Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: dave19113 on February 12, 2011, 06:29:00 PM
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Was interested in getting some info on elk hunting in Ky. A friend gave me info on the Ky lottery for non residents. I live in Va so it seems better for me to travel 8hrs vs 22hrs for Co.
Was looking to see if there are any trad bow hunters in area planning to put in for it and is the oct season the time when your calling them in or is it spot and stalk.
From what I read I always thought sept was the calling season???
Also, from what I read online the odds are better than Co due to the limited amout of hunters....
Any and all info would be appriciated.
Thanks
Dave
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Do a member search for "Bowwild" on here. He was head of the department when they started to develope the herd.
He can give ya the good, the bad, and the ugly about the KY elk, the lottery, etc
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The KY Dept. of Fish and Wildlife always has info on their web site. I've been in the draw from the beginning but haven't been drawn yet. I'll be in there again this year.
I've never hunted elk so won't be much help as far as what to do, but I keep hoping.......
Do a search for KY Dept of Fish and Wildlife. There is a lot of info on there including an article on what to do if you get drawn.
Good Luck to you!
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Dave, I would also like to try that. I live in WV but I work for a company out of KY. I've been tring to find out more my self. If I can find out more I'll let you know
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Dave,
The KY herd was reborn the week before Christmas in 1997. It started with 7 KS elk and another 1542 were added from AZ, NM, UT, OR, and ND. The herd is now estimated to be around 10,000 animals. It is the largest, by far in the eastern U.S.-- about 3,000 larger than Nevada. KY's elk range covers 16 contiguous counties encompassing about 3,000,000 acres. Most of the land is private but leases with coal companies provide lots of access.
There is bugling activity in the October season although you are correct, it starts in September. KY wanted to set its season so bulls would have more opportunity to breed before being taken out of the herd. Sort of like rifle gun seasons in Ohio, Kansas, Illinois and other very high quality deer hunting states.
By all means apply, everyone should. Your $10 demonstrates how hunter support, paid for, and continues to pay for this exciting recovery project! The odds are pretty steep though. Last year about 32,000 people applied for around 800 permits. If you are drawn though you will enjoy a success rate far greater than in any western state -- around 76%. UP TO 10% of those drawn can be nonresidents. This doesn't mean in a given year 10% of the permits WILL be allocated to NR, if resident names are drawn first.
We started hunting the herd with 6 bulls taken in 2001. I was comfortable applying in 2007 and will continue to do so until God takes me home.
There is a fellow (a bowhunting machine!) on Trad Gang that is much more current than I am about the project, now that I'm retired.
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What a tremondous success story! Thanks to all involved.
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
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Thanks for all the info Bowwild, I sent you a PM on some other questions while you were posting. I am going to put in regardless.
Anyone interested in going and or planning a hunt PM me or add to post....
Thanks all
Dave
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Dave,
I put in for the lottery, both cow and bull archery chances. It is close enough to home that, if I do get drawn, I figure I can make a couple scouting runs this summer. I have never hunted elk, so I can offer any advise, but good luck with the draw. I hope we both get lucky!
Chris
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Bowwild, at one time 2 (or more) folks could enter on one draw chance as a team. Is that still available? That allows you to hunt w/your friends if selected. If so, I'd enter along w/other TG members (dave19) for the chance.
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Does anyone have any info on public land areas to go? I recieved a PM stating that a guy drew a tag then found out the area he drew had little or no public areas to hunt???
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You go where they send you when it comes to areas. Go to the KY DNR (http://fw.ky.gov/navigation.aspx?cid=151) website for your answers.
pssssst. you will not get drawn... neither will I or anyone we know :)
best of luck!
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I'm pretty sure there has never been a party application available for a KY elk hunting. If there was a party ap it would have been during one of the years since 2007 as I don't follow it as closelly as I used to have to do. There definitely isn't one now.
What usually happens, when a person gets drawn they become an instant celebrity within their circle of family and friends. It is not uncommon to see folks tagging along with these elk hunters. The first bull killed in KY on opening morning of our elk hunt was carried out without even field dressing by an army of folks who rushed to the scene!
By the way, that very first elk hunt in 2001 saw a bowhunter from Eastern KY (Morehead area) kill a bull with a bow! A tiny "rocket broadhead".
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10,000 elk in Kentucky! I never knew there was that many. Far better odds than here in PA. I'm guessing we have 800 elk with about 10,000 applicants for around 40 or so tags.
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I have only followed the Kentucky elk reintroduction from a distance, as the occasional story pops up. I'm only a few hours north of the herd, but never really felt a desire to hunt them. I'm happy for Kentucky's success, though.
