Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Seeks Opinions From Turkey, Waterfowl Hunters
July 23, 2009
Frankfort, Ky. – The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is seeking opinions from turkey and waterfowl hunters about seasons and bag limits. Department officials today launched an online questionnaire at fw.ky.gov to obtain hunter opinions about proposals affecting turkey and waterfowl hunting.
The turkey questionnaire asks hunters whether they want to retain the current opening weekend of the general spring season – currently the Saturday closest to April 15 – or if they prefer for the season to always start on the second Saturday in April.
The waterfowl questionnaire seeks input about changing or retaining the current bag limit for hen mallards. The questionnaire also asks hunters whether the current youth-only waterfowl season for the Eastern Zone should remain on the first weekend of November, or shift to the first weekend of February, which is the same date as the Western Zone youth-only waterfowl hunt.
The questionnaires will remain online through August 10. Results will be compiled and submitted to the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission for further consideration at its August 14 meeting.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission Proposes Modifications to Elk Hunting Units at Special Called Meeting
May 18, 2009
Frankfort, Ky. – The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission today proposed some modifications to Elk Hunt Unit 6 (EHU) at a special called meeting in Frankfort.
The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission recommends all hunting, fishing and boating regulations for approval by the General Assembly and approves all expenditures by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. All recommendations must be approved by legislators before they become law.
The Commission recommended splitting Elk Hunt Unit 6 into five sub-units designated by letter. Elk Hunt Unit 6 is home to the 16,704-acre Graham Wildlife Management Area (WMA), the 30,038-acre Begley WMA and the 54,838-acre Corrigan WMA. Subdividing Elk Hunt Unit 6, which is located in all or parts of Clay, Leslie, Harlan, Bell, Knox, Whitley and McCreary counties, will help more evenly distribute hunting pressure during the quota elk hunts. The subdivision would take effect this year.
Commission members also recommended changes to the 2010 late season quota elk hunt. The hunts began last year to help control elk-related property damage. Hunters drawn for this hunt will come from the pool of regular hunt applicants who are also residents of the 16-county elk restoration zone. Hunters may also harvest a few spike bulls. The number of hunters to be drawn for this late season hunt has not yet been determined.
The Commission also standardized the definition of a youth for elk hunting as “a person who has not reached their sixteenth birthday by the day of the hunt.” This regulation would not take effect until 2010. It would not affect youths drawn for the 2009 hunt.
The next Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting will be held at 8 a.m., Friday, June 12, 2009 at #1 Sportsman’s Lane off U.S. 60 in Frankfort. Persons interested in addressing the Commission must notify Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s Commissioner’s office in writing at least 30 days in advance to be considered for placement on the meeting agenda. People who are hearing impaired and plan to attend the meeting should contact Kentucky Fish and Wildlife at least 10 days in advance and the agency will provide a translator. To request to address the commission, write to KDFWR, Commissioner Jon Gassett, #1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky, 40601
Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Hunt Safely Late in the Spring Turkey Season
May 3, 2009
Frankfort, Ky. – The Bluegrass is turning green. Once-bare trees hold thickening canopies of leaves thanks to plenty of rain and sunshine. But the growing leaf cover that spells springtime means turkey hunters must be extra careful in the woods.
“It’s harder to see turkeys – but harder to see people, too. That’s one of the big concerns,” said Mary McQuillen, hunter training officer for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
McQuillen advises hunters to positively identify what’s moving before pulling the trigger, and not make the mistake of just shooting at a sound or movement.
Hunting remains a safe activity with just a few incidents reported each season. Although more than 75,000 people are turkey hunting in Kentucky this spring, there has been only one hunting accident reported as the general season approaches its second week. In that single incident, a hunter firing at a flying turkey accidently struck his hunting partner with some shotgun pellets.
“What happened in that particular situation was the turkey flew and was out of the hunter’s zone of fire,” said Bobby McKee, also a Kentucky Fish and Wildlife hunter training officer. “He ended up making a mistake and shooting his buddy. You always have to know your target and what’s beyond it.”
McKee recommends hunters create a plan when hunting with friends. “If you’ve got a buddy that is hunting with you, you need to constantly know where your friend is at,” he said. “When I’m hunting with a friend, we plan ahead of time where each of us will be and how we’re going to hunt that farm. Have a hunting plan and stick to it.”
Even with the best plans, however, it’s always possible to encounter an unexpected hunter in the field. Hunters should be cautious when alerting others to their presence.
“If you see another hunter, don’t wave at him. That movement could get you shot,” said McQuillen. “Stay still and, in a normal voice, say, ‘Hey, I’m hunting here.’ ”
McQuillen also cautions hunters against using gobbler sounds, which other hunters may mistake for a real turkey. Additionally, hunters should be careful which colors they wear in the field.
“Never wear the colors of the American flag – those are the turkey’s colors,” said McQuillen. “Hunters see color and they think, ‘turkey.’”
Turkey hunters should keep safety in mind at all times, no matter how much they want to take a bird. All it takes is one lapse in judgment to cause an injury.
“Sometimes the pressure is on if you haven’t gotten your bird yet,” said McKee. “It might make hunters a little anxious to harvest one. But this is not a time to make a bad decision.”
Kentucky’s spring turkey season is open now through May 10. For complete hunting regulations and additional turkey safety tips, check the 2009 Kentucky Hunting Guide for Spring, available at fw.ky.gov and wherever hunting licenses are sold
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