Patience Pays Off For Kentucky Hunter Who Took 180-Inch Buck | Outdoor Life

By Travis Faulkner

When you’re a father and hardcore deer hunter, it can be extremely difficult to juggle a demanding work schedule and family commitments with fall hunting. This is exactly the dilemma that Josh Hunt found himself facing during the magical month of November. In addition, Hunt had promised his 7-year-old son that he would get the first shot during Kentucky’s annual modern rifle season.

Needless to say, this guy was really feeling the pressure to tag-out with his bow. As a result, he decided to take the second week of November off from work and hunt from daylight until dark. Hunt’s perseverance and dedication was finally rewarded during the last day of his vacation. Here is how his amazing hunt unfolded.

During the first part of Hunt’s vacation, he was seeing a lot of deer activity near his treestand. He was setup directly between two bedding areas with thick cover, which allowed him to catch bucks cruising back and forth for receptive does. In fact, Hunt almost shot a 150-class bruiser the weekend before his vacation started, but the buck busted him when he was drawing his bow. At the time, Hunt felt like he had been gut-punched and that another opportunity would probably not present itself before the opening of gun season.  Click Link Below For Full Story!

via Patience Pays Off For Kentucky Hunter Who Took 180-Inch Buck | Outdoor Life.

Alaska Guiding Legend Joe Hendricks Charged With 34 Felonies | Alaska Dispatch

Craig Medred

One of Alaska’s oldest and most respected big-game guides has been charged with 34 felonies related to illegal hunting in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, most of them alleging that he allowed another unidentified guide to use his exclusive guide area. Joe Hendricks, reached by phone at a winter home in Kentucky, said he couldn’t talk much about the lengthy indictment handed down on Dec. 14, but seemed mainly worried about what it would do to his reputation.

“This is going to mortify my daughter,” he said.

Hendricks’ business, Fair Chase Hunts, has been guiding big game hunters to trophy Brooks Range sheep and monster Kodiak Island grizzly bears for more than four decades. “I’ve had an impeccable record for 45 years,” he said. He hinted that it might have been tarnished now by one of the people with whom he has been doing business in the Arctic. “It’s pretty much assistant guide stuff,” he said.

Alaska has a complicated guiding system that parcels out hunting opportunities to a select handful of master and registered guides. They are then free to hire state-licensed assistant guides to work for them. As it now exists, the system is similar to limited entry in the commercial fisheries off Alaska’s coast. The idea behind such systems is to ensure viable incomes for the people who work in them and, theoretically, to enlist the help of these businessmen to protect public resources as wise stewards of Alaska’s resources.   Click Link Below For Full Story!

via Alaska Guiding Legend Joe Hendricks Charged With 34 Felonies | Alaska Dispatch.

Kentucky Hunter Takes 18-Point Monster Buck | Outdoor Life

By Travis Faulkner

Sometimes in life we don’t always get our first choice, but that’s not always a bad thing. For example, recently a hunter named Greg Allen decided to go ahead and cash in his one Kentucky buck tag on a deer that was actually not his first choice. However, it would be pretty difficult for any serious whitetail hunter to let a giant 18-point buck walk in order to hold out for something bigger. Here is an inside look at how this amazing hunt unfolded in Washington County, Kentucky just a few weeks ago.  Click Link Below For Full Story!

via Kentucky Hunter Takes 18-Point Monster Buck | Outdoor Life.

Hunters Take Four Black Bears During Kentucky’s 2011 Season

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Hunters took four black bears during Kentucky’s third season for the bruins, held during the weekend of Dec. 10-11.

Neil Perkins, of Hallie, Ky., took a 350-pound male bear in Letcher County that is the heaviest bear taken since Kentucky’s first bear season in 2009, said Steven Dobey, bear program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Hunters took two bears in Letcher County and two in Harlan County.

