Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission proposes 2015-2016 deer season dates and modifications to elk hunting

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission proposed the dates of the 2015-2016 deer seasons and numerous changes to deer and elk regulations in the state at its quarterly meeting Dec. 12.

Commission members proposed allowing resident hunters 65 or older to use crossbows during the entire archery deer season as well as deer zone changes for Hopkins, Larue, Green, Nelson, Bullitt, Grayson, Ohio, Breckinridge and Allen counties. They also recommended modifying deer hunting regulations on 10 wildlife management areas (WMAs) and on Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area.

The commission also recommended several changes to elk hunting management as well as instituting a new landowner voucher permit system.

The commission recommends all hunting, fishing and boating regulations for approval by the General Assembly and approves all expenditures by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. All recommendations must be approved by legislators before they become law.

2015-2016 deer season dates (no changes from last season, dates reflect calendar shift):

All zones:

Archery: Sept. 5, 2015 – Jan. 18, 2016, either sex (antlered or antlerless deer)

Crossbow: Oct. 1 – Oct. 18; Nov. 14 – Dec. 31, 2015, either sex

Early Youth Weekend: Oct. 10 – 11, 2015, either sex

Early Muzzleloader:

Zones 1, 2 and 3: Oct. 17 – 18, 2015, either sex

Zone 4: antlered only

Modern Firearms:

Zones 1 and 2: Nov. 14 – Nov. 29, 2015, either sex

Zone 3: Nov. 14 – Nov. 23, 2015, either sex

Zone 4: Nov. 14 – Nov. 23, 2015, antlered only

Late Muzzleloader: statewide: Dec. 12 – Dec. 20, 2015

Zones 1, 2 and 3: Dec. 12 – Dec. 20, 2015, either sex

Zone 4: Dec. 12 – 17 antlered only, Dec 18 - 20, 2015, either sex

Late Youth Weekend: Dec. 26 – 27, 2015, either sex

Bag limits remain the same as last season.

In other deer-related business, the commission recommended several zone changes. Hopkins, Larue, Green, Nelson and Bullitt counties will change from Zone 2 to Zone 1. Grayson, Ohio and Breckinridge counties will move from Zone 3 to Zone 2 while Allen County will go from Zone 2 to Zone 3.

Resident hunters 65 or older may use crossbows during the entire deer archery season, starting with the 2015-2016 archery deer season.

Commission members also proposed several changes to deer hunting on some public lands. These changes will be effective for the 2015-2016 deer seasons:

In elk-related business, the commission proposed a reduction in the total number of quota hunt elk permits by 100 to 910 total permits for the 2015-2016 elk seasons. This reduction is only for cow elk permits.

The commission also expanded elk crossbow hunting. Elk hunters may use crossbows during the elk archery seasons from the fourth Saturday in September through the fourth Friday in December annually. Commission members also moved the second cow firearms season to open the first Saturday in January (Jan. 2, 2016).

The commission proposed implementing a landowner voucher system to increase access to land for those participating in the elk quota hunts and modified the tagging requirements for elk.

They also recommended some changes for public land elk hunting.

These changes will be effective for the 2015-2016 elk seasons:

The next Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. (Eastern time) Friday, March 6, 2015. Meetings are held in the Arnold Mitchell Building, located at 1 Sportsman’s Lane in Frankfort.