District 3 E.P. Tom Sawyer Park, Louisville - Kentucky Department of ...

Muzzleloading handguns are included in the season. Adding any form of centerfire
weapon to the muzzleloading season not only violates the spirit of having an exclusive
season, it makes things more difficult for law enforcement.
Deer population has decreased (1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9)
Current statewide deer population trends are nearly stable to slightly decreasing. Over
the past few years deer zones in many counties have been made more restrictive to try
to boost the deer population. KDFWR deer biologists look at each county’s deer
population trend every year. Based on that population trend a county’s zone can be
changed to better manage the deer population in the county. A county’s deer zone is
determined by a combination of many things. Along with the population model, deer
vehicle collision numbers, crop damage complaints, and hunter satisfaction are all taken
into account when determining what a county’s zone should be.
Depredation tags – who gets them? How many do they get? Post who gets tags on website.
Hunters could help get rid of the problem deer. (3)
Landowner crop depredation tags are issued by KDFWR law enforcement officers and
wildlife biologists. An officer or biologist will come to the property and assess the
amount of damage. He or she will determine how many tags are needed to control the
damage issue and then issue the tags to the landowner. It is then up to the landowner
to decide who will harvest the deer. Each damage tag recipient must complete a
shooter designation form to record who will be the one harvesting the animal. All
antlers from antlered deer killed on depredation tags must be turned over to KDFWR.
Staff always encourages landowners to control deer via hunter access.
Change baiting laws during hunting season (3)
Wild turkeys are extremely susceptible to baiting or feeding and the use of those methods for
hunting purposes would undoubtedly lead to local, if not regional, overharvest in Kentucky.
Therefore, the use of bait will not be considered for the take of turkeys during the spring season
when harvest pressure is greatest. However, the KDFWR will examine the regulatory wording of
other states and evaluate the potential for including a legal distance for hunting on property where
feeding of wildlife occurs in the fall.
Change Turkey season dates (1, 3, 7)
The spring season structure in Kentucky is established to maximize harvest opportunity while
minimizing negative effects to breeding and reproductive output. Our opening day of the Saturday
closest to April 15 allows exceptional harvest opportunity, but after a significant proportion of
hens have been bred. This strategy has produced record and near-record spring harvests since its
implementation. For those desiring an earlier opening date, from 2012-2015 the spring season
will open earlier, on the second Saturday in April.
Change Muzzeloader season (2, 3, 7)
There is simply no time or place to move or expand the muzzleloader season. Deer gun
hunters have to balance hunting time in the field with small game hunters, archery
hunters, waterfowl hunters, predator hunters, and elk hunters. When season lengths
and dates are changed for one user group it affects another hunting user group.
Although it might make sense to one user group to make a date change, such changes
are negatively viewed by other user groups.