Snow and ice storms created difficult hunting conditions during Kentucky’s two previous bear seasons. A total of six bears have now been taken in three seasons. Hunters purchased 484 permits for the 2011 hunt.

Black bears moved into Kentucky by natural range expansion from West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee. At the present time only three southeastern counties – Harlan, Letcher and Pike – are open to bear hunting in Kentucky.

“Our highest bear densities are on Pine Mountain, which runs through Harlan and Letcher counties and extends into Pike County along its southeastern boundary,” said Dobey. “Harlan and Letcher counties border Virginia, which has had a fall bear season for decades.”

Hunters are required to register their harvest online or over the telephone through the state’s Telecheck system. Hunters are also required to bring the bears to a check station so biologists can collect information on the bear’s age, sex, weight, body measurements, and the presence of tags or tattoos used to mark some animals.

Perkins’ bear had some history. “We had captured him in May 2010 in Hyden, Ky., in Leslie County for nuisance-related behavior, and released on Hensley-Pine Mountain WMA,” said Dobey. “At that time he weighed about 200 pounds.”

Dobey said the bear likely weighed more than 400 pounds before it was field dressed.

Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Questions And Answers For Modern Gun Deer Season

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Modern gun season for deer, the highlight of the fall hunting calendar, opens Nov. 12, 2011.

Hunters often wonder about rules and regulations concerning deer hunting. Here are some FAQs (frequently asked questions) about Kentucky’s most popular big game hunting season:

Q: Does modern gun season for deer open on Nov. 12 every year?

A: No. It opens statewide on the second Saturday in November. The actual date changes annually due to calendar shift.

Q: How long is modern gun season open?

A: Kentucky’s 120 counties are divided into four deer management zones. Counties in Zones 1-2 have a 16-day season (Nov. 12-27) and there’s a 10-day season in the counties of Zones 3-4 (Nov. 12-21).

Q: How many bucks can a hunter take during modern gun season?

A: All hunters have a bag limit of one antlered deer per season, no matter what they hunt with (modern gun, bow, crossbow, or muzzleloader), or the seasons they choose to hunt.

Q: How many antlerless deer (does) can a hunter take during modern gun season?

A: In the Zone 1 counties, hunters may take an unlimited number of antlerless deer. There’s no “daily” bag limit on deer. In Zones 2-4, the combined bag limit for all deer seasons is four deer. Hunters are reminded that in the Zone 4 counties, antlerless deer may not be taken during modern gun season.

Q: How do hunters check in the deer they take during modern gun season?

A: Hunters now have three Telecheck options: The first is to call (800) CHK-GAME (245-4263). The second and third options are online. Visit the department’s website at fw.ky.gov from a home computer or laptop, or a phone with a web browser, and follow the prompts. All deer taken in Kentucky must be Telechecked.

Q: Can hunters use archery gear or muzzleloaders during modern gun season for deer?

A: Yes; any legal rifle, handgun, bow, crossbow or muzzleloader may be used. All deer hunters must wear hunter orange clothing and must follow all firearm season restrictions, zone guidelines and other hunting requirements.

Q: A 30-year old resident who is new to hunting wants to know what license and permits are required for modern gun deer season. A co-worker invited him to hunt on their family’s farm.

A: Kentucky residents must purchase an annual hunting license and deer permit. Additionally, anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1975 must carry a valid hunter education course completion card while hunting. Anyone hunting for the first time is also eligible to buy a hunter education exemption permit. This permit allows apprentice hunters to hunt for one year without a hunter education card. The permit requires its holder to hunt with a licensed, adult hunter who meets the hunter education requirement.

Q: Where can a hunter get more information about Kentucky’s deer seasons?

A: A summary of Kentucky’s deer season dates, a list of counties in the various management zones and other important laws can be found in the 2011-12 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide, a 66-page booklet that’s available wherever licenses are sold. Also, deer season regulations are posted online at: fw.ky.gov.

