Kentucky Elk Drawing Results Available Online
Hunters can now go online at fw.ky.gov to see if they were drawn for Kentucky’s 2013-14 elk hunts.
The Commonwealth Office of Technology has selected 1,010 names from among the 34,397 people who applied for the hunts. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources received 61,051 applications from as far away as Hawaii, Alaska, Ontario, Maine, Florida and Texas. Hunters could apply for up to two permits.
This season will be the 13th year for elk hunting in the state. Kentucky launched its successful elk restoration program with the release of seven elk from Kansas in 1997. Over the next five years, the department released 1,542 more elk from six states.
Kentucky’s elk herd now numbers more than 10,000 animals – a number higher than all the states east of the Mississippi River combined.
Hunters must go online to the department’s website to determine if they were drawn. Applicants must provide their 19-digit confirmation number or their social security number and birth date.
The department’s website contains a wealth of information to help hunters with their decision on a hunting area. Kentucky’s elk zone is split into five different areas, including two at-large areas and three limited entry areas (LEAs).
Each area includes public land open for hunting. Since not all public lands have elk, hunters should look up elk harvest results from previous years to help guide their decision on where to apply.
Hunters should note that all or part of two wildlife management areas (WMAs) have been designated as Active Restoration Areas and will be off-limits to elk hunting this year. The areas include all of Fishtrap WMA in Pike County and the southernmost tract of Corrigan WMA in Bell County.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife relocated 50 elk to Corrigan WMA in 2010 and 26 elk to Fishtrap WMA since 2012 to provide source herds for those areas.
Drawn hunters have until July 5 to apply for their hunting zone preferences. The drawing for hunting areas will be held later in the month. Once a hunter is drawn for a particular area, that person will not be allowed to switch areas.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, is responsible for the conservation of fish and wildlife resources and for boating projects in the state. A commissioner appointed by the Fish and Wildlife Commission heads the department. The commission, which is responsible for department policy, is a nine member bipartisan body appointed by the governor from a list of candidates voted upon by sportsmen's organizations in each of nine districts.
