. That leaves 999 for the rest of you because I plan on drawing one of them.
The drawing period for 2014 is January 1 through April 30 (midnight Eastern time).
The cost to put your name in the lottery is a mere $10 per tag. $10 bucks, can you believe that! If you are drawn, then you have to purchase a resident or non-resident tag. For $10, every self respecting elk hunter should give Kentucky a shot.
For more information: http://fw.ky.gov/Hunt/Pages/Elk-Hunting.aspx
Kentucky holds a lottery each year. One can apply for up to 4 tags (2014). You can only draw one.
If you are a die hard elk hunter, you don't care where you find 'em. I lived in Colorado and hunted elk all over the Rockies most of my adult life. In 2010, we relocated to Central Kentucky which puts me about a two-hour drive from the largest elk herd east of the Mississippi River. Elk have thrived in the mountains of Eastern KY as evidenced by the numbers stated above. Winters are relatively mild, there is little to no predation by carnivores and hunting so far has not had a significant adverse impact on the herds. The result is as of 2014 KY hosts some really nice bulls in the 350++ class. Success rates are high. Tags are very limited compared to western elk states but they are not impossible to obtain. For 2014 the number of available tags will increase from 900 to 1000. That leaves 999 for the rest of you because I plan on drawing one of them.
The drawing period for 2014 is January 1 through April 30 (midnight Eastern time).
The cost to put your name in the lottery is a mere $10 per tag. $10 bucks, can you believe that! If you are drawn, then you have to purchase a resident or non-resident tag. For $10, every self respecting elk hunter should give Kentucky a shot.
For more information: http://fw.ky.gov/Hunt/Pages/Elk-Hunting.aspx
Kentucky holds a lottery each year. One can apply for up to 4 tags (2014). You can only draw one.
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