Kentucky Afield Outdoors – Early Muzzleloader Deer Season

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The first of two seasons created especially for hunters who want to take deer with muzzleloading firearms is coming up.

Kentucky’s early muzzleloader deer season, which debuted in 1990, will be held this year on the weekend of Oct. 15-16.

In the past decade, the muzzleloader deer harvest has averaged 16,272 deer a year. A high of 19,918 was taken during the 2004-05 season, and a low of 13,179 bagged last season.

“Because it’s in mid-October, our early muzzleloader season often gets impacted by hot weather,” said Tina Brunjes, deer and elk program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

The amount of mast (acorns) available to deer is also a factor in how many deer are taken.

“A bad mast year pushes deer out into the open, to forage fields and food plots, and that tends to increase the harvest,” said Brunjes.

Wildlife biologists checking trees on 45 routes across the state as part of the department’s annual mast survey found that 30 percent of the white oaks and 76 percent of the red oaks produced acorns this year.

The department’s mast survey has been conducted annually for over 50 years. “In 2007, we adopted a standardized protocol of checking marked trees, so we could share data with other states in the region,” said Robinson.

“Based on what we observed, this year’s mast crop is rated poor for white oaks (20 to 39 percent of trees produced mast), and good for red oaks (60 to 79 percent of trees produced mast),” said Ben Robinson, small game biologist for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.

Oaks, especially white oaks, are the most important tree species to wildlife in Kentucky forests. They produce acorns that are a critical food source for squirrels, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, black bear and other forest species.

Wildlife prefer white oak acorns because they are more palatable. The acorns produced by red oaks are much higher in tannin, which makes them bitter.

White oaks can produce acorns every year but entire crops are often lost due to late freezes, summer droughts or untimely rains when oak flowers are pollinating. Red oaks are more reliable year to year because it takes two years for red oak acorns to mature and not all trees produce mature acorns in the same year.

White oak stands make excellent places to set up a ground blind or tree stand.

“Find a white oak that has acorns, and you’ve got a good place to hunt,” said Brunjes. “Deer will travel a considerable distance to feed on white oak acorns.”

She has another suggestion for hunters. “If you’re trying to reduce deer numbers or improve the buck-to-doe ratio in your herd, go ahead and take a doe during the early season. It’s not going to mess up your hunting for bucks during the rut,” said Brunjes. “You need to think of the big picture when managing deer on your hunting property.”

Muzzleloaders have always been part of Kentucky’s hunting history and culture. During Kentucky’s muzzleloader deer seasons, hunters may use traditional muzzleloaders, such as flintlock longrifles and percussion half stock rifles, or modern in-line muzzleloaders of any caliber. Legal equipment also includes optical sights, round balls, conical bullets and saboted bullets.

Kentucky’s late muzzleloader deer season is actually the older of the two seasons. It was first held in November of 1985 as a two-day hunt in 52 counties. Hunters could take only antlered deer. At that time not all 120 counties were open to deer hunting, and the state was divided into seven deer management zones.

Through the years the late season was lengthened and the bag limit liberalized. The season was eventually moved to mid-December.

By 2004, the late season had expanded from seven to nine days and opened statewide. By then, hunters could take deer of either sex in all four of the state’s deer management zones.

This year’s late muzzleloader dates are Dec. 10-18, 2011.

The early birds catch a look at elk on state parks’ tours | Kentucky.com

By Bruce Schreiner — Associated Press

HAZARD — Sleepy sightseers piled into vans at a state resort park for a nearly hourlong drive in the dark to an Appalachian coal-mining site that’s become home to another valuable natural resource in Eastern Kentucky.

The group gave up some sleeping time for a chance to get a close look at a majestic animal that has made a strong comeback after disappearing from these Kentucky mountains for more than a century.

That first glimpse of an elk at daybreak, as the sun peeked over the crest of hillsides, was worth the early wake-up call.

