A single $10 bill could open the door to the elk hunt of a lifetime. Kentucky’s elk lottery costs just $10 to enter, but the chances of drawing a tag are getting tougher as the state’s reputation for trophy bulls continues to rise.
Elk are native to Kentucky, but recently have been absent from the range they inhabited since the mid-1800s. When the state released seven elk transported from Kansas in 1997, they had no idea how well the animals would prosper. Over the next few years they released more than 1,500 additional elk from several Western states. The 16-county elk-restoration zone in southeastern Kentucky turned out to be an excellent place to grow elk, and the herd expanded steadily.
Now home to an estimated 10,000 elk, Kentucky is gaining notice among elk hunters. When the hunting program began in 2001, only 12 elk tags were available and 7,090 people applied for them. In 2004 the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife (KDFW) received more than 8,000 applications for 40 elk tags. This year, more than 37,000 hunters applied for 1,007 tags. The state will issue permits for 250 bulls and 750 cow elk. The program has had excellent success rates. Last year 96 percent of the bull elk tags and almost 90 percent of the cow elk tags were filled.
Kentucky’s commitment to youth hunting opportunities continues to shine under the direction of KDFW Commissioner Jon Gassett. A youth-only season will take place Sept. 26-28. Five young hunters will be drawn via lottery to gun hunt in a 2,300-acre area normally reserved for bowhunting. The area is known for trophy bulls.
Private landowners in the elk-restoration zone who participate in the state’s hunting program receive additional incentives to open up their land to hunters. The KDFW issues elk tags to private landowners who open more than 5,000 acres to public access. They must allow hunting for all species. If they agree, the landowner receives one elk tag for every 5,000 acres entered in the program. The tag is then transferable by gift or sale.
The elk-restoration program in Kentucky is providing funding for the state’s wildlife department and opening additional private and public land to hunting. For more information on how to enter the drawing for a Kentucky elk tag visit fw.ky.gov.
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