Speaking of success: I recently read a news story reporting on one small town's difficulties with the elk. I recall people saying the elk were invading their backyards and gardens. Not just a few...but a bunch of the elk have been killed in collisions with vehicles. No residents have died, but one woman survived having a bull slam through her windshield. This bull died kicking and struggling on top of the driver. I saw the picture and it was gruesome. Anyway, the local residents are somewhat fed up (according to the story) and are pressing for extra elk kills. I believe a number of these particular elk are targeted for trapping and relocation to Missouri.
I should add that anyone who hasn't travelled through southern and eastern Kentucky is missing some beautiful and rugged country. There is...appropriately enough...a small town down there named Elkhorn City.
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KY's elk range was chosen because it is 93% forest, 6% open reclaimed minelands, and 1% agriculture. The ag lands are fescue pastures in very hilly country. The elk range is about 3,000,000 acres in size.
When the public was asked how they felt about elk returning, dozens of public informational meetings were held. More than 3,000 written comments were collected statewide. Of those comments 90% were in favor on a statewide basis and 99% of more than 2,000 comments from people who lived in the area were in favor. There has rarely been a project so favored by the public who actually live in project area.
You know which group was against the restoration of elk in Kentucky? The Fund for Animals, a rabid bunch of anti-hunter radicals with a regional "office" in Louisville, KY. They didn't want a game species restored. That reveals their true colors by the way, they aren't for wildlife they are simply hunter haters.
We studied the issues in AR, PA, MI, OK, MN, and WI regarding elk and the problems they might cause. The highest roadkill evidence was in Michigan where, with 600 elk in their herd they had 5-6 roadkills per year. We expected 15-16 per year in KY. I don't know if that's the number these days or not...I've been out of the loop now for 4 years.
The elk do get in some trouble, even in these lightly populated mountains. One pulled up $700 in blue plastic flowers in a mountain cemetary. Another tore hayjack out of Santa's sleigh and reindeer one winter. A State Policeman called me at home once and asked how to get an elk out of his dog kenney -- the dog had chased it in there. Lucky for me, the elk figured out how to get out before I had to get creative! They have pestered some cattle and surely they've damaged some fences. And yes, there have been roadkills. Some of the problems have occurred in areas where locals, against the law, have set up feeding stations to view the animals.
Local folks though enjoy the elk. Some will follow bulls around in the late winter waiting for antlers to drop so they can pick up a souvenir. Many become guides during hunting seasons and yes, some landowners collect tresspass fees from elk hunters. Poaching is extremely low!
Whenever someone complained about "your" elk or "your deer" referring to these animals belonging to the state wildlife agency, I always reminded them that God put them there first. Our mismanagement (people) caused them to disappear once, and we were just correcting the error.
I do sympathize with those and their families and friends who have an encounter with an elk, deer, dog, domestic cow, drunk driver, etc. on the highway. But for the grace of God there go I.
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Yes, Missouri is starting a herd. It won't be allowed to get too large, probably more on the scale of MI, AR, and PA (100's vs. 1,000's). Their animals will come from KY's herd because ours has been so thoroughly tested and found to be disease-free. I don't know exactly where the elk will come from. It is very common in translocation efforts for canidate animals to come from nuisance or high population herds that are readily easy to access.
This KY herd will contribute to herds that will be started or have started in VA and W.VA also. We assited the Tennessee agency with their elk capture and reintroduction. Many think there will be an Appalachian elk herd numbering more than 20,000 animals before many more years.
I'm excited about it. Unlike the 5 generations before them, the children being born in the mountains today will think it normal to hear the bugle of these beasts in September and October!
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This is a dream for sure.
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For the $20 for the 2 lottery tickets its worth it if by chance i get picked. As for the area they give you your 1st 3 choices so just as long as you pick public areas I hope its not a problem........
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Here's a link to the story I recently read. Consider the source...
http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/10/revived-then-reviled-ky-lets-community-hunt-elk/
From what I've read, the program was and is an overwhelming success. Evidence the rapid and successful reproduction and expansion of the herd. It only makes sense that the state will allow increased harvests to keep the target numbers where they want them.
Like so many creatures, they are magnificient to view on a sunny slope up high on a ridge. I can understand how having 2 or 3 of them spend the night in your garden would send you spinning. This is one of those "nimby" things that states must address as reintroductions occur.
I also heard that Kentucky killed its first legal black bear in something like 100 years just this past fall. Maybe the wolf is on the agenda?
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2 bears were killed this year. Our first season in decades was last year but it was "snowed" out.
No wolves! They'll eat our moose! Also, with lots of people around Louisville wearing little red riding hoods.....
