Any Trees Left?

Goodness, the weather is horrible. The ice is killing the woods. I lost at least 50 trees on my 4 acres last night. The way it looks, those won't be the last. Will there be any trees left for the turkey to roost? Stay Warm!

Don't forget to get your Elk Lottery permit

Don't forget about getting your elk lottery permit sometime within the next few months. You have to purchase it this season on line. In 2008, Kentucky hunters harvested 134 bulls and 221 cows. In 2009, Fish and Wildlife will off 1,000 elk permits.

Purchase your chance at:

https://fw.ky.gov/license/olpsintro.aspx

Strader Show 09

It's almost time for the Jim Strader Hunting and Fishing show in Louisville. I'm honestly not a big fan of Jim or his radio show though I do listen to it sometimes, I rarely agree with his comments and opinions. I do appreciate that he organizes a hunting show in the Kentuckiana area. This year the show be February 6,7, and 8th. Admission this year is $9 with kids under 12 free. Harold Knight will be speaking about both deer and turkey hunting. Kevin Boyer will also be talking food plot and deer management. There will also be free deer scoring and a big buck contest.

http://www.jimstrader.com/#12

Winter Thoughts-out of state for 09

Well, the lull between deer season and turkey season makes me crazy. It is time however, to start researching any out-of-state hunting you want to do next season. Many tags have to be applied for by February. If there is any hunting you'd like to do, I'll research it for you and post free of cost. Just reply as to what and where you want to hunt, and I'll gather the info.

PETA trying to get attention again.

The terrorists from PETA are at it again. They are again trying to get some recognition. I'll say first and foremost that I don't condone ANYTHING that Michael Vick has ever done except for scoring touchdowns. Now however, the terrorist organization that calls themselves PETA is petitioning the National Football League to have Vick undergo psychological tests and a brain scan to see if he still likes fighting dogs I guess. If he does undergo any tests, it's most likely going to show the dude is crazy because he crapped away millions of dollars by fighting pets. I hope they don't ever want me to undergo any brain scans because mine would say that I love hunting and eating all the animals of the great state of Kentucky. It would also say that PETA is a terrorist organization operating right here in our own country.

Here's a link to the entire bizzare story.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/01/21/vick.peta.ap/index.html

Start Thinking Yotes

With February rolling around soon, it's time to start thinking coyotes. I really despise the animal. My son and I had numerous run-ins with one particular coyote throughout deer season. My son scared the life out of him from about 200 yards as he faced us and howled and barked for about 2 straight hours one foggy morning. The coyote movement will increase in February as they start breeding. We'll be out in the next few weeks trying to bust a few.

Bear Hunt Official Press Release from Fish and Wildlife

http://fw.ky.gov/newsrelease.asp?nid=467

If you don't have time to read it all, here's a quick summary:

*Kentucky's first bear hunt next December in a 3 county area. (Harlan, Letcher, and Pike counties)
*$30 permits
*No baiting allowed
*10 bears or 5 females, whichever is reached first.

Countdown to Turkey Season

It's slow in the hunting world right now. Time to start looking ahead to gobbles and warm weather. Countdown to the Youth Turkey hunt begins now. Looking forward to the April 4th and 5th!

Lawmakers approve Kentucky Bear Hunt 2009

Looks like Kentucky Lawmakers officially approved the 2009 bear hunt in the state. It sounds like the season will be in December but it'll be very limited in the number of bears that will be allowed to be harvested. F&W should come out with official word within a few days I suppose. The season dates and tag allotment is probably some time off from being announced.

Last Week of Bow Season

We've entered the last week of the Kentucky Archery Season. The season will officially close on January 19th (next Monday). I may venture out one more time just for kicks.

Poachers Killing our Elk

One thing I hate more than anything in the world, is poachers and tresspassers. Four bull elk were found dead in Leslie County. These criminals need to be caught and prosecuted. The elk program is important to thousands of Kentuckians.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife poaching hotline at 1 -800-25-ALERT (1-800-252-5378)

Young Kentucky Hunters-Wyatt

Saturday morning of the youth hunt started out as the pits. The wind was blowing. I took Wyatt and his dad took his younger brother, Wade, to a different location. Neither one of us seen a deer. We left the ground blind around 9am. At around 2 o'clock we were back at the ground blind for round 2. With the wind blowing hard, I told Wyatt that if we seen any deer in the afternoon they will probably be moving fast. At about 3:50, I got a glimpse of the deer running across the open field. As I got Wyatt ready and gun pointed to were I thought the deer was going, I than grunted trying to stop him, but he didn't slow down. I grunted 3 or 4 times before the deer stopped. I asked Wyatt if he was on him and he said yes. I reached up and took his safety off and said "KILL HIM" and he did in his tracks. I don't know who was more excited, me or him.

