The elk zone includes the following 16 counties: Bell, Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, McCreary, Perry, Pike and Whitley. Inside this zone, elk may only be taken by hunters drawn for a quota hunt as previously described.
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What counties in Kentucky have the most elk?
South Fork Elk View: The largest elk herd in Kentucky resides in Breathitt County, and a viewing area has been established for visitors.
Where are there elk in Kentucky?
The elk restoration zone covers 16 counties in the southeast region of the state (approximately 4.1 million acres). The current estimated population is approximately 11,000 animals. Kentucky has the highest elk population of any state east of the Mississippi River.
Where is the largest population of elk in Kentucky?
After a concerted reintroduction effort two decades ago, the state is now home to the largest population of elk east of the Mississippi. The animals’ home: reclaimed coal mines. An elk on Boone’s Ridge in Pineville, Ky., an area that used to be rife with strip mines and is now seeing the return of its elk population.
Can non residents hunt elk in Kentucky?
How many elk hunt permits are awarded to nonresidents? Answer: Nonresident applicants receive no more than 10% of the total elk hunt permits in the drawing. Thus Kentucky residents receive 90% or more of the total permits awarded.
Are there mountain lions in Kentucky?
While mountain lions were once common in Kentucky, research shows the state has not supported a wild population of mountain lions for more than a century.Currently, the nearest wild population of mountain lions resides in Nebraska, more than 900 miles from Kentucky.
Are there elk in Daniel Boone National Forest?
The Daniel Boone National Forest is home to a wide variety of game species, including deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, quail, woodcock, squirrel, rabbit, fox, raccoon, waterfowl, and elk.
Is there moose in Kentucky?
It’s current range in North America is Alaska, Canada, Montana, Minnesota, Michigan, New York, New England States, and isolated areas of Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. Nope not quite down to Kentucky.There are estimates of more than 300,000 moose currently in the United States but alas none in Bernheim.
Are there wolves in Kentucky?
Historically, Kentucky was home to two wolf species: the gray wolf (Canis lupus) and the red wolf (Canis rufus). However, their numbers gradually declined as human population in the state increased. Today, neither wolf species can be found in Kentucky.
When did Kentucky introduce elk?
December 1997
Paul Patton during Kentucky’s first elk release in December 1997. 2.3 million acres with 1 percent cropland, 6 percent grasslands and 93 percent forest.
How good is elk hunting in Kentucky?
The Kentucky elk zone is split into elk units to distribute hunting pressure across the elk zone. Kentucky’s elk hunt continues to achieve one of the top harvest rates among states with elk.
How many elk does Kentucky have?
The current estimated population is 13,106 animals. Kentucky has the highest elk population of any state east of the Mississippi River. The first elk hunt was conducted in 2001. Six bulls and six cows were harvested, with all hunters filling their permit.
How much is a Kentucky elk tag?
License and Permit Fees
| LICENSE / PERMIT | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Quota Cow Elk Permit (if drawn) | $60.00 | $400.00 |
| Quota (Either Sex) Archery/Crossbow permit (if drawn) | $100.00 | $550.00 |
| Youth Elk Permit (if drawn) | $30.00 | $200.00 |
| Out-of-Zone Elk Permit | $30.00 | $400.00 |
How hard is it to get a Kentucky elk tag?
According to the Fish and Wildlife Department, last year one of every 134 resident applications was drawn for an antlered gun tag (for nonresidents it was 1 in 627). Resident antlerless archery hopefuls had the best chance: one in 13.
Almost 46,000 people submitted more than 95,000 total applications in 2020. Those who apply consistently each year, and for more permit types, are statistically favored over time to be selected. As of 2020, only 84 Kentucky residents who had applied all years had never been drawn.
What are the odds of getting an elk tag?
The draw procedures and application processes differ from state to state, but in a nutshell, your name goes in a hat and if it is selected, you get a tag. In really hard to draw areas (i.e., high quality), odds are often in the single digits, or even below 1%.
What is the deadliest animal in Kentucky?
The deadliest animal in Kentucky is the white-tailed deer. This fact may seem strange knowing that deer are gentle and non-aggressive wild animals. But white-tailed deer are responsible for 1.5 million car accidents per year in Kentucky.
Are there black panthers in KY?
“We do not have any black feline species in Kentucky,” hast said. “A black panther is a South American, Amazonian Jungle kind of deal.” In addition, the climate of Kentucky, specifically the winters, does not allow black panthers to survive here.As a breeding population, Cougars are considered extinct in the state.
What big cats are in KY?
For years, residents throughout Kentucky have reported seeing large cats: mountain lions, also called cougars or panthers. “I get calls all the time,” said state Rep. Fitz Steele, a Democrat who represents Perry and Harlan counties in Eastern Kentucky.
Is there elk in Tennessee?
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) decided to reintroduce elk to the state in the late 1990s.There were 201 Elk in total that were released over a period of eight years. It is currently estimated that the Tennessee elk herd numbers are a little over 400.
Are there elk in Indiana?
Elk, or wapiti, have not lived in the wild in Indiana since the 1830s, but elk farming has emerged in recent years.A number of elk farms operate in the state, including one in Steuben County.
