How To Hunt In Kenyucky For Elk

By: Sarah Porter-Pennington

Break Studios Contributing Writer

Wondering how to hunt in Kentucky for elk? Kentucky is home to the best elk hunting experience east of the Mississippi River, with an elk herd as large as 10,000 head through the south central and southwest parts of the state. This coveted experience has been described as a mix between turkey and deer hunting, in which you lure or ambush the hunted animal. But this great hunting experience doesn’t come easily. To participate in the Kentucky elk hunt, you must be one of the lottery winners.

Each year a random computer generation selects 800 resident and non-resident hunters to participate in the Kentucky elk hunt. In order to get your chance at becoming one of the 800, you must apply and pay your application fee online. While the application was once available on paper, currently the only way to apply is online.
Provide your personal information. Once you enter this information and read about the selection process, you will enter your billing information from your credit or debit card.
To determine if you were selected to participate in the elk hunt, revisit the website on the assigned date. If you can not find the information you need call the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Services Information Center.
The dates for the Kentucky elk hunt change each year. The season starts during the first week of October and extends through the middle of January.
Follow the hunting laws if you were selected in the elk hunt Lottery. When you were selected at random by the computer, a specific permit was also randomly drawn that determines what kind of elk you can hunt. You will receive an assignment for either a cow, spike or bull elk and you can legally only take the type of elk assigned on your permit, using only the permitted rifle, gun or bow.
Ensure you have proper licensing before you begin the hunt. While you do not have to have your license before the drawing, you must have a current and valid permit and license when you enter the woods or field each day you hunt.