Story told by: Ferrel C.

Great story and great deer Wyatt. Thanks to Ferrel for being involved with getting young folks into the woods.

Turkey Seasons

Turkey season isn't that far off in the Bluegrass.

Youth Turkey will be April 4th and 5th. (15 and younger). Kids under 12 do not have to purchase a hunting license or turkey permit but do have to abide by bag limits and other regulations.

General Turkey season will be April 18th through May 10th.

CDW discovered in 5 deer in West Va.

Chronic Wasting Disease was found in 5 deer in West Virginia during the 2008 season. This is some scary stuff closing in on the Bluegrass with finds already in neighboring states like West Va. and Inidiana.

CWD is a neurological disease found in deer and elk, and it belongs to a family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. The disease is thought to be caused by abnormal, proteinaceous particles called prions that slowly attack the brain of infected deer and elk, causing the animals to progressively become emaciated, display abnormal behavior and invariably results in the death of the infected animal. There is no known treatment for CWD, and it is fatal for the infected deer or elk. It is important to note that currently there is no evidence to suggest CWD poses a risk for humans or domestic animals.

Check out the full article from CDW-Info.org
http://www.cwd-info.org/index.php/fuseaction/news.detail/ID/635253f2cbbd3c50e72b4c93ea8b557b

Deer Season Winding Down

Only a couple more weeks of bow season and then we'll start looking towards Turkey 09. The bucks are dropping antlers in some places so you have to be careful of what your shooting. I'm still seeing some decently fresh rubbing.

Happy New Year-2009

2009 is going to be a huge year for hunting in Kentucky. The elk permit draw for 750 cows and 250 bulls will be the largest ever, there will be a bear hunt in Kentucky for the first time in the state's history, and more WMAs will open to give hunters more public land opportunities. 2009 will be a historic year in Kentucky hunting!

Kentucky Outfitters-Western Kentucky Outdoors

Western Kentucky Outdoors offers both hunting and fishing trips in western Kentucky. They will get you in the right place for big bucks, turkey, waterfowl, or fish. I love the fact that they offer fresh trail cam pics as well as trophies from the current season. For deer hunting, WKO hunts over 3,000 acres across three Kentucky counties. WKO offers reasonable and I'd even go to the extreme and say cheap prices as compared to most outfitters for their hunting. Check out WKO's website for their trophy room, trail cam pics, and all their many services.

http://www.westernkentuckyoutdoors.com/index.html

"We want to shake your hand when you arrive and be able to do the same when you leave. This cannot be accomplished unless you have a hunt that is enjoyable regardless of success." Bill Cartwright, owner.

Kentucky Outfitters-Beechwood Farms

http://www.beechwoodfarms.com/index.htm

Beechwood Farms is located in Christian County between Madisonville and Hopkinsville, KY. It's 700 acres of diverse terrain from timbered areas to fields and river bottoms. A cabin is available on the property for up to 4 hunters. Archery and gun seasons are both available at reasonable prices. All you need is your stand and a Kentucky tag.

Check out some of the bucks taken on Beechwood.