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That's bad Bowwild!!! A lot of the guys on here probably won't get the reference to the Louisville Cardinals.
I've been in the draw every year except one if I remember correctly. Doing my part to help restore the herd, but haven't been drawn yet. This year is the first year they have had seperate bowhunting permits. I think that will increase the odds of getting an archery permit as opposed to being lumped into a pool to just draw "a" permit. I'd say that this will increase the odds of being drawn significantly.
I'll be hoarding my vacation and hoping for the best.
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Results will be out in May. We should either resurrect this thread of start a new one then for anyone that is drawn. It would be great to have a group of "gangers" get drawn and work together on making a successful hunt.
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Elk Hunt FAQ\\'s (http://fw.ky.gov/elkfaq08.asp)
See the above for more info.
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Well I hope that some of you draw a tag. I have been watching KY herd since UT started sending elk to KY. I think this type of success really shows what hunters can do. The one thing that amazes me is how much weight the elk put on with KY great feed,if I rememmber right they weight 100 lbs to 200 lbs more on average than in the western ranges. I know it may seem funny the someone from the west would consider this hunt but this is one elk hunt I would like to do.
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I was thinking the same thing Jimmy. Probably better odds to put in for KY than UT :biglaugh:
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We'd be glad to have some of you western guys up here to hunt "your" elk. Us rookie's could use a little help in figuring this thing out.
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Originally posted by Marvin M.:
That's bad Bowwild!!! A lot of the guys on here probably won't get the reference to the Louisville Cardinals.
I caught it Marvin. Note to self, Take Roy Grimes off Christmas card list. GO CARDS
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I know several people that have got drawn,my wifes niece got a cow 2 years ago and her mother got a cow this year.also when you pick your area its up to you to find your hunting spot.the best way to get info is to contact the dept. of fish and wildlife.Contrary to what some people may think i belive this one of the best ran elk lotteries in the country.I have applied every year and havent gotten drawn yet but you can bet i will try again this year. If you think you or anyone else you know will NOT get drawn theres not much use wasting your 10.00 DOLLARS.
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Originally posted by Marvin M.:
Results will be out in May. We should either resurrect this thread of start a new one then for anyone that is drawn. It would be great to have a group of "gangers" get drawn and work together on making a successful hunt.
I agree on that.... It would be good to see who is in... the only problem is getting the same spots... Website says top 3 picks need to be submitted.
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MY wife drea a rifle bull tag in 2009, and did not get drawn for any of the 3 areas she put in, can be pretty bad that way, but we managed, and with some help she got a 4x4 first day.
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I have never hunted Elk before. But I want too. I will be putting in for it. $ 10 sounds like a deal to me. Thanks for the thread.
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I know 2 people that were drawn last year. I don't feel the draw is "rigged" like some suggest, its just what it is, a lottery, and the odds are against you.
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The elk drawing is one of the mose integrity-filled activities on the planet. Passing the plate down the pew is no more honest than the elk drawing. The first drawing was overseen by the state auditor's office as the applications were under lock and key and every movement of the applications was watched by these folks. The drawing is televised to document it's integrity. I know, it is easy to trick camera's, etc. Bottom line, FW folks don't make enough to lie for some bozo (whatever is "enough").
I'm not going to say when or who, but in the 1990's a well-connected dude (outside the agency) asked me to make "sure" he was drawn for a WMA Quota Deer hunt. I told him I wouldn't do it. I went further to say that if he tried to "make me" I would tell the first person who asked what he had done. He backed off FOREVER!
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Haven't been drawn yet,but the wife and I will keep trying.The money goes for a good cause and Ky.has a great record on restoration,Deer,Elk,Turkey,River Otter,just to name a few.
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I've never thought it was "rigged" or in any way altered to allow anyone to get drawn. It's been popular from the beginning and the odds of being drawn are high.
It's getting better and having an archery draw this year will make it even easier to get a tag. If you assume that most people want to hunt and want a successful hunt, there will be a lot more people in the rifle portion of the draw than the archery/crossbow. The odds have to be better now.
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I think they pick the tags in April... so I will resurect this post regardless to see who got it.... I might just go out there anyway for deer to check out the area for a future lottery if I dont get it this year.
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dave19113 - a FYI, application deadline is April 30, 2011.
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I was also reading online they are having an archery only bull season in sept. Does anyone know if that is included in lottery or if there is a separate lottery? I tried to call but got no returns yet.
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I really hadn't looked into KY before. I play tag games in other states, but for whatever reason had overlooked this one. Not this year! My application is in. And actually, the odds are pretty decent for just a $10 investment. 1 in 40 beats a lot of other high quality hunts in some of the more well known elk hunting states.
