The 2024 Kentucky elk quota hunt application period is open. Instructions on how to apply for the 2024 Kentucky elk quota hunt applications are available and can be found at http://fw.ky.gov/Hunt/Pages/Elk-Hunting-Regs.aspx. The application period to apply for the 2024 Kentucky elk hunt opened August 1st and runs through April 30th. Three permit options are available – bull firearm, cow firearm, and either-sex archery.
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The Kentucky deadline to apply for elk is April 30, 2023. Our online/print magazine has everything in one location: Application info, draw details and odds, fees, hunter requirements, point structure, age restrictions, youth information, weapon restrictions, other tag opportunities, hunt planning and much more. If you would like access to all of our research join today!
Kentucky accepts online applications for the elk drawing. If you have questions about or need assistance with applying, call the Information Center at 800-858-1549. Kentucky allows applicants to apply for both bull and cow permits. In total, applicants can apply for three quota applications – bull firearm, cow firearm, or either-sex archery/crossbow. Kentucky does not accept party applications for elk in the initial drawing. However, successful applicants may apply in groups of three for the elk hunting units.
All drawn elk hunters and Commission permit holders have the ability to apply for a specific elk hunting unit and/or regulated area in a secondary drawing conducted by the Commonwealth Office of Technology. Prior to the drawing, each hunter can choose up to five unit or area preferences before midnight on June 30th. Once the selections have been made, each applicant, regardless of permit type, will be given an identifying number and drawn at random for the unit or area of their choosing. A computer will randomly draw an individual and look at their choices before moving to the next applicant. If there are no openings in any of that applicant’s choices or if an applicant fails to make a selection, the computer will randomly place the applicant in a hunt unit with an opening for their permit type. No more than 10% of the tags may be issued to nonresidents. Hunters who are successful in drawing a bull elk permit will not be eligible to apply for three years for another bull elk permit. Also, a three-year waiting period applies to those drawn for cow elk permits. Hunters must first apply to draw a permit. Successful applicants will then have the option of applying in a second draw held in July for one of the six available units. If they decide to not apply for a zone, they will be placed into whatever areas are available after the draw.
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The application fees must be paid for using Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or a debit card. Each drawing application you apply for will cost $10, which is nonrefundable. If an applicant applied for both archery and firearm bull permits, it would cost them $20.
All hunters born on or after January 1, 1975 must carry a valid hunter education card. If you are a bowhunter and are not in possession of a firearm, you can just carry a bowhunter education card. All hunters and persons accompanying them must wear solid, unbroken hunter orange that’s visible from all sides on the head, back, and chest, if hunting during the rifle season. Children younger than 12 years old are exempt from the hunter education certification but must be accompanied by an adult who meets the hunter education requirement.
The Kentucky elk zone is divided into seven different units. The primary function of each unit is to prevent localized overharvest of elk on public access land. KDFWR accomplishes this goal by limiting the number of hunters allowed on each unit.
Kentucky does not have a minimum age to apply.
Kentucky does not have a preference or bonus point system.
In 2023, there were a total of 594 elk tags available, and 537 of the tags went to Kentucky residents and 57 went to non-residents. There was a total of 78,590 applications received for both non-resident and resident applications, with 41,799 resident applications and 36,791 non-resident applications.
Hunters who are 15 years of age or younger may apply for the youth-only drawing. There are currently 26 youth-only eithersex permits. Youth may also apply for the general drawing three times like any other applicant, giving them four chances overall. However, they are only eligible to draw one permit.
The following are legal weapons to hunt elk in Kentucky: a .270 caliber or larger rifle, a muzzleloader (.50 caliber or larger), a shotgun (20 gauge or larger slug), or a centerfire handgun with a case length of 1.285 inches or larger, firing bullets of .270 caliber or larger. Full metal jacketed or tracer bullets are prohibited. For archers using a crossbow, longbow, recurve, and/or compound bow, there is not a draw weight limit, but you must hunt with a fixed blade or mechanical broadhead that has at least a 7/8” wide cutting edge. Any legal elk hunting weapon may be used during the rifle season dates.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife may award up to 10 either-sex elk permits to eligible 501C3 organizations each year. These permits are valid on any public or private property (with permission) in the elk management zone. All money generated from the transfer of the permit must be used to benefit conservation in Kentucky.
Landowner-Cooperator permits are transferable either-sex elk hunting permits to landowners who allow public hunting on their property. The Department issues one permit for every 5,000 acres enrolled. These permits may only be used on property the landowner has enrolled into the program or any adjacent private property that is owned by a different landowner (with written permission). If you are not lucky enough to draw a tag in Kentucky but still would like to hunt elk in Kentucky, give us a call. We work with some of the best outfitters Kentucky has to offer and a landowner tag may be a good option for you. The state also has a complete list of landowners on their website.