At that point, the hunt was on for visitors armed with cameras and binoculars.

“We’re in chase mode now,” said tour guide Trinity Shepherd, the park naturalist at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park in Prestonsburg.

Everyone had caught elk fever. The visitors peered out the van windows looking for antlers or patches of brown nestled in the green vegetation. It didn’t take long to find more elk and to hear a bull elk bugle — a foghorn-like bellow heard during fall mating season.  Click Link Below For Full Story!

via The early birds catch a look at elk on state parks’ tours | Travel | Kentucky.com.

KY Bull Elk Taken by Madisonville Girl – iSurf News

By Kim Plunkett

HOPKINS COUNTY, KY (10/11/11) – Kaylee Plunkett, a 13 year old resident of Hopkins County, harvested a 6×6 bull elk over the weekend in Knott County, Kentucky in the 2011 Kentucky Quota Hunt.

Kaylee, along with another 120 winners of the annual lottery draw, had the honor of participating in the hunt. Last year over 40,000 applicants were vying for the coveted permits. Winners of the annual draw have the opportunity to hunt Kentucky’s elk herd in a 16-county area in the Daniel Boone National Forest and the Appalachian region of Eastern Kentucky.

The 16-county elk zone is 4.1 million acres, and is divided into 10 Elk Hunting Units, including sub-units, with a total of 576,994 acres open to public hunting. Kentucky’s elk herd now boasts over 10,000 free ranging elk and it is through the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife that the elk herds are managed through the annual draw.

Kaylee has hunted deer in Hopkins County and has always wanted to hunt elk. This year was the first time that Kaylee was entered in to the annual lottery and had the privilege to hunt the second bull rifle season which is a specified 7 day hunt.  Click Link Below For Full Story!

via KY Bull Elk Taken by Madisonville Girl.

Hunters May Now Apply Online For Quota Deer, Small Game And Waterfowl Hunts On State WMAs

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Beginning today, hunters may apply online for quota hunts for deer, small game and waterfowl on state wildlife management areas (WMAs). Those without computer access may still register over the telephone by calling 1-877-598-2401. This toll-free number is staffed 24 hours a day.

The application period for state WMA quota hunts is September 1-30. Kentucky state parks are also offering special bow hunting packages that are not quota hunts, but reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“If you apply online for a state WMA hunt, we can e-mail you a confirmation that your application was received and what hunts you applied for – if you provide us with your e-mail address,” said Patrick O’Connell, Information Systems Manager for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “After the application period ends, we will post a link on the department website so that all applicants can see if they were drawn.”

Last season 10,630 people applied for quota hunts on state WMAs.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife offers 29 quota hunts for deer; three pheasant quota hunts at Green River Lake WMA and Clay WMA; six wild quail quota hunts at Peabody WMA; four wild quail and grouse (upland bird) quota hunts at Clay WMA; and waterfowl quota hunts at Ballard WMA and Sloughs WMA.

Waterfowl quota hunts at Ballard WMA are held on Wednesdays through Sundays. Hunters may apply for individual days. At Sloughs WMA, quota hunts are held seven days a week, but hunters must apply for a block of days.

This season features two new quota hunts for deer: one at Marion County WMA and State Forest, and the second at Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area in Meade County.

Both areas will have two quota hunts. The Otter Creek hunts are Nov. 19-20 and Dec. 10-11; 15 slots are available for either hunt. A user permit is required to hunt.

At Marion County WMA and State Forest, the hunt dates are Nov. 12-16, and Nov. 17-21, with 25 slots open for each hunt. No check in or check out is required, but hunters must telecheck the deer they take.

Hunters are reminded that antlered deer taken on state WMA quota hunts count towards the statewide bag limit.

To apply online for quota hunts on state WMAs, visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at fw.ky.gov.

Hunters telephoning their applications may apply for any or all of these quota hunts at the same time. Be sure to tell the operator you are calling to apply for quota hunts in Kentucky.