What a wonderful success story KY has with its elk program!
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Dave,
This is the first time they have done separate archery tags. You sign up for each lottery (max of 2). You can only get drawn for one tag and they do them in order. For example, if I sign up for "archery bull" and "archery antlerless" I'm in two separate lotteries. They do them in order so the bull draw would be first. If I'm drawn for a bull, I'm disqualified for the antlerless drawing. If I'm not drawn for a bull, I'm still in the draw for an antlerless tag.
In previous years there was one draw for all participants and no separate archery tags. This way you can have more than one chance and can go for archery only -- it should be a smaller pool of entrants.
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I see, but what about the Sept archery season they spoke of? Is there only a select amount offered for that? separate from the regulat bull archery season?
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80 tags will be issued for the September (bull) Archery season. That is the draw for an archery bull tag. There are only 80 of them, so the odds will be pretty slim on that one if I had to guess. There are 240 (I think) antlerless archery tags -- meaning a total of 320 archery only tags that will be issued.
That means there are 480 gun tags that will be available. Obviously the gun hunters get more shots at it (pun intended), but I suspect there will be a lot more of them in the draw than archery hunters. If you want to gun hunt, there are more tags but probably a lot more competition for them.
Archery bull is the first hunt and is in late September. We get to go in before the gun hunters. We get first crack at it -- I think that is great. Gun hunters have to wait for us to finish before they can hit the hills.
I posted a link earlier for the frequently asked questions from the site about this year's draw. There is good info on that, as well as the seasons for each of the tag categories. Find that and it should be clear what they are doing. Look at the dates for the hunts and the number of tags for each.
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Elk Hunt FAQ\\'s (http://fw.ky.gov/elkfaq08.asp)
There is the link again to the info I was referencing.
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This is a great thread. I had no idea the elk were reintroduced and doing so well in the Eastern States and no wolves like here in Idaho. We have seen the elk herd diminished greatly in our favorite hunting area and have found carcasses and listened to the wolves at night. Puts the bugger into the horses and it is sad to see such pristine elk habitat lose the elk and deer populations. Best of luck to your states and those who can draw on one of these magnificent animals. There is nothing like having a bugling bull in the rut during archery season, come into your call. You never forget the feeling and adrenaline surges. Best of luck to all who draw and I tip my hat to the organizations that have made the efforts to introduce the elk. Regrettably elk and cars and other domestic encounters can have serious and tragic consequences. Posting signs in identified travel and habitat areas can certainly help and alert unsuspecting travelers.
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Thanks MARVIN M.
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Seeing this thread reminded me I hadn't applied yet, I have now! I also have applied every year since the lottery began but have never been drawn. Hopefully the early bull only season will bring the odds down a bit, but I would be happy with an archery cow tag.
Steve H
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TTT
Elk draw results are supposed to be posted tomorrow by the end of the day.
I signed up for both the archery segments.
Good Luck everyone!
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I just called and was advised the results wouldn't be posted until the first of next week?
I applied for the single permit to be awarded to someone who fits the following criteria:
--58" Recurve
--26" draw
--Beman MFX Classic Arrows
--The Stick Broadhead
--Bow must be custom-made by Montana bowyer
--Bow must contain two of the following "list" of exotic woods; Macassar Ebony and Myrtle
I can't believe how perfectly my bow fits these standards!
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Oh...the bow must be a "lefty" -- there went 90% of the hopefuls!
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Roy I meet all the required criterias!!
You have just forgotten to remember bow must be at least 60#.
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You're killing me Roy. Can't you get those boys to hustle it up?
I've got lots to learn (like how to hunt elk) and lots of decisions to make (like which unit to apply for, which bow to use, do I need new arrows, etc.......).
Help a brother out here!!!!
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Results are out. :readit:
I DREW A COW TAG!!!!!!! :help: I've never hunted elk before. How about it gang? Help me fill my tag, please!
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Congrats brother that's awesome!!!! Here is the link guys. I hope your luck is better than mine.
http://fw.ky.gov/app/ElkQuotaLookup.aspx
:(
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Me or the wife didnt get drawn either, good luck to the rest of you guys!
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Marvin, looks like the KDFWR is ahead of their help desk's schedule which is terrific! Congrats on the drawing.
I'm now 5 for 5 in the "sorry" catergory. The good news is that the odds indicate I have only 26 more years to wait to be drawn! Let's see....57+ 26 .....uh, oh?!
Good luck this year!