All elk hunters must report their hunt via the telecheck system. Hunters must call 800-245-4263 or go online to fw.ky.gov and report their harvest by midnight of the day of recovery. All elk hunters must also complete and submit a post-season elk hunting survey no later than the last day of February.
Elk are native to Kentucky and were present until the mid-1880s when the population was eliminated due to habitat degradation and overhunting. This is why the Kentucky elk program is considered a restoration, not an introduction. Kentucky’s present elk herd is a free-ranging, wild herd established from 1,550 wild elk captured out of state and released into Southeast Kentucky between December 1997 and March 2002. Contributing states included Utah, Kansas, Oregon, North Dakota, Arizona, and New Mexico, with the majority of elk captured in Utah. Release sites were located in Harlan, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Martin, Perry, and Pike counties. The Elk Restoration zone covers 16 counties in the southeast region of the state (approximately 4.1 million acres).
The current elk population is estimated at over 10,000 animals according to two different models (Life Table and Statistical Population Reconstruction). 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 permits. The same number of permits was issued in 2002 and 2003. In 2004, the number of permits was increased to 40. Beginning that year, legal deer hunters were also allowed to harvest elk outside the elk zone in order to control populations, keeping elk numbers low in agricultural areas or poor elk habitat. The number of elk permits has fluctuated nearly every year since 2004. There are 500 permits available through the drawing for the 2024 elk hunting season – 140 bull firearm, 164 cow firearm, 170 eithersex archery/crossbow, and 26 either-sex youth permits.
Within the Elk Restoration zone, hunters simply apply for one or all of the three permit categories – bull firearm, archery/crossbow either-sex, or cow firearm. After the draw, successful applicants can apply for an additional drawing for their choice of six limited-entry elk hunting units. If the preferred units are taken when the application is drawn, the hunter will receive assignment to one of the remaining units. Once a unit assignment is made, it is the hunter’s responsibility to find a place to hunt within the unit on open public land or on private land with landowner permission.
Limited-entry units are within the following 16 counties: Bell, Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, McCreary, Perry, Pike, and Whitley. This area consists of 4.3 million acres. Limited-entry unit permit holders can only hunt within the specific unit they have drawn an access permit for. As far as the units go, terrain can vary and the units further south and along the Virginia border are the more rugged, higher elevation areas. Each unit will have accessible and huntable populations of elk, with most hunters focusing on reclaimed strip mines where there is plenty of terrain that isn’t very difficult. Accessibility between the hunt units will vary slightly, but the Game Department tries to distribute units so each one has reasonable access to hunting property.
While the odds of drawing an elk tag in Kentucky are terrible, we recommend hunters who are looking to hunt elk east of the Mississippi to apply as it is cheap and there is no point system. Most of the bull only or either-sex elk season dates are near the rut, which makes for a great experience. Give us a call if you are lucky enough to draw a coveted Kentucky elk tag and we can put you in touch with the best elk outfitters in the state.
As the Kentucky elk population has been hunted more over the years, it has made finding a mature bull on open land more difficult. The older, more mature bulls have found sanctuary on private land and Voucher Cooperator property. The average age class of bulls is beginning to slip but is still around 5 years old. A successful applicant would be wise to hire an outfitter that is experienced in locating accessible land and older age bulls. Guided rifle bull and archery hunts will run you $4,500 or more. A successful applicant wanting to hunt self-guided will need to spend some time researching past harvest information, landowner contact lists, and become friends with some locals to make the most of their elk permit.
A highlight of the 2021 elk hunting season was that there was a great bull harvested that is rumored to score 400”. While bulls like that are extremely rare in Kentucky, most hunters should have a good hunt for 30011 type bulls. Honestly, just the thought of hunting elk in the East is what keeps us at Huntin' Fool applying for elk tags.
While the odds of drawing an elk tag in Kentucky make it a difficult task, we recommend hunters looking to hunt elk east of the Mississippi to apply as it is cheap and there is no point system. Most of the bull-only or either-sex elk season dates are during the rut, which makes for a great experience. Give us a call if you are lucky enough to draw a coveted Kentucky elk tag and we can put you in touch with the best elk outfitters in the state.
For access to all of our research and data we've collected over the last 20+ years, then join today and access the best research tools for hunting Elk in Kentucky including 3D Maps, Draw Odds, Consultations and much more. Go on more hunts with better information!
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| Elk Drawing Application (per drawing) | $10 |
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| Hunting License | $150 |
| Youth Hunting License (12-15 years old) | $10 |
| Elk Antlered/Either-Sex Permit | $550 |
| Elk Antlerless Permit | $400 |
| Elk Either-Sex Youth Permit | $200 |
Kentucky Elk Hunting Articles from Huntin' Fool Magazine
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