Deer hunters also have the option of special bow hunting packages sponsored by Kentucky State Parks. Greenbo Lake State Park will offer a women’s getaway package Nov. 4-6. Other hunts are set for Nov. 20-22 and Dec. 8-11. State parks are offering special packages as part of the hunts, including lodging and food.

Those interested in a special state park bow hunt should e-mail questions to Stephanie.poplin@ky.gov, or call 1-800-325-0083 for more information

Kentucky’s 2011-12 Elk Season Opens With Archery Bull Hunt

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Elk season in Kentucky will open this year on Saturday, Sept. 17, with a new 14-day hunt for the 80 archers who were awarded bull permits.

“The early archery season will open during the peak of the rut,” said Tina Brunjes, deer and elk program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “We expect bulls to be bugling and rounding up harems of cows. It will be interesting to see what the success for this hunt will be.”

The total of 800 permits awarded by lottery drawing for this year’s quota elk hunts also includes 240 archery cow permits, 120 firearms bull permits and 360 firearms cow permits. This season hunters were able to apply for up to two of the four tag types, but not twice for one tag type.

Also new this year, hunters with bull permits may take any elk with visible antlers. Hunters with archery/crossbow permits may not hunt during the four weeks of firearms elk seasons. Those awarded permits to hunt elk with firearms may not hunt during archery/crossbow elk seasons.

The 2011-12 quota elk hunt dates in Kentucky are: Firearms (Bull) Week 1, Oct. 1-7, and Week 2, Oct. 8-14; Archery (Bull) Sept. 17-30, Oct. 15–Dec. 9, Dec. 24-31, and Jan. 1-16, 2012; Crossbow (Bull) Oct. 15-16, Nov. 12-Dec. 9, and Dec. 24-31; Firearms (Cow) Week 1, Dec. 10-16, and Week 2, Dec. 17-23; Archery (Cow) Oct. 15-Dec. 9, Dec. 24-31, and Jan. 1-16, 2012, and Crossbow (Cow) Oct. 15-16, Nov. 12-Dec. 9, and Dec. 24-31.

Hunters are reminded that anyone hunting any species inside the elk zone during a firearms quota hunt for elk must comply with Kentucky’s hunter orange law.

Kentucky’s elk herd, first hunted on Oct. 6, 2001, was restored by a six-year stocking program which began in 1997. The 2011-12 season will be the 11th year that an elk hunt has been held in Kentucky.

Hunters bagged a total of 540 elk (198 bulls and 342 cows) last season. Of that total, archers took 28 elk and hunters using crossbows harvested just nine elk.

Initially, the lottery drawing for elk permits was open to residents only. Kentuckians hunted elk for the first three seasons, but, beginning in 2004, non-residents could apply for permits. No more than 10 percent of the permits are awarded to non-residents.

Because such a low percentage of permits are allocated for non-residents, Kentucky residents have always had a much better chance of being drawn to hunt.

Consider what happened this year when about 61,500 applications were submitted by 35,359 hunters for 800 elk permits. The odds of a non-resident being drawn for a bull firearms permit were 1 in 742, and 1 in 568 for a bull archery permit.

By contrast, Kentucky residents had much better odds of being drawn for a permit: 1 in 185 for a bull firearms permit and 1 in 91 for a bull archery permit.

Kentucky’s 16-county elk zone is 4.1 million acres, and is divided into 10 Elk Hunting Units (EHUs) with a total of 567,714 acres open to public hunting. The EHUs have been established to manage the elk herd, spread out hunting pressure, and provide hunters with a high chance of success.

Hunters are required to possess an annual Kentucky hunting license and out-of-zone elk permit to take elk outside the 16-county elk zone, unless license exempt. The season bag limit on elk is one per hunter per season, regardless of the permit type.

For more information on elk hunting in Kentucky visit the department’s website: fw.ky.gov.

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