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Well guys, add another to the ranks of "sorry you were not selected to hunt elk, good luck with next years draw". Oh well, I guess the wife can find a use for the funds I set aside to use for extra elk hunt expenses :campfire:
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The wife and I missed again also,oh well there's always next year.Congrat's Marvin and hope your luck carries over to the hunt.
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Another member of the "sorry try again next year" club.
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It's a big "try again" next year for me too.
Marvin, I wish all the luck.
Please share some pics of your adventure and hopefully your harvest!
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No luck here. :banghead: Next year for sure! :pray:
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This was my first try at KY, so I'm sure not suprised to find "Good Luck Next Year" when I looked. But you can bet I will be back to try again!
Congratulations to all who drew!
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Only bad luck for me as I wasnt drawn either.
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Just talked to my son-in-law and he got drawn for a firearms bull on the first hunt and wants me to go with him,so I guess i'm going elk hunting after all. LOL.
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No luck for me, maybe next year. I still have my fingers crossed for a Maine moose permit.
Congrats to all who got their elk tag.
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Add me to the "sorry but" list. Try again next year.
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I did not draw either of the archery permits.
Good luck to all who have a permit.
Dennis
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Once again I got the "sorry" list. Oh well, there is always next year and the next and the next...........
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did not draw
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I'm $50 poorer w/ a "sorry" for myself and my son....
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Sorry, try again next year... I got the same message.
Scott
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No luck here,got the sorry charlie message,send us your 10 bucks again next year..Dave
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I got a SORRY YOU ONLY GOT A COW ARCHERY TAG! Oh maybe it said "congratulations" I just assume to see "sorry", last year I applied for 27 draws and got picked for ZERO. Seriously I could use some help on what areas to apply for, I don't have any contacts in KY anymore and I do have some elk hunting experience, so I don't think I need a guide, but would be willing to pay a trepass fee(if necessary).
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Rick....I just got a call from my son's best buddies Dad saying Jacob..(age 12) got drawn for a Dec. Cow tag (rifle). I'm in the process of trying to find some contacts for him. If I get anything I'll let you know. They'll prob go the guide route as not knowing the areas or what EMU to put in for.
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Lowebow, thanks in advance! I always recommend guides for first time elk hunters. Most guys hunting elk for the first time don't without a guide don't do very well.
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The draw may be over, but I just received 6 $25 raffle tickets in the mail from KY F&G. Don't have them here in front of me right now to see the date of raffle, but I suppose this is yet another lottery???
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Originally posted by Zbone:
The draw may be over, but I just received 6 $25 raffle tickets in the mail from KY F&G. Don't have them here in front of me right now to see the date of raffle, but I suppose this is yet another lottery???
Special "Commission" tag that was given to I'm gonna guess "Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation"....
They are given out to organizations to help raise much needed funds to be used on pre-specified projects.
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My brother-in-law drew a cow tag in 2009 so I went as his "elk guide". In 2 hunts we saw nothing but bulls, not ONE cow! I have a big KY elk shed that was picked up after the season that would score 330+ on the hoof.
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Gary that sounds awesome, I can't wait to come back and complain that I saw nothing, but bulls, out west I never had shot opportunities at anything, but cows.
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Maybe next year for me, I will keep trying.
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Rick,
Congratulations. I'll be glad to share any info I get. I don't have any contacts in Eastern Kentucky either, at least not in the Restoration Zone, but am sending out feelers to anyone I know that might have contacts or info. In the mean time I'm checking the harvest results and other publicly available info to see what I can find there.
I'm not planning on using a guide either, and will probably get in a couple of scouting trips before season opens.
Anybody else who has info, please chime in. I need all the help I can get.
Contact me if you want to share info.
Marvin
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Marvin, sounds good. I may try to get a scouting trip in as well and I will let you know what I hear.
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Thanx for the info LoweBow.
Yep, I have the raffle tickets in front of me, and they are from the "Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation".
From what I gather by reading packet sent, it is only one Bull elk tag to be raffled, but haven't a clue what the odds, or for what area, but my numbers are up in the 200,000s...8^)
With those kind of odds, I assume you could hunt any zone in the state?...8^)
They're $25 each to six for $100, and drawing is June 4th.
http://www.kentuckywildlife.com/donate.aspx
Anyhow, I'm tapped out this year applying for hunting applications, but if anyone is interested in these tickets PM me and I'll send them to ya.
Congratulations to those that drew.
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Here's some stats as run down by my good friend Joe.
805 tags
61500 total applications
28922 bull firearm
15645 cow firearm
11090 bull archery
4849 cow archery
994 youth hunt PVB
35,359 individual applicants, 11223 of those were NR of which 81 NR drew, one was a youth for the PVB