http://www.beechwoodfarms.com/buckgallery.htm

News Release from F&W.....New Kentucky State Record Elk

Frankfort, Ky. – Kelvin Jackson of Clay County holds Kentucky’s new state record for a non-typical bull elk. Jackson’s 8x8 bull, shot Oct. 4 in Harlan County, officially scored 367 7/8 in the Boone & Crockett Club’s scoring system. The bull beat the previous non-typical record of 349 3/8 held by Andy Kidd of McCreary County. “When I got drawn for a bull permit, you can ask my wife, I was like a kid,” Jackson said. “That’s the first time I’ve felt that way since I was seven years old.” Jackson decided not to hunt in his home county, opting instead to try a county with a larger population of elk. He began scouting Harlan County in July. “I wasn’t after a state record or anything,” said Jackson, who had previously hunted elk in Colorado. “I’m kind of a meat hunter – everything I harvest, I enjoy it.”Local residents helped Jackson locate elk, and he received permission to scout and hunt on private land. “I went to people in a little place they call Greasy,” remembered Jackson. “They told me where they’ve been seeing elk. When I found the herd, there were 22 cows and seven bulls. I stayed behind a big mound of dirt to watch them, up into August. I’d go there once a week to watch them.”Jackson’s work paid off. As he studied the herd’s behavior, he prepared to take a long-range shot. “They were in a field, and if you approached them, they would leave,” Jackson said. “I practiced shooting long-range because I figured I’d have to do that.”Jackson took the bull at 465 yards with one shot from his 300 Remington Ultra Magnum. The bull’s antlers had to dry for 60 days before official scoring could take place. Jackson’s elk is the largest non-typical bull officially scored and reported to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources for the 2008 season. “This bull is an outstanding example of what conservation can accomplish,” said Tina Brunjes, big game program coordinator for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “A little more than a decade ago, Kentucky had no wild elk. Today, we have a large, healthy herd that consistently produces quality animals that any hunter would be proud to take home.”Kentucky Fish and Wildlife intends to issue 1,000 quota elk hunting permits for the 2009-10 season. The state’s herd is now estimated at 9,000 animals.“Our restoration program has reached a management stage,” Brunjes said. “It will take the help of hunters, along with sound, science-based management decisions, to maintain the kind of elk herd that produces such an exceptional bull.”So far this season, no hunter has reported a typical bull larger than the 371 0/8 elk taken last year by Greg Neff of Kenton County. Archery season for elk, however, continues through Jan. 19, 2009.Elk lottery applications for the 2009-10 hunting season are on sale now through April 30 for $10 online at fw.ky.gov. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife will conduct a random drawing in May to award the quota hunt permits. The department plans to issue 250 bull and 750 cow elk hunting permits.

Don't forget about the Kentucky Kids Free Hunting Weekend

The Kids Free Hunting Weekend is this coming weekend, December 27 and 28th. Ethan and I will hit the woods to knock out a few does and we might even head to the slough to pound at a few ducks Saturday. The weather is supposed to be super warm.

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays from HuntKentucky. Hope the hunting is even better in 2009 here in the great Bluegrass State!

Kentucky Conservation Coalition Newsletter

Commissioners Newsletter - December 2008
Click here to read December's newsletter
The Kentucky Conservation Coalition will be sending out the KDFWR Commissioner Newsletter each Month. Please click here to read December's newsletter.
If you are currently a member of the Kentucky Conservation Coalition, thank you for joining. Please share this e-mail with other outdoorsmen and women.
The mission of the Kentucky Conservation Coalition is to organize outdoorsmen and women, conservation groups and their members so that their united voices can be heard on important issues impacting fish and wildlife management, wildlife-related recreation interests, and natural resource conservation in Kentucky. Our fishing, hunting, trapping, and natural resource conservation heritage is depending on it. We need to pass the things we hold dear to the next generation, and the time to act is now. To join the KCC and its many partners, including The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, please sign up for this FREE service by clicking here http://www.kycoalition.org.

Kentucky Muzzeloader wraps up today

Muzzleloader Season wraps up on this cold and windy Sunday. Crossbow season will run through December 31st and bow until mid January.

Typical crazy Kentucky weather will continue as Monday it'll be freezing cold and back around 60 by the end of the week.

Christmas...........Affordable, Quality Brands

There are so many hunting products out there and I'd love to have them all but there are some brands I love because they are affordable and have quality products. I love the Moultrie Scouting Cameras. You can't beat the Moutrie and even better, you can get it for $98 on WingSupply.com. Why pay $200 to $300 for a camera? If you want to spend any extra money, buy a good lock and chain so no one steals it. Another product I love is my Cabela's range finder. I paid $135 for it. I guess I could've bought one for $300 but I've seen them side by side, and I wouldn't trade mine for any of them. Lastly, my son's $40 Bushnell binoculars are hard to beat. My dad has some $300+ binos and the first time I looked through them, I thought they were the best pair I'd ever seen. Then, I bought my son these for C-Mas last year just for him to have some and I was shocked by the quality.

Good luck with your Christmas shopping. Be careful and compare before you drop a ton of dough. You might be able to put that extra $ toward a hunting trip!

Snow and Ice Movin in.............

Looks like it's going to be a nasty Monday and Tuesday which could get the deer moving a bit. I haven't seen any signs of a secondary rut. I saw 17 does Saturday evening and 10 this evening but absolutely zero bucks. I did see some fresh rubs. One more week of muzzlelaoder season for us here in Zone 1. I'm looking for new tactics.